ishmaelites

Monday, May 30, 2011

Songs of the Universal Week

This week's sounds come from an as yet-unsigned, spectral presence in music over the past few years. The artist calling himself "Y. Misdaq aka Yoshi" has released some startlingly original LPs over the past few years, not to mention a hilarious and touching novel and some fresh short films including this classic. He even went to Libya recently in his guise a videographer for Democracy Now! and sent back two choice reports on the Libyan resistance's shoestring media effort and the plight of African & South Asian migrant workers stuck at the borders unable to escape respectively. It's safe to say that due by mixing of his sensitive artistic style with factual reportage, he's created a whole new style of his own as the reports illustrate. He's also the guest Ishmaelite who reviewed the Shabazz Palaces NYC gig above. His new LP is entitled Maghreb Isha and Space and sounds like nothing else out there. Below is his self-produced video for the first single, and also a link to a 3 part piece (Dream Suite) of which the last third is my favourite. It was at the Shabazz Palaces gig that he had a chance to say whatsup to Palaceer Lazaro, and give him a copy of his new album. Ish later wrote back with the thumbs up, saying how much he was digging it.

Y.Misdaq aka Yoshi - Dawn Song (off the LP Maghreb Isha and Space, 2010, Nefisa UK)

Yoshi - Dawn Song from Nefisa UK on Vimeo.

Y.Misdaq aka Yoshi - Dream Suite: i) Toki / The Untangling ii) Song of Delicious Affirmation iii) Returning Dream about Eternity / The Stars in Space (off the LP Maghreb Isha and Space, 2010, Nefisa UK)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

the last poets

A new track is on GvB but listen to this if you think the closing chant's genealogy is to be traced baclk no further than reachin:

and this which you'll find familiar if you've heard barksdale corners or been to the shows:

From a recent interview:

THEE: Describe your first experience with the Last Poets?

PL: Jalil is my favorite rapper of all time. I was with my pops in Philly driving in the Duster when WPFW played "E Pluribus Unum" and my little mind was blown. Jalil remains the pinnacle of wordsmanship. The last poet.

this here blog gives more away about the link:

http://milkcratebreaks.blogspot.com/2008/12/last-poets-jazzoetry.html

but there are many more. remember in "3 slims dynamite" when butter rapped "i peel with omar, jalil, and sulaiman"

also check the excellent writing of kalamu ya salaam on the breath of life blog (which did that excellent cherrywine piece years ago) introducing them here.

the moral of the blog entry is listen to the last poets if it's the last thing you do.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Weekly Love

Thanks to Stacia for reminding me of the sunrising brilliance of Ish's classic collab with Seattle's Hardison (pictured above) from the Cherrywine era. Check out Hardison's smashing new album Alphanus Rolandri, available as a free download on their website. If you're feeling Slower Than Love, why not pick it up for like a dollar (79 pence in the UK) on itunes.

Hardison & Ish - Slower Than Love (off the LP Time and Cash, Dig Records, 2006)

Sunday, May 15, 2011

shiny new interview

Nice new interview thanks to Passion of the Weiss. The answer to the last question blew my socks off, as the Palaceer drops some gold dust about the new album's packaging.

Question in the Form of an Answer: Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces - interview by Douglas Martin

Tune of the Week

Gonjasufi - Duet (off the LP A Sufi and a Killer, Warp Records, 2010)

This is I think a fan-made video for one of my favourite Gonjasufi tracks. Gonjasufi is actually Ish's younger cousin and in this interview he mentions how Ish gave him advice and books when he was was growing up. There's a more substantial interview here thanks to The Quietus where he talks more about Sufism, living in America, and how he approaches his art.