Ojai Ojai
Alright, this is epic. If you want to drift over the edges of space and time, to hear voices from the liminal zone, to feel connected with the elemental, then this bizarre piece of work is the place to be. It's hypnotic and transcendent, and it's the perfect antidote to modern life. Dig deep. Enjoy.
Ambient field recordings collected across the Western Sahel. Sounds of desert oases, late night radio broadcasts, village calls to prayer, and riverboats drifting down the Niger river. A nice companion piece to the musical work from the blog, this an hommage to the sounds that don't always find their way onto records.
Tracklist:
SIDE A
Prayer call, Soninke Mosque, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Wolof grief, Radio, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Dogs barking at night, Cinquieme, Mauritania
Phone credit sellers, Cinquieme, Mauritania
Balcony at sunset, Marche Capital, Nouakchott, Mauritania
Woman Singing at Well, Zarga, Chinguetti, Mauritania
Children playing drums, old city, Chinguetti, Mauritania
Medah drumming, old city, Chinguetti, Mauritania
Shortwave radio emission, Timtindech, Mauritania
Prayer call, Timtindech, Mauritania
Loading pinasse on river, Mopti, Mali
Ali Farka cassette, pinasse, Niger River, Mali
Clapping games, Niafounke, Mali
Girl and Mother singing, Niafounke, Mali
Sahl Le Guindo, ndjarka, Niafounke, Mali
Video game sounds, Niafounke, Mali
Morning recordings, Timbouctou, Mali
Bella women, mortar and pestle, Timbouctou, Mali
Mohammad Bidega, thumb piano, Timbouctou, Mali
SIDE B
Children with drums in old town, Timbouctou, Mali
Sounds of cellphones, night bus rest stop, Douentza, Mali
Karate practice, Gao, Mali
Ibrahim Iz and Coco, rooftop night guitar music, Gao, Mali
Shortwave radio recording, Gao, Mali
Takamba, radio emission, Gao, Mali
Issawat, Festival Tamosonghoi, Bourem, Mali
Aki, Towti, and Teyti, Issawat, Djounhan, Mali (Azawad)
Ambience of nomad camp, Djounhan, Mali (Azawad)
Camels return at night, Djounhan, Mali (Azawad)
Mariama and kids, bileebal, Djounhan, Mali (Azawad)
Mohamed, Yerodi, takhanit flute, Kidal, Mali (Azawad)
credits
released February 21, 2018
Recorded by Christopher Kirkley in Mauritania & Mali
2009-2012
supported by 207 fans who also own “Field Recordings from the Sahel”
You don't even need to read the info to know they are singing of peace and love energy. this is such pure music -- not in a fetishization of ethnic music kinda way. it's so clear that this all resonates from a heart center. the recordings are raw and encapsulate sitting literally anywhere except a recording studio making music. love this to pieces. sumptuous