Monday 31 July 2017

Jon Hassell and Brian Eno ‎– "Fourth World Vol. 1 - Possible Musics" (Editions EG ‎– EGED 7) 1980


Around 1980 the horrible blight of white man mucking about with, and in most cases, just openly misappropriating African music began to float to the surface like scum on a millpond.
Lack of ideas lead to such affronts to the exploited people of the birthplace of the homo-sapien like Paul Simon stealing a whole album from Soweten musicians and paying them,basically,fuck, all.
Then we had Peter Gabriel doing the same in the name of political consciousness with 'Biko' and god knows what else in his dodgy eighties back catalogue.
In the 'Pop' world we got Bow Wow Wow and Adam Ant squabbling over who thought of using the Burundi beat backing to their hits first.
The middle classes were seen wearing African print at the WOMAD festivals,and began leaving Bhundu Boys albums openly on their coffee tables.
Personally, I can't stand all that Afro-beat stuff,and the entire 'World Music genre;most of which is just for white people to show how open minded and cosmopolitan they are.
Of course, with all dodgy directions in music there are always a few persons who get it right,....."and Eno" is,as always, one of them.
Ex-Lamonte Young collaborator, Jon Hassell, had developed a bizarre, heavily effected, breathy Trumpet style and an unhealthy interest in recreating landscapes through music......I blame his classical training. In classic Eno style, our Brian, spotted the potential, and as is his way, allied himself with a 'proper' musician to create something innovative and forward moving.
This was the first album I bought that had Eno on it, and was suitably impressed at the success this duo had in recreating something like an aural jungle in my bedroom.This stuff has a smell, like dense, humid, rain forest; and has a sense of danger,like wading through a tropical swamp,not knowing what horrendous creatures lurk below the slick of algae on the surface (maybe a poisonous dwarf like Paul Simon?).
A very rare attempt at merging the third and first worlds, without patronising,or exploiting, indigenous peoples.

Tracklist:

Chemistry 6:48
Delta Rain Dream 3:22
Griot (Over "Contagious Magic") 4:00
Ba-benzélé 6:03
Rising Thermal 14° 16' N; 32° 28' E 3:34
Charm (Over "Burundi Cloud") 21:24


10 comments:

Kaiser said...

Genius!

Pisŧöff said...

All of Hassell's records are amazing. HAve you heard "Last Night the Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes in the Street"? Oh look- a link:

http://pettyvendetta.com/jon-hassell-last-night-the-moon-came-dropping-its-clothes-in-the-street/

-PeaVey

Jonny Zchivago said...

I got volume 2 of possible musics, but never stuck with his many, many releases.....i will explore that naked moon with my probe.

dee_seejay said...

Thanks Jonny and also cheers to Petty Vendetta (another blog I like very much) - looking fwd to listening to both of these today.

icastico said...

classic

Black.Ink.On.Paper said...

Wow, thanks for this posting. The album is hard to find, not even available to buy a download on iTunes or other stores (in my country at least). And the CD is out of print and going for inflated prices on the used market.

Richie Muster said...

Darn it, the pettyvendetta link is dead. Quel dommage!

Bodhi Amol said...

Thanks for this one! Am lying in Hospital again and listening sleeplessly to my all time favoured alternative to horrid new age music crap, the marvelous "Mohonomishe" (Side B1), I was reminded of this masterpiece, which up to now i only had on vinyl and will help to soothe my damaged body and soul further on!

Jonny Zchivago said...

hOSPITAL? Not you too?
Hope you heal.
Being in hospital drives one insane!
I'm with you on the Zoviet France choice.
I did buy that in its tin foil wrapping,and discovered three discs within.So i thought it all was Mohonomishe...apparently i got an accidental bonus by ignorant record retailer boy. I mentioned this before didn't i so i'll shut the fuck up.
Get well soon
JZ

John Warsen said...

Thanks for the post and the record ! I bought other stuff from Jon Hassell, but this one stays on top of the list.