The Country, Folk & World Recommendation Thread

[Safar]

‘Steam will come out of readers’ ears!’: Joe Boyd on his epic, enraging history of global music

And the Roots of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music

[Safar]

Stéphane performs his composition Bistro Fada. New York Observer recently said, "Stephane Wrembel represents the living face of Gypsy jazz." Rolling Stone Magazine has called him “a revelation”.

Stéphane Wrembel - Bistro Fada (France)

Awesome Tapes From Africa
Senegalese kora master Sourakata Koité began music from pretty much day one. "All the Koité are musicians!,” he says. Indeed he is a member of a family of djéli (or griot in French), the hereditary caste of musician-storyteller-historians in West Africa. After moving to Paris in the late 70s he began to play in different bands and for musicians like Manu Dibango, Touré Kounda, Mangala, Mah Damba and more.

Sourakata Koité -- Ha-Madi

Awesome Tapes From Africa
1970s/80s Senegalese mbalax rarely gets old to me. Is it the dusty electric guitar expositions? these soulful, acrobatic vocals? the jazzily-phrased yet kick-out-the-jams, bombastic drum stabs? I have only listened to this 1.5 times but that was enough to warrant sharing this lesser traded gem by a classic ensemble of the Dakar scene.

Number One Dakar 83 – Aile (Senegal)

Their music painted a vivid, you-are-there account of the great age of the heady 90s when Africa was in the throes of independence euphoria.

Dalom Kids - Ndilambile (South Africa)

[Safar]

Awesome Tapes From Africa

Spoiler for Number One Dakar 83 – Touki (Senegal):

Gillian Howard Welch (/ˈɡɪliən ˈwɛltʃ/; born October 2, 1967) is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, bluegrass, country and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely reminiscent of past rural forms.

Gillian Welch - Wrecking Ball (USA)

[Drjohnrock]

Originally Posted by Safar

Awesome Tapes From Africa

Spoiler for Number One Dakar 83 – Touki (Senegal):

Gillian Welch - Wrecking Ball (USA)

I'm curious as to how you would define "Americana", Safar. To me it's an all purpose category which includes a lot of musicians who would seem to not have a lot to do with one another, from purely acoustic music to performers like Gillian Welch to straight ahead rock and rollers like Webb Wilder. It's like, "we'll, we don't know what to call it--it's ot a clear cut category like counrty, folk, metal or punk, so let's just call it Americana."

[elliottsargent]

I've always been into folk -- especially indie folk -- but I could never really get into country. Does anyone have any indie folk stuff they'd recommend?

[Safar]

I'm curious as to how you would define "Americana", Safar. To me it's an all purpose category which includes a lot of musicians who would seem to not have a lot to do with one another, from purely acoustic music to performers like Gillian Welch to straight ahead rock and rollers like Webb Wilder. It's like, "we'll, we don't know what to call it--it's ot a clear cut category like counrty, folk, metal or punk, so let's just call it Americana."

Good point Drjohnrock.
When I first read the quote which I used for Gillian Welch, I hesitated for a second and thought, „isn´t Appalachian music, bluegrass and country included in Americana?“, but it was not enough not to post the quote, and not to think that the author probably knows something I don`t.
Personaly I would not use the term Americana. Mainly because it is still nebulous to me and also because I noticed it only a few years ago and have not become familiar with it since then.
I knew what bluegrass, folk, country was before I stumbled upon the word Americana, tried to guess the meaning, with the result that probably it is restricted to early US folk music ( Woody Guthrie, Carter family....).
Later did some research to broaden my understanding only to come to the conclusion, leave it to the locals.
If I try hard to define the word (that I hesitate to use), it would be (I know it´s more than the music) kind of roots music of the United States; if my narrow view makes sense. How large the span is, I have no idea.

[Safar]

May be it is of interest what HNA a German local newspaper wrote.
Whether it catches all aspects of the definition Americana I doubt.

For many years, country music suffered from an unattractive image: it stood for an arch-conservative attitude and for whiny songs that too often revolved around dusty country roads, pick-ups and cold beer. Country was the opposite of hip. The music industry also recognized this - and reacted accordingly. The rather one-dimensional musical style was opened up, hard rock guitars, thunderous drum sounds and even rapping country singers were incorporated into the traditionally more sedate sound. As a result, country was able to shed its conservative image to some extent - but also lost a large part of its musical identity in the process. Since the beginning of the new millennium, this vacuum has been filled by the newly created Americana music genre - a musical catch basin, not just for traditional country musicians. “Folk, rock'n'roll, blues and rhythm & blues musicians find their home in Americana,” says Jed Hilly, head of the Americana Music Association (AMA), which was founded in 1999. Musicians who prefer “fine art” to “commercial art” and who refer to American traditions in their songs.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Drjohnrock]

Originally Posted by Safar

Good point Drjohnrock.
When I first read the quote which I used for Gillian Welch, I hesitated for a second and thought, „isn´t Appalachian music, bluegrass and country included in Americana?“, but it was not enough not to post the quote, and not to think that the author probably knows something I don`t.
Personaly I would not use the term Americana. Mainly because it is still nebulous to me and also because I noticed it only a few years ago and have not become familiar with it since then.
I knew what bluegrass, folk, country was before I stumbled upon the word Americana, tried to guess the meaning, with the result that probably it is restricted to early US folk music ( Woody Guthrie, Carter family....).
Later did some research to broaden my understanding only to come to the conclusion, leave it to the locals.
If I try hard to define the word (that I hesitate to use), it would be (I know it´s more than the music) kind of roots music of the United States; if my narrow view makes sense. How large the span is, I have no idea.

Thanks. I just wanted to get your view. I wouldn't criticize anyone using the word "Americana", even though I sometimes think it's applied to musicians who definitely merit another descripton.

[Drjohnrock]

Originally Posted by Safar

May be it is of interest what HNA a German local newspaper wrote.
Whether it catches all aspects of the definition Americana I doubt.

That's an interesting take. I don't like the "bro country" stuff the writer describes. But I think Americana gets applied to people who are rock and roll, like Webb Wilder because rock and roll isn't considered in fashion with younger listeners like pop and hip hop are. So "Americana" seems more salable

[Safar]

Thanks for your opinion. Helps to clear the fog around the term americana.
I have fed the AI translater with more parts of the German newspaper article (2017) from above. Also interesting for me to read a perspective from my country.

While country music is increasingly turning to pop and rock, traditional artists are finding their musical home in the still young genre of Americana. This rustic style is also becoming increasingly popular in Germany.
The extent to which today's country music has moved away from its traditional terrain is shown by the fact that, in Hilly's opinion, even genre pioneers such as Johnny Cash and Hank Williams would be typical Americana artists today.The cultural refuge for homeless roots musicians has now become a commercially attractive style. In October 2016, four Americana albums landed in the top 10 of the American Billboard charts: Bon Iver's “22, A Million”, Bob Weir's “Blue Mountain”, Van Morrison's “Keep Me Singing” and “American Band” by the Drive-By Truckers.
Ironically, this was the first time that the genre based on non-commercial criteria topped the sales list. For Jed Hilly “a milestone”. It proves that there is a large market for high-quality music and that artistic credibility pays off in the long term. Also in hard cash.

The Avett Brothers, who also have a large fan base in Germany, are unlikely to disagree. After all, each of their last three albums reached the top 5 of the American charts. And their last album, “True Sadness”, which was produced by Johnny Cash producer Rick Rubin in 2016, is considered the most successful Americana album of the past year. Singer Scott Avett can live with the label Americana: “I like it. It's elastic and very inclusive. But ultimately it seems to be another word for folk or country music. For acoustic music that is very connected to the working class.”