Saturday 27 February 2010

Music is the Weapon - Fela Kuti (1982)


Music Is the Weapon may be short, but it's essential viewing for Fela fans. Filmed in 1982, the 53-minute documentary captures the late Nigerian musician/activist at his peak. For the uninitiated, it's hard to explain--in mere words--how one man could so successfully mate the sexuality of James Brown with the righteous politics of Bob Marley and sinuous sounds of Miles Davis. Fela drew as much inspiration for his "Afro-beat" from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X as funk, reggae, and jazz. Music Is the Weapon features interviews with Fela and a few of his many wives, along with performances of "ITT," "Army Arrangement," and other anthems. A controversial figure throughout his life, Fela is described as both "superstar" and "man of the people." This short, but potent document ably explores that dichotomy. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Our Latin Thing (1971)


...Nuestra Cosa/Our Latin Thing-the start of the salsa movement in New York and around the world. The year was 1971 and on an August night, the leaders of each group from the Fania label got together for one big shindig at the Cheetah in New York City. The Masters of Ceremonies that night were Symphony Sid and Izzy Sanabria. Led by Johnny Pacheco, the All Stars grooved through the night as they played songs such as "Quitate Tu", "Anacaona", "Ponte Duro", "Descarga Fania", "Estrellas de Fania", and more. But to me, this is an important recording to our culture, because this soundtrack was the one that introduced the Spanish speaking culture of New York to different types of people across the U.S. and the World. This was indeed, the supernova of Salsa.

Friday 19 February 2010

the Robin Hood Tax DUB


....Campaign video by Richard Curtis and Bill Nighy, about the Robin Hood Tax, a tiny tax on bank transactions that could raise hundreds of billions for public services and to tackle poverty and climate change at home and around the world. A Good Idea remixed by rfs due to fear and loathing of coldplay. Add your own voice to the campaign at http://www.robinhoodtax.org.uk ...

Sunday 14 February 2010

Y to the reali-T


Produced at various studios in the UK, Jamaica, Germany, Poland and Sweden with guest spots from veteran sound effects man Joe Lickshot, Daddy Freddy, R&B chanteuse Shola Ama and the regular Curtis Lynch Jnr crew
YT BORN INNA BABYLON LP RELEASED MAY 2009 ON SATIVARECORDS
www.myspace.com/ytreggae
www.sativarecords.com

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Che and the Digital Cinema Revolution

Soderbergh, the RED ONE, and filming "Che"

Steven Soderbergh, his crew, and RED employees discuss the process of using the RED ONE camera during the filming of "Che."