Along with his records, he offers us the image of someone truly in love with African music, truly in love with Africa.
Since we were in touch with him, we decided to propose him to realize a selection of tracks for the blog. Thing that he accepted with great enthusiasm.
Tristan Cordier, better known as Melody Neslon in the little world of african records collectors, became very respected for his amazing record sells on eBay. Always strongly awaited, his records lists - as they are called - could be qualified as between the very best and the rarest of African music.
Indeed, Melody Nelson offered to buyers a very very lot of stunning records, thing for which we are all extremely grateful to him. But his listings also have a very singular characteristic, the records are always reviewed in a very personal way which denotes a very sensitive person completely impassioned for African music.
Very little is known about him, he always remains discreet and never looked for some kind of "king of records" glory - disease unfortunately too present in the record world. Along with his records, he offers us the image of someone truly in love with African music, truly in love with Africa.
Since we were in touch with him, we decided to propose him to realize a selection of tracks for the blog. Thing that he accepted with great enthusiasm.
He returns to us with those words:
I chose 11 tracks from 11 different countries. As a good Senegalese, I naturally gave priority to West Africa, adding a song from Congo... I have placed them in geographical order, from west to east ...
I do not know if you'll need it, but I've written a review for each and at the end, some words about me... Mostly, do not hesitate to tell me if it is not good enough, both in the musical choices as in the texts.
I sent you the sound files through WeTransfer and the scans of the covers in an email. If all goes well, I think that the only thing missing is my photo!"
Tristan, please know that your selection and your texts are absolutely perfect and we are very grateful for the time you took and the dedication you put to prepare all this.
And now, dear reader, please now press the play button to enter Tristan's Africa and scroll down to discover more about him, read his words regarding each track and see somes pics from Africa that he sent us.
Have a nice trip!
01° Bana // Pontin Pontin from "Disco" LP on Capriccio - 1970 - Cabo Verde
02° Orchesta Number One de Dakar // Yaye Boy from "Vol 1" LP on Private label - 1978 - Senegal
03° Idrissa Soumaoro & l'Eclipse de l'I.J.A. // Nissodia from "Le Tioko Tioko" LP on Eterna - 1978 - Mali
04° Compare Issouf & The Noble Kings // Kadiogo from "Kadiogo" LP on Lido Musique - 1978 - Burkina Fasso
05° Super Mama Djombo // Seiango from "Na Cambança" LP on Cobiana - early 80's - Guinea Bissau
06° Amara Toure // Lamento Cubano from 7" single on Sonafric - 1975 - Guinea Conakry
07° Soro Ngana & son Ensemble Guilaha-Na // Mon Falou-man from "Côte d'Ivoire, c'est bon" LP on Soro Disco - early 80's - Ivory Coast
08° Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National // Onwunwa from 7" single on Philips - 60's - Ghana
09° Stanislas Tohon & Les Satelites // Yallow from 7" single on Satel - 70's - Benin
10° I.K. Dairo & his Blue Spots // Salome from 7" single on Decca - 1962 - Nigeria
11° Kalle & l'African Team de Paris // Africa Boogalo from 7" single on African - 1970 - Congo
My passion for movies led me to Brussels at the age of 20... My love for a woman in Senegal at the age of 28...
I spent 10 years in Dakar. I opened (not alone) a music store (selling tapes and cds) and I created (not alone...) a monthly party called "koulgraoul" (reaching 700 to 800 people from the 4 sides of the world, boys and girls, young and older, even from different social background... mixed music for everyone...).
Back in Belgium in 2006, I specialized in selling African records and also animating (djing) Afro parties from time to time...
CABO VERDE
Bana "pontin pontin" (from the lp "Disco") - 70's - Capriccio
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There is a big Cape Verdian community in Dakar. All Djs play funana, coladeira, kuduro in every parties... There was a restaurant in the 90's called "Les Iles" where a band used to play every sunday. This is where I discovered this song of Bana (one of the major artists of Cape Verde).
Total wickness for this song... Power of the nostalgia. Absolute romance.
The top of the "Saudade". To listen to, to dance, to cry, to scream... and to love.
SENEGAL
Orchesta Number One de Dakar "Yaye Boy" (from the lp "Vol 1") - 1978 - Private label
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For me, not easy to choose one track from Senegal.
I thought about Etoile De Dakar with Youssou Ndour…”Thiely" from the album “Xalis" is one of my favorite. Or of course, Orchestra Baobab.
But there is two records that I always take with me for parties : Number One (vol 1 & 2). I love to play "Nongi-nongi", “Guajira-ben" and “Yaye Boy" (listen to the fabulous voice of Pape Seck !). Base of mbalax (modern senegalese music) mixed with latin rhythms.
The best sides of Orchestre Baobab and Etoile de Dakar together...
MALI
Well... Which band? Wich town? Kanaga de Mopti? Mystere Jazz de Tombouctou? Sidi Yassa de Kayes? Super Djata de Bamako?...
Ah, the vastness of Manding music...the power of "Mandjou" (Ambassadeurs)....
Idrissa Soumaoro & l' Eclipse de l'I.J.A. "Nissodia" (from the lp "Le Tioko Tioko") - 1978 - Eterna
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My meeting with Idrissa Soumaoro in 2009 in Bamako was really impressive...
Author-composer, singer, organist and music teacher, Idrissa Soumaoro is the author of the timeless hit «Ancien Combattant» which was first recorded in 1968 in the studios of Radio Mali. The recording was stolen, sold for a few CFA francs and edited (4 tracks EP) in Ivory Coast. Covered in 1974 by Balla et ses Balladins and popularised by Zao in 1978, Idrissa has never earned a cent of copyright on this track, and this up today!!!
The album "Le Tioko Tioko" was recorded in 1978 with the young blinds from the school where Idrissa was teaching music (he still teaches there nowadays). The orchestra’s name, the Eclipse, is a metaphor (sun/moon, day/night, blind/non blind). It is also a piece of history. It's the first recording of Amadou and Mariam! In partnership with a German institute, this record was given as a gift but never sold on the market. And it seems that most of them have been lost or destroyed during the revolution in 1991...
Words are really too poor to describe the musical miracle of this recording. Some records are essential. This one certainly is. It contains musical, instrumental and lyrical flights. Completely psychedelic by all meanings of the word. A devastating organ (played by Idrissa), a fabulous guitar with rock and funk tones (Amadou), an enchanting voice (Mariam). And the top is probably "Nissodia"...
Compare Issouf & The Noble Kings "Kadiogo" (from the lp "kadiogo") - 1978 - Lido Musique
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Total hypnosis... you ride on a camel... sand on your skin... your bones heated up... desert as far as your can see... lost sens of orientation... the Harmattan blows on your cheeks... your sight becomes blurred... encens plumes... the snake charmer... the dancer’s belly... misleading glows... the buried oasis... 1001 nights... hallucination?
No, “Kadiago” is probably not a mirage... you certainly are where you think you are. Compare Issouf brought you there. And he will take you there as often as you wish. A journey from west to east Africa, between Mauritania and Ethiopia... Absolutely fascinating !
GUINEA BISSAU
Super Mama Djombo "Seiango" (from the lp "Na cambança") - Early 80's - Cobiana
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A small country, a small musical production. But something unique in the sound... Super Mama Djombo is a major musical discovery for me... Particular style, many influences (soukouss, psyche, afro-beat, coladeira, latin, folk...), divine feelings. If you want more informations, please, call an angel!
GUINEA CONAKRY
Amara Toure "Lamento cubano" (single) - 1975 - Sonafric
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Of course, there is the inevitable Syliphone label. And a small production beside... but Amara Toure with his unique lp (as far I know) and 3 singles only... "Lamento Cubano" is one of the most beautiful afro-latin song that I know.
What a feeling ! Sublime...To cry or die right know! Plenty of nostalgia and sadness... I imagine all the African continent, dancing and singing with this really wonderful musical masterpiece...you can close your eyes, it works! I already see your tears behind your eyelids...
Soro Ngana & son Ensemble Guilaha-Na "Mon falou-man" (from the lp "Côte d'Ivoire, c'est bon") - Early 80's - Soro Disco
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No hesitation! I'm crazy about this record! Irresistible! Incomparable rhythms! Mind-expanding musical kaleidoscope!
"Mon falou-man"? Pure madness ! Afro lunacies ! Rampageous afro-beat/soukouss, interminable rhythm with guitar looping and alien cosmic sounds, nasty organ...
Feverish transe !
GHANA
Celestine Ukwu & his Philosophers National "Onwunwa" (single) - 60's - Philips
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So much things produced, so much things reissued (mostly funky highlife, afro-funk and afro-beat productions)... I found a single of Celestine Ukwu, a fantastic deep highlife...
BENIN
Stanislas Tohon & Les Satelites "Yallow" (single) - 70's - Satel - single
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Obviously, I was tempted by Poly Rhythmo. Or Gnonnas Pedro. Finally, I chose a less obvious single... but that I like very much...
Indescriptible. Total Tropical dancefloor bomb!
Really groovy, makossa rhythm with soukouss reminiscences, wonderful vocals, amazing organ, heady drums, and a fantastic irresistible melody (famous in the whole continent...the same that you will find in Boma l'heure (Franco), Nosala tokosalaka (Matata) and of course, popularized by Sam Fan Thomas, has covered the universal "African Typic Collection".
NIGERIA
I.K. Dairo & his Blue Spots "Salome" (single) - 1962 - Decca
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Huge country, huge musical industry...
I intentionally left out the amazing afro-funk and afro-beat production to take a folk single from the 60's, juju-highlife style.
Efficient for the dancefloor...it's delighting to play it between heavier stuff!
CONGO
Kalle & l'African Team de Paris "Africa boogalo" (single) - 1970 - African
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10 tracks? No, 11 ! As a football team!
Impossible to forget the biggest african country and his huge musical influence on the whole continent.
This is one of my favorite track. Irresistible. It was the generic of my radio show and I like to play it first for afro-parties...
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