CD of the week:
Saharadja: One World
Crossover crew Saharadja hail from Indonesia with a sound that is led by classically trained Australian violinist Sally Jo. They have arrived in Johannesburg for a run in dowdy Randburg, having done a couple of gigs in Cape Town.
The band played at a peace and unity event for the victims of the Bali bombing in 2002. This seems appropriate in light of the fact that theirs is a style that transcends any form of cultural fundamentalism. In fact Saharadja seem to break with touristy stereotypes while sticking a little too closely to the fashionable formula we’ve come to expect from chilled-out world music.
Their sound is, however, pretty and infectious and there are enough traditional instruments such as the tabla, sarod, didgeridoo, jembes and flamenco guitar to lend it an air of authenticity. There are elements of acid jazz (although nobody’s quite sure what that is) with bandleader Rio Sidik of Surabaya providing pastiches of the kind of trendy trumpet work heard in outfits like US3.
Available in tandem with their arrival is their independently released album One World, showing their versatility, as well as Sally Jo’s evident love of Afro-Celtic funk. There is even a track called Celtic Jungle to prove it.
There is an unusual adaptation of Johannes Brahms’s totally kitsch Hungarian Dance that launches itself, believe it or not, with a didgeridoo solo. The band’s theme song, aptly called Saharadja, is played in a saucy klezmer-style (although without the clarinet) and the album rounds off with a romantic tribute by Sally Jo to her hometown in Springtime in Perth.
Win CDs and tickets
We are giving away five pairs of tickets to see Saharadja at the Showcase in Jo’burg from Tuesday to Thursday before February 8. Also, three readers can each win a copy of their One World CD. A HREF=”mailto:[email protected]”>E-mail your details before Friday January 30 with the subject line “M&G/Saharadja”.
Dawnay: 2nd Coming (EMI)
A distinctly happy and catchy beat, with lyrics that anyone can relate to. While enjoyable as background music, the tracks emanate a funkiness that makes them impossible not to sing along to. One-third of the album is remixes, but it’s entertaining listening.— Nicola Mawson
Roger Goode: The Saturday Surgery (Gallo)
Goode, real Goode. The 5fm DJ/producer has compiled a tropical, funky collection of dance tracks, bringing an irresistible. summery, island beach-party vibe. Pour those daquiris and turn up the volume … Dr Goode is in the house. — Riaan Wolmarans
Tank: One Man (David Gresham)
The first two tracks on this CD are for all intents and purposes a waste of time and space. I still can’t understand why artists will record two minutes of nonsense under the pretext that it is a prelude of things to come. But if the shorter version of the title track was meant as some sort of foreplay, then I have to concede that in this case it works well. The title track itself sees Tank emerge to showcase his range as a talented R&B vocalist. The track Supa Sexy hints of the influence of master crooner Marvin Gaye. The lyrics are smooth and when accompanied by Tank’s velvety voice, they will turn up the heat with someone significant. — Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya