Music guide: series 3, episode 3
Tracks:
Mapaputsi - KlevaDJ Zhao - Kwaito
Buraka Som Sistema - Luanda Lisboa
Kanda Bongo Man - Lela Lela
Skinned Teen - Pillow Case Kisser
Barry White - Gonna Love You
Toumani Diabate - Bi Lamban
Mamadou Cissokho - Kora composition
Kanda Bongo Man - Sango
Kanda Bongo Man - Isambe
Fat Segal - Desperate Housewives
Fat Segal - Class Drumming
Gregory Isaacs - Rumours
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love
Buraka Som Sistema - Sem Makas
Various Production - Diver
Aphex Twin - Untitled 10
Bhundu Boys - Ring of Fire
Mapaputsi - Kleva
Eye Adaba - Dramatico
Buraka Som Sistema - Yah
I think we've beaten Vampire Weekend here by smuggling more African music into mainstream teenage culture than they've ever done. Go Skins.
Mapaputsi - Kleva - Sheer
The episode begins with Thomas dancing to this track, it came out on the awesome Sheer Records, who are based in South Africa and were the guys who first put out DJ Mujava's 'Township Funk'. If this episode came out a year earlier you know that we would have put that track in the show.
I found this Kwaito track on a mix by a guy called DJ Zhao.
Buraka Som Sistema - Luanda Lisboa - Fabric
This time we get some Portuguese interpretations of Angolan Kuduro courtesy of BSS. I voted BBS' live show as one of my highlights of the 2008 - you seriously should go to see them.
There's some library music then in the shop - I hoped to play a Bollywood soundtrack or some Hindustani classical music, but you know budgets and everything.
Kanda Bongo Man - Lela Lela
After a bit of circumnavigation we're finally in The Congo. The legendary Kanda Bongo Man reinvented the genre of Soukous by adding more guitar solos and shortening the overall structure to create Kwassa Kwassa which is basically a funner version of Soukous. I think Vampire Weekend have a song with the same name and it is the first of three times we use KBM.
Skinned Teen - Pillow Case Kisser - Wiiija
Skinned Teen are the greatest Riot Grrrl track of all time - it's the kinda music I would imagine Effy would listen to.
Barry White - Gonna Love You - Universal
During my write up of series two I mentioned a CD called 'Toby Welch's Ten Sure-fire Guarantee To Score Love Songs'. Here we took one of the songs off that and played it when Angela is having sex with Steve.
Toumani Diabate - Bi Lamban - Rykodisc
Toumani Diabate is the greatest Kora musician in the world today - he released an album called The Mande Variations last year and here we play his most famous composition Bi Lamban.
Mamadou Cissokho - Kora composition
We got in one of the UK's leading Kora musicians to specially compose some music for us. If you like what you hear you should also check out his uncle Jali Fily Cissokho. They’re both amazing players and we use Mamodou’s compositions quite often throughout the episode.
Kanda Bongo Man – Sango
Thomas is listening to more of the brilliant KBM as Johnny White visits his flat.
Library Music - A guy called Ian Hughes produces some 'authentic' 'Djembe' drumming for a bit of tension for us here. For that little bit of extra information for you I originally wanted to use something from a CD called Drums of Death - Field Recordings in Ghana, which was released on the Avant Japan label, but I was unsure as to who owned the copyright in the recording so I had to change it. How’s that for a dull incite into life as a Music Supervisor?
More Mamadou Cissokho Kora playing as well as a Fat Segal composition which he calls 'fingers'.
Kanda Bongo Man – Isambe
As Thomas starts school we get our third and final KBM track of the episode.
Fat Segal - Desperate Housewives
Apparently this is a little dig at Desperate Housewives - I'm not sure how or why but you should message Fat Segal on Myspace for more info.
Fat Segal - Class Drumming
FS does the little mechanical whir beneath the class drumming. I need to note that so that he can collect royalties.
The next 4 uses of Kora music are all by Mamadou Cissokho - I'd like to be able to tell you that it is Merv (the actor who plays Thomas) playing but that would be wrong, he’s a talented guy but not that talented.
Gregory Isaacs - Rumours - Greensleeves
This classic early Dancehall tune comes in when we sense the first sparks between Pandora and Thomas.
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love - Universal
Has anyone noticed how the music in Skins is generally quite new then all of a sudden a track from 30 years ago pops up? This track by the Tom Tom Club is a great use of that approach if I do say so myself.
Buraka Som Sistema – Sem Makas
As we enter the club my favourite track from Buraka’s debut EP is playing.
Various Production - Diver
This is VP's own interpretation of minimal techno for this classic track and is also the first white label 12" to be featured in Skins. Various Production are a great act and they have a new album out soon - you should look out for it.
The Rap
Fat Segal did the beat (notice the part where he tries to be Rustie) the English part was written by a guy called Isaac Ssebandeke and the French part (rapped by Thomas) was written by a guy called Eymeric Fouchere. It's yet to have an actual name - anyone got an idea?
Aphex Twin - Untitled 10 - Warp
Aphex's Selected Ambient Works II is an absolute masterpiece. Without a doubt it is one of the most important records ever made for me - it really helped in that transition to loner music guy. Here we use it for a bit of tension as Johnny White sets out his plans.
Bhundu Boys - Ring of Fire - Cooking Vinyl
The Bhundu Boys were big Favourites of John Peel and here they cover Johnny Cash's 'Ring of Fire' for humorous results. You may also know The Bhundu Boys from Peep Show as Tony and Toni argue about who owns their CD when they are breaking up.
Mapaputsi - Kleva
This is the same song that Thomas dances to at the beginning at the episode, we've deemed it to be Thomas' favourite track, so he plays it to celebrate overcoming Johnny White.
Asa - Eye Adaba - Dramatico
Asa is a Nigerian singer-songwriter who plays over Thomas' exit. I found her as she won some MTV Africa awards for best female artist a few years back.
Buraka Som Sistema - Yah
Over the end credits we use Buraka Som Sistema for the fourth time - I will have to check but I think they now have the record for the most tracks ever in Skins. If that isn't indicative of our love of BSS then I don't now what is.
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