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Al compás del mundo - programa #112 Guest DJ – Ras Haas, A Journey Through Genres


And here we are with the second installment of Al compas del mundo’s guest DJ session. This week brings in Ras Haas (some relation) taking a stab at the age old musical question: Do I have good taste? Can the boy measure up? Right away it need be said that “Ras” is Rasta talk for “duke” or “prince”, so I guess he’s pulling rank. A proper listening to the playlist will allow you to cast judgment, though.  I’m leaning toward “yes”, now that I’ve heard the whole thing and discerned the logic that brought these pieces together. I ought to make him write up his own summary of the playlist. Most of the tunes here were unfamiliar to me. But then, last time a guest took over the show he wrote up a synopsis and got all Artaud/Neitzsche/Witkowiak on me.

 

There are several opinions I can share. One, is that younger folk support repetition in their music far more than us oldsters. Hatch a catchy phrase and run with it! Over and over and over (Afrika Bambaataa, DJ Snake, Cybotron.) I’m not saying it’s bad. Different is all. Maybe it goes back to sub-Saharan African roots? An ethnomusicologist I once read pointed to that same phenomenon in much of the continent’s traditional sounds when he said something to the effect that a vocalist’s musical phrase may be repeated at great length until it finally got “sour in his mouth”. Two, I admire the variety in the set. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble is a far cry from Cameo’s disco tune, as is German cumbia from Deela, the pure electronica of Jean Jacques Perry’s synthetic heart, and Del the Funky Homosapien’s ever witty poetry. I happen to know Ras is big into reggae and its permutations so I applaud his stretching out. And three, the ethnic range alone is inspiring, providing examples from England, France, Uruguay-Argentina, the Virgin Islands, and the USA, besides those countries previously mentioned. Good sounds come from everywhere. There’s also a ringer he slipped in – from Thailand: “Mae Kha Som Tam” (“Papaya Salad Merchant”.) What is a straightforward pop song of the 60’s comes off like essential sampler material in its intro chords and beats. 

All told, another successful Al compas del mundo for the vault, thanks to Ras Haas’s efforts and musical knowledge. I knew he had it in him! - J.H.

Run list for  Guest DJ – Ras Haas, A Journey Through Genres
First Broadcast 1-25-24

 

01 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - War (USA)

02 Afrika Bambaataa - Zulu War Chant (USA)

03 Cameo - Back and Forth (USA)

04 General Levy - Incredible (Jungle Remix) (England)

05 Super Morris - Danger Zone (Jamaica)

06 Deela - Cumbia De Lolita (Germany)

07 Alika - Dem Got No Love (Uruguay-Argentina)

08 DJ Snake - Magenta Riddim (France)

09 Onuma Singsiri - Mae Kha Som Tam (Thailand)

10 El Michels Affair - Hung Up (USA)

11 Jean Jacques Perrey - Cor Synthétique (France)

12 Midnite, Tribal Seeds - Representing (Virgin Islands)

13 Los Rakas - 1,2,3 (USA-Latin America)

14 Cybotron - Clear (USA)

15 Del The Funky Homosapien - Mastermind (USA)

16 Sizzla, Buju Banton, Mavado - Holy Mountain (Jamaica)



 


 

 

 

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