Monday's Long Song

 

It was summer 1988 when Les Negresses Vertes released their first album Mlah and became the soundtrack for this season. With elements of punk, waltz, polka, flamenco and rai, plus political lyrics, they are at the forefront of a movement that, with Manu Chao's Mano Negra, conveyed a new image of France internationally at the end of the 80s/beginning of the 90s. They sounded fresh and earthed and the whole album is still a forgotten gem. In 1993 they released a 10 Remixes, an album where artists like Massive Attack, Gang Starr and William Orbit reworked their songs and showed how much potential their songs had. 

Les Negresses Vertes - Zobi La Mouche (William Orbit Remix)

American Gypsy Punk

 

Last week our friend SWC named Gogol Bordello on his latest competition. That is enough to give them again a place at this little place in the net. Formed by Eugene Hütz in 1999 in NYC as a punk-rock band and inspired by Romani and Ukrainian music mixed with punk and dub and adding traditional instruments like accordion and violin to their sound. I saw them live almost 40 years ago in a small venue around my place and was excited of their presence. Eastern gypsy sound meet punk and it was a pleasure to see them. They had so much power in their sound and could compared to Les Negretes Vertes or Nyah Fearties. It is music I didn't listen to for a long time but still fascinated of these elementary sound.

10 Remixes

 

2020 has it's last day and I am glad that it is over. This year brought experiences that I never expected. The pandemic changed nearly everything I used to have and I can't remember staying in distant to many friends before. Knowing that we start into the new year with the same routine my hope is that we will have a better time round next summer. The last songs for this year are from the French music collective Les Négresses Vertes take from their superb album 10 Remixes from 1993 where different artists remixed their songs from their first album.

All the best to you people and stay safe.

Les Negresses Vertes - Zobi La Mouche (William Orbit Remix)

Les Negresses Vertes - Face á la mer (Massive Attack Remix)