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Contemporary pop music from the Sahara desert, where songs are stored on cellphones. Collected in Northern Mali in 2010 (since taken over by extremists who’ve banned music on cellphones) the second volume expands into new sonic territory – from dreamy Niger guitar ballads, Bamako club juke, to hi energy Moroccan child Raï – with a focus on the Autotuned DIY creations circulating the desert.

Get the vinyl here.

Boomarm Nation & Sahel Sounds Present:

Music For Saharan Cellphones: The International ReWorks

In 2010 returning from extensive travel in Mali and Mauritania, Chris Kirkley (Sahel Sounds) presented “Music from Saharan Cellphones”. The music on the compilation was collected from cellphones in the Northern Malian town of Kidal. In much of West Africa, cellphones are are used as all-purpose multimedia devices. In lieu of personal computers and high speed internet, cellphones house portable music collections, playback songs on tiny built-in speakers, and swap files through peer-to-peer Bluetooth wireless transfer. The songs collected in Kidal range from DIY Tuareg guitar, auto-tuned Moroccan chaabi, Malian coupé décalé, and fruityloop hip hop. Originally released as a limited run cassette tape by Mississippi Records in Portland OR, the cassette was uploaded to blogs and online media hubs, and quickly became a viral source of new and inspiring sounds.

Boomarm Nation and Sahel Sounds present “Music For Saharan Cellphones”. Drawing on gifted producers and musicians from a variety of stylistic backgrounds and nationalities, each artist selected and re-interpreted a musical moment from the source material. From bass laden sound/clash ventures, abstract re-creations, and even an amazing autotune cover, the end result holds a rich assortment of well informed musical statements. Reflecting the energy and fidelity of its origins, these versions take on their own rare and exciting form. Using the mp3 as the medium, the Music and the Musicians become the diplomacy.

This compilation is be available in 3 formats:

1- FREE digital download (w/option to donate) via bandcamp.

2- A limited Edition cassette tape. (released by Mississippi Records.)

3- MicroSD card. (limited to 30- hand numbered cards, which we will be shipping to Kidal, Mali where they will be redistributed and uploaded into the vast web of digital musics.)

In addition, a limited edition 7” single of Mdou Moctar’s autotune masterpiece “Tahoultine” b/w Gulls remix, will be co-released by Boomarm Nation and Sahel Sounds in November 2011, followed by a 12″ LP of “Music from Saharan Cellphones” by Sahel Sounds.

Beim mittaglichen Frühstück stießen wir grade auf dieses Mixtape, dass wohl schon eine Weile unverschämterweise ohne mein Wissen existiert. Wie der Name schon vermuten lässt, ist es eine Zusammenstellung von Musik von Mobiltelefonen aus der Sahararegion. Klingt seltsam interessant und hört sich auch genau so an.

Hier schonmal ein Track zum reinhören, welcher sich für mich etwas so anhört wie eine Mixtur aus runtergepitchtem Shangaan Electro und Boards of Canada.

Die Kassette kam bei Mississippi Records raus ist aber soweit ich das sehen kann leider schon vergriffen. Aber, wie bei allem anderen gilt auch hier:

Beim netten Oneclickhoster nebenan bekommst dus noch.