ANCIENT GODS :: Exuma - Dambala

Exuma - Dambala

It's rare you hear a song this powerful ... that hits you to the core. This is a song about an ancient spirit that still thrives today. Dambala aka Damballa is the most important of the Voodoo gods, Damballa is the Sky Father and the primordial creator of all life. He rules the mind, intellect, and cosmic equilibrium. Damballa, as the serpent spirit and "The Great Master", created the cosmos by using his 7,000 coils to form the stars and the planets in the heavens and to shape the hills and valleys on earth. By shedding the serpent skin, Damballa created all the waters on the earth. Damballa is syncretized with either Saint Patrick, Christ the Redeemer, Our Lady of Mercy, or Moses.er watching

So, I heard this track after watching "Catch Me Daddy", which is an incredibly dark and powerful movie. There are many covers, including one by Nina Simone, but this one by Exuma is extremely tribal and powerful. Just have a listen.

Here are the lyrics:

Sing of the wings of a three toad frog
Eat weeds from the deepest part of the sea
bring the trumpet from heaven
And the fire from hell
Then nobody can break the spell

Chorus
Oh Dambala, come Dambala
Oh Dambala, come Dambala

On the seventh day God will appear
On the seventh night Satan will be there
On the seventh day God will appear
On the seventh night Satan will be there

Oh Dambala, come Dambala
Oh Dambala, come Dambala

You slavers will know what it's like to be a slave
A slave to your hearts, a slave to your head
A slave to your souls, a slave to your graves

You won't go to heaven
You won't go to hell
You'll remain in your graves
with the stench and the smell

Oh Dambala, come Dambala
Oh Dambala, come Dambala

I'll melt down your walls
I'll melt down your steel guns
I'll make you dumb
I'll make you blind

Dambala send demons
Dambala send angels
Dambala send fire
Dambala send water

Oh Dambala, come Dambala
Oh Dambala, come Dambala



BONUS: Nina Simone version



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Bonnie Prince Billy - A king at night

Will Oldham a.k.a. Bonnie Prince Billy is an American singer-songwriter and actor from Louisville, KY. He first performed under variation of the Palace name, including Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music. In 2012, Oldham was reworking songs from his catalog including "I See a Darkness" album for a summer a release on Domino [UK] and Drag City [US], which has yet to be released. Drag City is notable here for its re-issue of Death - For The Whole World To See.

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WARHOLICISM :: Nico - These Days

Nico (born Christa Päffgen; 16 October 1938 – 18 July 1988) was a German singer-songwriter, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s. She is known for both her vocal collaboration on The Velvet Underground's debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), and her work as a solo artist from the late 1960s through the early 1980s. She also had roles in several films, including a cameo in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960) and Andy Warhol's Chelsea Girls (1966), as herself.

These Days is from the 1996 album - Chelsea Girl, which is a reference to the film. It might be her most enduring song.

Chelsea Girl is a traditional chamber-folk album, which influenced artists such as Leonard Cohen, with strings and flute arrangements by producer Tom Wilson. Nico was not satisfied with the album and had little say in production matters. In retrospect, she said in 1981:

"I still cannot listen to it, because everything I wanted for that record, they took it away. I asked for drums, they said no. I asked for more guitars, they said no. And I asked for simplicity, and they covered it in flutes! [...] They added strings, and— I didn't like them, but I could live with them. But the flute! The first time I heard the album, I cried and it was all because of the flute."

Bronze Radio Return - Shake! Shake! Shake!

From the land of insurance companies, Hartford, CT - today we have a great tune by indie / roots rockers Bronze Radio Return. Shake! Shake! Shake! was released in 2011, on the EP of the same name. The song has been licensed for use by many companies including Nissan, who used it in their new Leaf commercial.

http://bronzeradioreturn.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bronzeradioreturn
https://www.facebook.com/bronzeradioreturn
https://twitter.com/BronzeRadio

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Nick Drake - Pink Moon

Nick Drake was a complicated soul. Born in Rangoon, Burma in 1948 - Drake's parents then moved to Warwickshire, England where Nick was raised to appreciate music by his mother. He learned to play piano at an early age and began to compose his own songs which he recorded on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. In 1965, he formed a band, The Perfumed Gardeners with schoolmates. With Drake on piano and occasional alto sax and vocals, the group performed Pye International R&B covers and jazz standards, as well as Yardbirds and Manfred Mann numbers. In 1966, Drake won a scholarship to study English literature at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge. He delayed attendance to spend six months at the University of Aix-Marseille, France, beginning in February 1967. While in Aix, he began to practice guitar in earnest, and to earn money would often busk with friends in the town centre. Drake began to smoke cannabis, and that spring he travelled with friends to Morocco, because, according to travelling companion Richard Charkin, "that was where you got the best pot". Drake most likely began using LSD while in Aix, and lyrics written during this period—in particular for the song "Clothes of Sand"—are suggestive of an interest in hallucinogens.

Drake signed to Island Records when he was 20 years old and a student at the University of Cambridge, and released his debut album, Five Leaves Left, in 1969. By 1972, he had recorded two more albums—Bryter Layter and Pink Moon. Neither sold more than 5,000 copies on initial release. Drake's reluctance to perform live, or be interviewed, contributed to his lack of commercial success.

Drake suffered from depression, particularly during the latter part of his life. This was often reflected in his lyrics. On completion of his third album, 1972's Pink Moon, he withdrew from both live performance and recording, retreating to his parents' home in rural Warwickshire. There is no known footage of the adult Drake; he was only ever captured in still photographs and in home footage from his childhood. On 25 November 1974, Drake died from an overdose of amitriptyline, a prescribed antidepressant; he was 26 years old. Whether his death was an accident or suicide has never been resolved.

http://www.nickdrake.com/
http://www.myspace.com/nickdrake

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Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait (Unlike Pluto remix) (download)

When 21-year-old Armond Arabshahi, better known as Unlike Pluto, isn’t busy studying Biology at Emory University, you can find him in the beat lab making music. Today we have a magnificent Mumford & Sons remix for you to check out. If you've heard the original ... you'll see just how incredible this remix is.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.facebook.com/unlikepluto/app_220150904689418

BONUS: Unlike Pluto - Run Maggie Run (download)


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FOLKSTER :: Diplo ft. Jahan Lennon - About That Life

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Fleet Foxes - Your Protector

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Andrew Bird - Scythian Empires

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Nanci Griffith - "The Wing And The Wheel" - State Theatre,Ithaca,NY 9/11/07

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LOCAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT :: Brian Daniel Billie

It's my pleasure to spotlight a very talented young artist. Brian is an independent singer songwriter who mostly sings folk, acoustic, and soul music that seems to have a message centered on freedom, self expression, expansion, love, and truth.

He's been at it for about 3-4 years on and off now and has encountered some success in the past year.

An Ever Spilling Sun by allowusoncemore

A Dreaming Friend by allowusoncemore



You can find out more on his facebook page.

For booking email Brian at brian.billie@gmail.com

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"The Plains / Bitter Dancer" - Fleet Foxes

Listen.

c w m

PUNK AS FOLK :: The Kossoy Sisters - I Never Will Marry

n o b o a t s

Australian (pop-folk) Invasion

Sleep Decade are local lads from my neck of the woods. I swear they're gonna blow up quick.

 

 

The Holidays' first album (very island rock/pop) was my beach trip soundtrack last summer.

Finally, Gotye is a ridiculous musical mad genius who is seemingly obsessed with oh-so-raw break up songs.  Anyway, this single (with Kimbra - you know her 'Settle Down' track, right? Ah stuff it, I'll include it too) is from his new album that was released last week.

And this track of his still gives me chills 5 years later.

 And here's the Kimbra track