musical sanity

[http://www.place.org/~cwage/sounds/Bebel_Gilberto-Samba_Da_Bencao.mp3] (Bebel Gilberto - Samba Da Bencao)

[http://www.place.org/~cwage/sounds/Bebel_Gilberto-Bananeira.mp3] (Bebel Gilberto - Bananeira)

[http://www.place.org/~cwage/sounds/Bebel_Gilberto-Tanto_Tempo.mp3] (Bebel Gilberto - Tanto Tempo)

Bebel Gilberto's Tanto Tempo -- Possibly one of the most laid-back relaxing albums I have ever heard. She takes bossanova to a whole new level. As my last.fm profile will testify, I have practically had this album on repeat permanently. Grab this album and pretend you're on a beach with a caipirinha in hand, and it'll help you trudge through the dreary remainder of winter.

[http://www.place.org/~cwage/sounds/Konono-Paradiso.mp3] (Konono No. 1 - Paradiso)

[http://www.place.org/~cwage/sounds/Konono-Kule_Kule_Reprise.mp3] (Konono No. 1 - Kule Kule Reprise)

Konono No. 1's Congotronics -- This is a fascinating album that sorta snuck up on me. I saw it reviewed on emusic but didn't give it much thought, but they really hyped the hell out of it, so I gave it another listen and then downloaded it. It has an interesting backstory -- here's the description from the Konono No. 1 website:

KONONO N°1 was founded over 25 years ago by Mingiedi, a virtuoso of the likembé (a traditional instrument sometimes called “sanza” or “thumb piano”, consisting of metal rods attached to a resonator). The band’s line-up includes three electric likembés (bass, medium and treble), equipped with hand-made microphones built from magnets salvaged from old car parts, and plugged into amplifiers. There’s also a rhythm section which uses traditional as well as makeshift percussion (pans, pots and car parts), three singers, three dancers and a sound system featuring these famous megaphones.

It’s really grown on me, though it’s particularly suited to more ambient listening – I like to put it on when I’m doing some heads-down programming or writing a particularly bitingly sarcastic blog post. The rather frenetic pace of the music gives me a little bit of energy. I dig it.