https://www.nts.live/shows/dactylian-and-palo-santo/episodes/dactylian-palo-santo-discos-19th-july-2021

Dactylian & Palo Santo Discos 190721

This episode of Island Time brings us a special mix from @morgan-greenstreet , a musician, DJ, and journalist based in New York. Here he gives us a deep dive into a style of music called simpa – in his words:

Simpa is a style of neo-traditional popular music of the Dagbani people of the north of Ghana. It exists in two overlapping forms: the live, acoustic session of drumming, singing and dancing – for example the group Kakpag-Yili Wait and See – and the highly produced electro-simpa versions created for sale in the local DVD market. These hard-driving tracks are produced by DJ/producers like Ebony and DJ Chare/Charlie with star singers like Dickson Gawan and Yaa Naraa.

For the traditional version, the drummers build their own drums from metal barrels, even making their own kick drum pedals. Some groups use a trumpet live and these answering melodic lines are represented by synths for the electro versions. The dancers are almost exclusively young women, and the dance is all about rapid, suggestive waist shaking.

I first heard simpa when I was in Tamale in the Northern region of Ghana in 2015. As my friend Saeed Alhassan Dawuni and I were running around town recording traditional music events for an Afropop Worldwide program, I kept hearing incredible local pop music blasting from car stereos and shops. Saeed and I visited a few music shops but they didn’t have anything like the stuff I’d been hearing. Eventually we visited a friend of Saeed’s who filled up a thumb drive with assorted low bitrate mp3s which I combed through for months after the trip, resulting in a Dagbani pop mix for Afropop (https://soundcloud.com/afropop-worldwide/dagbani-pop). One track on that mix really stood out for me, a twenty minute, fast-paced percussion-driven tune (mis)labeled “ebony hiphop.” Saeed identified the artist as Dickson Gawan and the style as simpa, and from there my interest deepened. We’ve been in touch in the years since then and Saeed keeps feeding my need for simpa with regular batches of new tracks. Through Saeed, I’m in touch with Dickson Gawan and plan to visit Tamale when feasible to work on a compilation of simpa for international release. Special thanks as well to Dave Ewenson who recorded “Kakpag-Yili Wait and See” and shared some insights into neo-traditional simpa with me.

Tracks are from Dickson Gawan, Bala Zaaku, Alhassan Kukoo Naa, Sala Takoro and Sumaya Yaanara and all of these tracks are produced by either Ebony or Dj Chare/Charlie. Many of these can be found with accompanying videos on youtube

Image in artwork is from video by Dave Ewenson

Island Time Radio  Mix 39 With Modrums (Simpa Special)

Buy 12"/Stream: darker-than-wax.lnk.to/bodyclockvol2

Following the release of their debut ’Bodyclock‘ series in 2020, Singaporean label Darker Than Wax now unveil the second volume of the series, presenting the identity of the label’s sprawling worldwide family. The first volume, a natural extension of the label’s DNA, illustrated an attack of nocturnal club sounds, rooted in the culture curated by the pioneers of dancefloor music. BodyClock Vol.2 sees the new school of producers push the limits of musical self-discovery.

Compiled by DTW label co-founder Dean Chew, ‘Bodyclock Vol.2’ sees Darker Than Wax curating a cross-continental offering, highlighting the work of eight producers living around the world - dipping into the respective scenes of Vancouver, Osaka & Tokyo, Cape Town, Vienna, Karachi, Amsterdam & beyond. ‘Bodyclock Vol.2’ takes listeners on a globally diverse and greatly vivid dance journey.

Opening with Laza’s ‘WTBWH’ (the project’s first single) - the record’s pace is quickly set, with intense, driving drum patterns and soulful reverberating keys. Throughout the project, acid laced tracks from label alumni Akio Nagase and newcomer Tollcrane meet left-field ethereal movements from B.Visible and Teo Mattress. Joined by RGL’s 80’s-esque sleazy sonics and UNOS’s 2-step drums and oscillating basslines. BodyClock Vol.2 is closed out by Tiro!’s ‘Charcuterie’ - which rolls gently through the ether, supplying icey keys and calming frequencies. Another essential slice of worldwide dancefloor action from the Darker Than Wax camp.

Bodyclock Vol.2

Teo Mattress - Church of Water (BODYCLOCK Vol. 2)

We are back on Island Time after a little break. This week, we are zooming into the Plurinational state of Bolivia and taking a look at the rock music scene through its growth and permutations. Selections ranging from the scrappy garage rock of the late 60s to the New Wave ventures of the late 80s. In between we work through some Beatles and Elvis inspiration, into far out psychedelia, heavy prog, Andean folk-fusion and much more!

Tracklist::

Los Chabacanos - Siempre Te He Amado
Yandira - Marzio
Los Tigres - Que Belleza
Los Ovnis - Gente Pobre
Los Ecos - La Gran Pelea
50 de Marzo - Chapare
Dhag Dhags - Realidad
Los Grillos - Cuando Tenga La Tierra
Climax - Cuerpo eléctrico / Embrión de reencarnación
Sol Simiente Sur - Cochabamba
Wara - Cancion Para Una Niña Triste
Los Ecos - Y Volverás en Ese Barco Azul
Luz de America - K. Jee
Los Ronisch - Recuerdo de Maria
IVIA - Palabras

Island Time Radio: Mix 41 - Bolivian Rock, Psych, Soul

Natty Wylah was live from the studio. He eased us into Friday with laid-back jazz, experimental electronic, old school hip-hop and more.

Natty Wylah - November 2021

This month Jake de Glanville invited LA-based DJ Alaia onto the Obscura show, playing soul, g-funk, boogie and more. Soulful Sunday morning selections inside.

Obscura w/ Jake de Glanville & Alaia - December 2021

Our latest Macondo mix comes from record shop journeyman Thomas Kitchman. He has spent the last three years residing in the basement of Flashback Records after learning his craft from two years greasing the cogs of Phonica Records’ mail order underbelly. Thomas has a long-running residency on Netil Radio under the name of Mondegreen, which is also his record label. 2021 saw the release of second vinyl instalment from burning jazz outfit The Ferg Ireland Trio.

Thomas’ mix contains modern interpretations of tunes from Leroy Jenkins, Archie Shepp, The Residents and a timeless Anglo-Scots sea shanty. It fuses together a heady mix of contemporary jazz; taking in various permutations of folk, electronica and free improvisation before settling into a heavy groove and culminating in the otherworldly, floating sounds of Ruth Goller and Ernst Reijseger.

Tracklist here:
https://www.musicamacondo.com/2022/02/macondo-mix-005-thomas-kitchman-mondegreen/

Macondo Mix 005: Thomas Kitchman (Mondegreen)

Mini mix with music by B.P, Meitei, Green-House, AG-VO, Joda Foerster & Nick Kramer, Francesco Cavaliere & Tomoko Sauvage, Landtitles and Shuta Yasukochi.

https://www.nts.live/shows/sarah-davachi/episodes/sarah-davachi-11th-april-2022

Le Jardin w/ Sarah Davachi 110422

Darker Than Wax FM, hosted by Marco Weibel every Saturday afternoon. Ever so present yet deeply rooted, we move through two hours of diverse rhythms and globally free frequencies with regular notable guests. This week features a guest set from Milan based DJ / Producer Turbojazz.

@darkerthanwax, @turbojazz, @marcoweibel

Darker Than Wax With Turbojazz & Marco Weibel @ The Lot Radio 09 - 10 - 2022

Indie baby-arflthy

Island Time Radio is a community project from Alex Coppola @xela-music plus guests. A monthly mix series exploring African, Latin, Caribbean, off-the-grid 
international and underground music.

Open-World streaming every 2nd Saturday of the month, 3-4PM EST on @great-circles