Search - Various Artists, Tchad Blake :: Document: Zimbabwe

Amazing & Frustrating Eclectic Field Rec' (Music & Envi.)

D. McDavitt | Arlington, VA United States | 06/05/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tchad Blake (producer for Bonnie Raitt & various world music artists) has created an interesting aural (not solely music) snapshot of a trip across Zimbabwe in 1994. Using fascinating technology (binaural recording) he explored the environment, recording events in stereo with a small microphone in each ear. This sounds best on headphones where the separation between ears is greatest/most natural.Expecting primarily musical documentation, I was disappointed somewhat by the dearth of musical tracks. The environmental/ambience tracks are interesting, but warrant only one listening- I find myself skipping them now. There are really only 7 tracks (of 19) worthy of repeated listening. Sound quality is inconsistent- even within songs (especially regarding volume & clarity) perhaps due to what direction Tchad was facing. Also- many musical tracks are frustratingly short (cut-off mid song)- interrupting the groove & your enjoyment (hit the repeat button!). Having said that- the good 7 are wonderfully interesting, diverse, raw, real local performances and likely unlike anything you've heard outside of Zimbabwe! Liner notes are disorganized and lack deep information (designed to look like a doodled-on travel journal). Recommended for serious lovers of Africa & African music (keeping track to price ratio in mind).The BEST tracks :
2/3**-Shona acapella singing (like Ladysmith Black Mambazo), 5** lovely Chimurenga band (like Thomas Mapfumo), 14. **Traditional jaw harp & vocals, 15.** Hunters drum dance at music festival, 18.** Trad. praise song to chief (echoey hall), 19. **Electric Afropop band in bar (12/8- like heavy Chimurenga)The REST:
1-Kitchen cooking sounds, 4. City taxi drivers beckoning customers, 6. Discussion about a band, 7. Bland mbira (thumb piano) playing (with vocal melody) band from previous track, 8. Western style parade marching band (slight African lilt), 9. Poetry read in echoey hall (in Shona?), 10/11. Sounds of an approaching storm (with added banjo/harp player #11), 12. Mediocre band- swing/50's rock/township mixed style, 13. City street sounds with Max Mapfumo (Thomas' brother)'s music playing on a distant radio), 16. Kids in an apartment building, 17. Difficult to hear Shona acapella singing (like Ladysmith Black Mambazo)An interesting first recording in a binaural series from WOMAD."