June 2009
W e've long looked to celebrities and creative eccentrics to point the way toward the next big thing. Andy Warhol did so in the late 1960s, putting the "pop" in pop culture, while countless others have been at the crest of the ever-roiling cultural wave of art, fashion and music. It is undeniably beneficial to have these taste makers share their flavor of the month -- otherwise, we might only exult the obvious and praise the passé.Twenty-one years ago, Talking Heads founder and all-around creative genius David Byrne created Luaka Bop Records, his own independent label, as an outlet for exposing emerging musicians on his radar and bands who were rarely a blip on the screens of US listeners before his discovery of them in some Brazilian nightclub or Caribbean port of call. On May 26th, the label celebrated its anniversary with the release of the cleverly titled compilation, 21st Century, 21st Year. With this disc, Luaka Bop showcases its starting lineup of protégés with a roll call that includes Os Mutantes, Jorge Ben, Los Amigos Invisibles, Zap Mama, and Tom Ze. It's an indie-global dance party from start to finish and an affirmation that, regardless of language or nationality, rhythm is the universal language. From tropicalia funk to Portuguese reggae, pop-samba to afro beat, the resulting 15 songs are a multicultural mélange of deliciously danceable grooves. Check out Shuggie Otis's soulful calypso number "Aht Uh Mi Hed" or the sassy Afro-strut of "Keleya" by Moussa Boumbia. Every track gets Byrne's stamp of approval -- mine too. Here's to Luaka Bop Records -- past, present and future. GO BACK TO: |
Luaka Bop:
21st Century, 21st Year
