A Tribute to the World Cup Losers #4: Japan and Portugal

We are currently featuring a special series on the World Cup and will return to our normal schedule including "This Week's Picks" and "Wednesday's Reader Picks" when the series is finished. We do hope you enjoy the current series. 

Alright, so maybe calling them "losers" is a little harsh seeing as they made their way into the final 16, but this new series will focus on the countries who are eliminated during the final stage of the World Cup. As the 2010 World Cup in South Africa moves into the elimination stage, Nomad's Playlist will be showcasing our favorite picks from the countries unfortunate enough to be thrown out of the running. 

Japan 

Japan played a rough game against Paraguay and lost in the shot out at the end. While Paraguay may end up in our series before the World Cup is over, it is Japan that makes it here first.

"Tokyo Light" by Chieko Mori

Chieko Mori is one of leading virtuosos on the Japanese koto. Mori was trained in classical Japanese music, but soon adopted a fresh approach to playing that incorporated Western acoustic ideals. This track, "Toyko Light" from the album A Garden of Forking Paths (2008) is a refreshing, soothing piece. Straddling the worlds of the Orient, West, Classical and Contemporary, Mori has forged her way by embracing them.


Portugal

In a close game, Portugal tried their best to win over their neighbors, Spain. But in the end, Spain, the favorites, did take the game and sent Portugal home and into our series.



"Leva-me aos Fados" by Ana Moura


Dominating the tradition of Portuguese fado music, Ana Moura has become a fast sensation.The fado songs are songs of pain, resignation, and emotion. This song, meaning "The fados takes me" is a lovely example of the style. Moura's voice is strong and powerful and even if you do not understand the language, you feel as involved in the music as if you did understand. A genre that is often best described as nostalgia, is the perfect send home for the Portuguese football team.

A Tribute to the World Cup Losers #3: Slovakia and Chile

Alright, so maybe calling them "losers" is a little harsh seeing as they made their way into the final 16, but this new series will focus on the countries who are eliminated during the final stage of the World Cup. As the 2010 World Cup in South Africa moves into the elimination stage, Nomad's Playlist will be showcasing our favorite picks from the countries unfortunate enough to be thrown out of the running.

 
Slovakia

Playing a rough game against Netherlands, Slovakia is taken out of the running. As Netherlands progresses into the final eight, Slovakia progressed into our series.



"Kedy Toto Zitko Zide" Performed by Jan Ambroz


Finding music from Slovakia is not an easy task. I did resist the temptation to showcase some Slovakian heavy metal and decided upon something a little more traditional. This song is bouncy and happy-go-lucky. It may not necessarily reflect the feelings of the Slovakian football team, but it will certainly cheer them up as they head home.


Chile

Chile was unfortunately paired up against Brazil, and in a demonstration of their dominance of the game, Brazil took Chile down without any mercy. However, the good news for us is that we now get to listen to some good music. 



"Cancion de Amor" by Angel Parra


Angel Parra is famous for promoting the Nueva Canción style that was big in the 1950s and 60s in South America, especially Chile. The style is identified with left-wing politics and Parra did his best to promote the style to ex-patriots living outside of Chile in Europe, North America and Australia. 

A Tribute to the World Cup Losers #2: England & Mexico

We are currently featuring a special series on the World Cup and will return to our normal schedule including "This Week's Picks" and "Wednesday's Reader Picks" when the series is finished. We do hope you enjoy the current series. 

Alright, so maybe calling them "losers" is a little harsh seeing as they made their way into the final 16, but this new series will focus on the countries who are eliminated during the final stage of the World Cup. As the 2010 World Cup in South Africa moves into the elimination stage, Nomad's Playlist will be showcasing our favorite picks from the countries unfortunate enough to be thrown out of the running.


England

England saw itself absolutely battered by Germany yesterday to the disappointment of their countrymen and won their way into the third spot on our series. 



"The Testimony of Patience Kershaw" by The Unthanks


This is a beautiful track off their recent album, Here's the Tender Coming (2009). This duo of sisters, Rachel and Becky Unthanks, from Northumberland, have aimed for "a warmer, calmer shade of sad" in this album than their first album Bairns. This song makes sense of that statement. The lyrics tell a sad story, but the music plays a piece that's eloquent in it's melancholy. A few English fans might even say this song, about a girl trying to make it in a man's world, seems the appropriate send off for the team.


Mexico

Mexico had the bad luck of being paired with Argentina, who have proved they'll go far this year, for it's first game in the final stage of the World Cup.





"Paloma Negra" by Chavela Vargas


Chavela Vargas was actually born in Costa Rica, but fleeing to Mexico at an early age she became one of the most famous singers of the Mexican ranchera genre. This track "The Black Dove" beautifully demonstrates the ranchera style. It's a sad song with a single voice accompanied by guitar. Vargas seems to almost be crying in parts of the song which may reflect the feelings of the Mexicans who had high hopes for their football team. 

A Tribute to the World Cup Losers #1: South Korea & USA

Alright, so maybe calling them "losers" is a little harsh seeing as they made their way into the final 16, but this new series will focus on the countries who are eliminated during the final stage of the World Cup. As the 2010 World Cup in South Africa moves into the elimination stage, Nomad's Playlist will be showcasing our favorite picks from the countries unfortunate enough to be thrown out of the running.


South Korea
Losing their match against Uruguay yesterday, South Korea is the first to be eliminated from the World Cup final 16, and the first to be featured here on Nomad's Playlist.



"Kayagum Sanjo Variation" performed by Hwang Byeonggi


This piece is performed on the Korean instrument, the Kayagum, a 12 string zither-like instrument. The style of music is sanjo, literally meaning scattered melodies and involves some improvisation. Byeonggi is one of the most famous performers of the Kayagum sanjo. This piece is relaxing, though not by a lack of interesting material. Byeonggi shows off his skill with beautiful patterns in a demonstration of the appeal of Korean music. A perfect tribute and send off for a country who was unfortunate enough to be sent home so soon.


United States of America

With an attempt that surprised most, the USA still came up short in their match against Ghana. However, they won the honor of being our our second featured country in the series.



"Cross Road Blues" by Robert Johnson


Robert Johnson is an icon of American delta blues. His signature voice and slide guitar set the standards for all other blues musicians to follow. His poorly documented life and mysterious early death have added to Robert Johnson's mystic and the creation of Faustian legend. As one of my favorite all time blues artists, we are sadly left with only a legacy of 29 songs by the blues great. This one, one of his more famous, is a great song for the USA as they return home from the World Cup. "I went down to the crossroad/fell down on my knees/Asked the lord above "have mercy now/ save poor Bob if you please." 

Nomad's Calendar: Coming Up

There are some great shows on the horizon before we head into the crazy month of July. Tonight is the World Arts of World Issues concert at Cargo and Taara performs a free show at Momo's. 

• June 26th, Saturday 7:00pm: World Arts for World Issues @ Cargo (82 Rivington Street Shoreditch EC2A 3AY) £11 For 'World Arts For World Issues Event' presented by The Human Culture Collective Featuring: Talvin Singh with Niladri Kumar, Carmen Souza, The Attab Haddad Ensemble, Julene
• *June 29th, Tuesday 8:00pm: Taara @ MOMO'S (25 Heddon Street W1B 4 BH) FREE Seyni Diop was born in Dakar into a large family of artists and musicians. He started playing the bass and guitar at the age of 14 with his father Bello and brother-in-law Etu Dieng. Taara began as a group of friends playing music together  but soon gained recognition with their acoustic afro-jazz fusion with flavours of the traditional music of Senegal. 

Can't go to either of those shows, or looking to fill up your summer with concerts? Check out the full Nomad's Calendar and prepare yourself for a jam-packed July!

Wednesday's Reader Picks

This week reader joann3737 introduces us to a style completely different than anything we've showcased thus far.

"I Want to be Your Lover" by Pan Ron


This track is from the recently released album Electric Cambodia. The album features music from the 1960s and early 70s known as the Golden Era in Cambodia- a period of rapid modernization. The Golden Era came to a sad end with the Pol Pot Khmer regime and many of the artists of the time did not survive. This album is offered as a tribute to those artists. This artist, Pan Ron is one of the many artists not to survive the Khmer regime. This is a huge loss, as demonstrated in this song. For a genre some find it hard to enjoy, Pan Ron gently eases the listener into the hypnotic melody. The guitar demonstrates the modernization trends of the time, blending Cambodian sounds with a psychedelic rock aesthetic.
(Reviewed by joann3737)


Have you recently heard a great track that you would like to share? Send in your review of a track for our weekly "Reader's Picks" series. Here, we want to know what you listen to.


Please visit our Reader Submission Details Page for more information on how to submit any material to Nomad's Playlist. 

London African Music Festival

The Southbank Centre has announced it's schedule for it's eighth London African Music Festival (Sept 10-12, 2010). There's a great line-up planned and several free shows that shouldn't be missed. So, update your calendars and we look forward to seeing you there!

London African Music Festival
Now in its eighth year, the London African Music Festival returns to Southbank Centre to celebrate some of the best in music from across Africa, whether it be the incredible Master Drummers of Africa or the meditative songs of beganna master Alemu Aga. There’s also a host of free events ranging from gospel jazz to East African melodies. 


The Schedule (also available on our Nomad's Calendar):

• *September 10th, Friday 5:00pm: DJ Edu Radio 1 Extra@ The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) FREE A new DJ on the airwaves, DJ Edu of Radio 1 Extra brings his DestiNation Africa to a live audience with a mix of the hottest underground sounds out of Africa - from hip-hop and RnB to dancehall, garage and D&B. 
• *September 10th, Friday 6:00pm: Amira Khier @ The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) FREE Sudanese singer Amira Kheir creates something new with a fusion of jazz styles and East African melodies. (Book tickets online)
• September 10th, Friday 8:30pm: MC Solaar @ Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) £20/£10 One of the greatest names in modern French music, MC Solaar arrives with his distinctive mix of powerful lyrics and inventive rhymes that have taken him from the French underground to international acclaim. MC Solaar is an intensely charismatic performer whose thrilling live show is dominated by his signature smooth flow and linguistic fluidity, backed by throbbing funky beats that mix traditional African rhythms with urban techno. MC Solaar breaks the rules again with this freestyle touchdown, where he is joined by vocalists and a DJ to create an extravagant live show.
• *September 10th, Friday 10:30pm: Sarah Ndagire @ The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) FREE  Uganda 's diva Sarah Ndagire has for a long time been a famous voice on several radio stations in Uganda. She makes her London debut, introduced by DJ Edu. (Book tickets online)
• September 11th, Saturday 3:00pm: Alemu Aga @ Purcell Room (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) £15/7.50 The Ethiopian King David's harp master Alemu Aga brings his spiritual and meditative songs to the festival for the first time. Alemu Aga plays an ancient instrument with ten strings called a beganna, a rare musical instrument of that has survived for nearly 6,000 years and is considered by Ethiopians to be the harp of King David of Israel. This is magical roots music of the ancient world and the closest we will get to hearing music referred to in the Bible.
• September 11th, Saturday 6:00pm: Rafiki Jazz @ Purcell Room (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) £15/7.50 World music's hottest big band brings their exciting mix of global rhythms to the big smoke. Featuring the combined talent of musicians from Zanzibar, Mauritius, Senegal, Colombia, Gambia, Zimbabwe, Brazil and the UK, who effortlessly blend to create big, vibrant, dancing sounds for today's multicultural world. The result is music of astounding power.
• September 11th, Saturday 8:30pm: The Master Drummers of Africa @ Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) £20/10 The world's greatest drum orchestra in full flow is one of the most thrilling and unforgettable spectacles in world music today. The Master Drummers of Africa features ten drummers from ten African nations and draws from 5000 years of tribal rhythms to create ecstatic and freewheeling music straight from the heart of African cultures in a dynamic stage show. They bring us their new show Lighting and Thunder in their first London concert in five years. The Lighting and Thunder suite draws from the rhythms of over 300 tribes of Africa . Using over 100 ethnic drums, the orchestra creates uplifting and infectious rhythms that are mysterious, spiritual, celebratory and utterly compelling.
• *September 12th, Sunday 2:00pm: 4Seasons Band and Temitope Ajayi@ The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) FREE Gospel jazz funk group 4Seasons Band joins forces with new Afro soul vocal discovery Temitope Ajayi to play music from their debut CD, Sound of Light.
• *September 12th, Sunday 4:00pm: Sona Jobarteh@ The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) FREE Sensational new kora player Sona Jobarteh brings freshness to the sound of the kora with modern music.
• *September 12th, Sunday 6:00pm: Laye Sow @ The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) FREE Singer and guitarist Laye Sow is one of the most exciting new musicians from West Africa, who is not afraid to mix mbalax and hi-life with funk, soul and hip-hop.
• September 12th, Sunday 8:30pm: London Community Gospel Choir@ Queen Elizabeth Hall (Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX) £20/10 For years the mighty London Community Gospel Choir, founded by the legendary Bazil Meade, has produced some of the finest gospel singers in the country, as well as lending their heavenly voices in live shows and recordings from Sir Paul McCartney to Elton John, George Michael and Mariah Carey. With some of the finest singers in London raising the roof and a funky band providing the pulse, the choir performs a show to lift your spirits and soothe your soul.