From: jimh@pongo.Eng.Sun.COM (jim hori)
Newsgroups: rec.music.misc
Subject: Re: Son of the Non-Top Ten Chile (slight return - 6 of 5)
Date: 22 Dec 1992 19:53:05 GMT
Organization: Sun
Distribution: world, rec, usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: pongo

>the judgements of our colleagues. This is a pleasant feeling; all of you
>should post your listing of the interesting work to cross your path
>during the arbitrary circle of light which is the year. Clay? dx (I'm

I am accepting Gregory's invitation to post a personal top 10. I
write for a world music magazine called the Beat, and every year
all the regular columnists plus club jocks, record company people,
and other writers are polled for their top 10 lists. Here is the
one I submitted which will be in the next issue, along with comments.

Top Ten Songs of 1992

1) Tie: Tony Rebel / "Sweet Jamaica" (Digital B 7")
        Jack Radics / "Waiting In Vain" (Mr. Tipsy 7")

I listen to JA music, both old and new, more than anything, and these
two songs, after repeated hearings, still grab me more than anything
I've heard this year. Tony Rebel is a young toaster/singjay who is
the most melodically gifted of current toasters. This song is based
on classic mento melodies and became an unofficial new national anthem
of JA this year based on its emotional evocation of the glories as
well as the problems of Jamaica (along with some suggestions: "mass
production in all the parishes" to lift Jamdown out of its economic
situation). Jack Radics is a newcomer on the JA vocalist scene with
a unique, soul influenced vowel twisting singing style. His remake of
my favorite Marley song cruises along like classic sweet soul music.

2) UMC's / "One To Grow On" (Wild Pitch 12")

One for those whos think rap isn't music. One of the most inventive
few minutes of aural information you will ever hear. Strings, samples,
clever lyric, and forward momentum make for a track both listenable and
danceable.

3) Balenescu Quartet / "No Time Before Time" (from Mute LP "Possessed:
   Music of Byrne, Kraftwerk, Balenescu")

The promotional hook is this string quartet's arrangement of Kraftwerk
songs, but the best thing on the recording is an original composition
by the group's leader, a sweeping, anthemic, and incredibly stirring
piece.

4) Tarika Samy / "Voromby" (from Shanachie LP "World Out of Time")

This album antholgizes various Malagasy (Madagascarian) bands and
was produced and organized by friends and Malagasy music fanatics
Henry Kaiser and David Lindley. There are many wonderful and unique
things here, but this propulsive and beautiful song, that reminds me
of the Byrds, stands out.

5) Chakademus and Pliers / "Gal Wine" (Ossie 12")

The last couple of years in JA have seen a rise in combination style
songs, meaning a pairing of a singer with a toaster, exploiting the
contradictions between a rough, aggressive attack of the toaster, and
a sweet, soul influenced singer. This pair dominated reggae charts
with their "Bam Bam" cover, but this track sounds far better to me:
it's a melodic, rollicking song with some of the feel of New Orleans
RnB, something like, say "Junko Partner". Aiding the sonic kinship
are some live horns.

6) US3 / "Cantaloop" (Bluenote 12")

Out of the acid jazz posse, a song that samples and seamlessly integrates
various Blue Note jams, primarily Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island"
with a rap and a hard new trumpet line.

7) Dirtsman / "Know How Me Stay" (Rhage 7")

Another wicked JA track, furiously rocking, dense with synthesized keyboard
effects, and proof the digital music can be earthy and soulful.

8) Dr. John / "Didn't He Ramble" (from Warner Brothers LP "Going Back
   To New Orleans")

I'm a sucker for the Dr. and even though this isn't as cohesive as
his previous New Orleans music tribute, "Gumbo", the range of songs
and musicians make it a landmark.

9) Louie Rankin / "Tombstone" (Rough Neck 12")

Yet another JA toaster. To these ears, JA music is the most energetic
and inventive music being made. This track is a vital example of the
current JA sound, stripping down things to digital percussiveness,
and letting a toaster or singer flow on top.

10) Chief Ayinde Barrister / "Fuji London Garbage" (from Globestyle LP
    "World Widest, Your Guidest")

Barrister is a long time leader among Nigerian musicians playing the
drum heavy style called Fuji (imagine juju without the guitar layers).
This track diverts from the usual incorporating dub effects in a 
special mix.

11) Gangstarr/Dream Warriors / "I've Lost My Ignorance (And Don't Know
    Where To Find It") (from 4th and Broadway LP "Rebirth of the Cool")

Two leaders of the new school combine on an atmospheric. conscious
rap that shows how the form can transcend its origins to produce
something completely unique. This doesn't sound like anything else
out there. (The rest of this compilation is strong as well, combining
new school rappers, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, UMC's, etc, with acid
jazzers like Ronny Jordan.)

....
jimh@west.sun.com
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