Hello from Marseille!
Here is a new song for you, 'Ocean Deep', by the Vilk Collective; I wrote about their incredible story in my monthly column about Music from the Greater Middle East & its influence in diaspora.
You'll find it here: https://themarkaz.org/author/melissachemam/
Tamino wrote:
"After ‘The First Disciple’, I’m ready to share another piece of the new record with you today in the form of ‘Fascination’. Another song very dear to my heart which as of this day will hopefully mean something to you too."
23 September will mark the release of his second studio album, to be called ‘Sahar’.
Pre order limited edition vinyl of ‘Sahar’ with hand signed postcard here.
-
You can also read my recent article about Tamino for The Markaz Review here:
Melissa Chemam profiles the Arab-Belgian singer-songwriter Tamino-Amir, as he prepares to go on tour.
-
Been waiting for this for a while!!
The One · M.I.A.
The One ℗ 2022 Maya Arulpragasam, under exclusive license to Island Records Released on: 2022-05-26
While overloaded with work, I've been blessed with these remarkable releases!
No time to write or review yet, but happy to share.
Sun's Signature - 'Underwater'
The new music outlet by Elizabeth Fraser and Damon Reece,
from here in Bristol
'Underwater' is taken from the new EP, Sun's Signature, out 18th June on Partisan Records. Stream here: https://sunssignature.lnk.to/underwater
The Smile - 'Speech Bubbles'
The new project by Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood
with Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, produced by Nigel Godrich, Radiohead's longtime collaborator.
And of course... Everybody is talking about it this week:
Kendrick Lamar - 'Mother I Sober'
ft. Beth Gibbons of Portishead
Kendrick Lamar's latest album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, is available now: https://KendrickLamar.lnk.to/MrMorale
On Saturday I was invited to speak at Bristol Transformed festival.
Our panel:
A panel of three talking about the history of political music in Bristol, stretching from the Late 70's with the Pop Group, via the Wild Bunch and Massive Attack, to the present.
-
I insisted to show music videos, my favourite medium of all time.
To represent The Pop Group, I chose:
'She's beyond Good and Evil'
Here is the choice of Batu from his recent releases, a video directed by himself:
'Solace'
My choice was the best promo video for Bristol ever made - not intending to be of course - but I love it:
Massive Attack - 'Just a Matter Of Time'
A recoding should be available soon; I'll come back and share the link.
For more on music and politics, go to my facebook page.
Thanks.
France - L'histoire d'un jeune homme tué par la police en 1986 et du combat de sa famille pour obtenir justice.
C'est celle de Malik Oussekine, racontée dans une série diffusée dans le monde entier, "Oussekine".
Au scénario : Faïza Guène et Lina Soualem.
'Oussekine' | Offical Trailer (in English):
The case raised serious questions about the country's treatment of immigrants, especially from its former colonies.
The issue is "still extremely resonant today," the BBC wrote yesterday, "at a time when the recent presidential campaign was contested by the far-right politician Marine Le Pen, who is known for her anti-immigrant policies, and coloured by questions around French identity, European citizenship and the treatment of the Muslim community."
Malik Oussekine was a young French man of Algerian origines. He died after being set upon by police and beaten up, as they tried to clamp down on student riots that he was walking nearby.
I may still be stuck at home in Covid isolation, but at least it's a great way to catch up on music releases!
Just a personal selection...
Released today, like Tamino's:
Arcade Fire - 'Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)'
Official Audio
From this year, catching up with her new album:
Mitski – 'Working for the Knife' (Official Video)
His music was one of the great sonic highlights of the pre-pandemic months for me, while I was starting teaching music journalism, even though the students remained quite unappreciative, sadly...
Nevertheless, the fans, fellow musicians and music writers were all praise and wonder about his first album.
The Guardian compared him to Jeff Buckley; and Colin Greenwood as well as the Syrian Orchestra accompanied him on his first album and some tour dates from 2017.
Here is his new songs, more about him soon:
Tamino - 'The First Disciple'
Tamino wrote on his social media channel: "It’s been a while, feeling proud and excited to finally share this with all of you. ‘The First Disciple’ out now".
He posted this photo of him, taken by his mother, a few years ago:
He had announced a month ago that new music was ready.
Born in Belgium in an Egyptian family of musicians, Tamino is the proud son of the encounter of Eastern and the Western godly music.
Hello people.
Back from Paris and Marseille, I'm now in isolation in our house, you'll imagine why...
The sad thing about being sick is that we cannot sing anymore. I've lost my voice and have to rest.
But I'm still listening to music...
On the one hand, I wrote that piece about Fairouz for TMR.
If you want to read it, here is the link:
Fairouz is the Voice of Lebanon, Symbol of Hope in a Weary Land
 |
Artist Yazan Halwani painted a Fairouz fresco in Gemmayzeh, Beirut — he says Fairouz is the only national solidarity symbol on which a majority of Lebanese agree |
On the other, one of my best friends invited me to a great gig in Paris 10 days ago, and the music is still with me.
Since Elon has bought 100% of Twitter overnight, and I cannot stand any of the values he represents, I'm going to post here instead...
LA CHICA feat. HAUSMANE (FORM) - 'THE SEA' (Acoustic)
La Chica is French and Venezuelan; Hausmane French and Lebanese.
Don't they sound wonderful?
-
Stay well...
m
Horace Andy has a new album out, and he included a personal cover of MassiveAttack's iconic song 'Safe from Harm'!!!
Here it is:
'Midnight Rocker' now on Red Vinyl, Black Vinyl, and CD → https://on-u-sound.ffm.to/midnightroc...
'Safe From Harm'
Originally performed by Massive Attack
Written by Billy Cobham, Shara Nelson, Robert Del Naja, Andrew Vowles, Grant Marshall
Produced by Adrian Sherwood
