We shimmy our way into May with a mixtape put together by Vula Viel's beating heart, Bex Burch. Now a trio, they blend Ghanaian musical traditions with electronica, jazz and myriad other elements to make intoxicatingly joyous and entrancingly rhythmic tracks. Here's what she had to say about her mix:
"Most of the music which has inspired me is unrecorded, it was played and seeped into me through my skin in real life, physical, tactile contact, along with the smells and feels and peoples and life. My recorded influences are pretty limited and still very much from many years ago, although I'm listening to music again now as I'm back to 'school' in writing. I definitely don't know what's "cool" but here's some songs which move me. Currently on my record player is Oté Maloya - The Birth of electric Maloya on Réunion Island."
- Caméléon – La Rosée Si Feuilles Songes [Diffusion Royale]
-
Oren Marshall & The Charming Transport Band – Just Get Over It [F-IRE]
-
Led Zeppelin – Good Times Bad Times [Atlantic]
-
Nirvana – Where Did You Sleep Last Night [Matl CRash / Octopus]
-
Joni Mitchell – A Case Of You [Reprise]
-
Brian Finnegan – Marga’s [Singing Tree Music ]
-
Steve Reich – Reich: Sextet – Mvt. #3 [Nonesuch]
- Steve Reich – Reich: Sextet – Mvt. #4 [Nonesuch]
-
Barak Schmool – Stolen Train [Argo]
-
Mulatu Astatke – Yèkèrmo Sèw [Amha Records]
-
The Meters – Cissy Strut [Josie Records]
-
Michael Jackson – Man In the Mirror [Epic]
- Odetta – Hit or Miss (Live) [Four Leaf Clover Records]