Dj Zhao - NGOMA 8 Saudade (Love Mix) (MP3)

Historically the Afro-Caribbean connection has produced so much amazing music about romantic love, and particularly in Angola and Cape Verde there developed particular strands of musical expression which focus, in a particular way, on a particular feeling: that of loss and longing, of desire and nostalgia, of love mixed with sadness. (an example most are familiar with would be the Cape Verdean Morna artist Cesaria Evora) Since Zouk arrived (back) in Africa from the Guadeloupe and Martinique islands, where rhythms and melodies of the African "expats" mixed with Rumba, Calypso, Gwo Ka, Compas, Reggae, and even Salsa (and where they must have looked across the ocean with infinite longing for home), it has since been influenced by another deeply emotional music: Portugese Fado. Long story short, during the last few decades Zouk, Kizomba, and related styles have become IMMENSELY popular and ubiquitous in many parts of Africa. And, sadly, we all know what this kind of huge commercial success does to a genre: it becomes cheap and watered down, quantity replaces quality. So 99% of the modern Zouk and Kizomba we encounter today is tacky and paltry rubbish of incredibly bad taste, garishly saccharine instead of deeply moving like the Zouk of bygone years. (for examples of amazing older Angolan music look no further than this recent Analogue Africa release, compiling musical precedents of both Kizomba and Kuduro) Yet in this sordid state of affairs there are artists which are producing music which retain more than a touch of the bygone golden years, making songs which are soul stirring as they are groovy. So if one digs deeper, there IS such a thing as good contemporary Zouk and Kizomba: this is what i hope to convince people of, especially long time lovers of African music who have given up on these genres. and, of course, to satisfy all you sweet loving freaks out there for Valentines Day :)

Genres: brazilian dub, ethio-jazz, kizomba, morna, semba, tarraxinha, zouk

Source: http://differentwaters.blogspot.com/2011/02/ngoma-8-saodade.html

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DJ Zhao - FUSION 2 Ancient Dubnology (MP3)

Traditional and contemporary music from 5 continents, 25 countries, re-edited, mashed up, and dubbed out. The Fusion series is more for listening compared to the dancefloor heat of NGOMA, but there are certainly some bangers in here, alongside more tripped out and lyrical numbers.

Genres: african, ambient, arabic, brazil, cumbia, dub, electro, gamelan, gnawa, hiphop, illbient, kizomba, mbira, mongolian throatsing, nubia, percussion, semba, shaabi, tribal, uzbek

Source: http://differentwaters.blogspot.com/2010/10/fusion-2.html

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dj zhao - NGOMA 4 - Generation Bass (MP3)

Continuing where NGOMA 1 stopped, this is an excursion into non-western "hiphop" (a term used in the loosest possible way). Heavy on Kwaito from South Africa, both more contemporary as well as earlier examples of the genre are presented. Arthur Mafokate with his track Oyi Oyi from 1993, for example, who is often referred to as the King of Kwaito, is both an innovative artist as well as pioneering businessman, having started 999, one of the first non-white record labels in South Africa. There are also offshoots from Kwaito, such as a style known as Guz - as represented by the track of that name by TKZEE. Also want to mention, in the classic Kwaito style, the immense talent that was Mawillies (rest in peace), whose effortlessly powerful voice graces the track GaGu. tunes from other parts of Africa are also sprinkled all over this mix. the AshThomas project is based in the US, but consists of members from Nigeria and other places. The incredibly clever DJ Rams who does Kizomba and Kuduro (or Kuzomba, a combination of the hard hitting aggresive and emotively smooth) in Angola; Marvelous Benji coming with the refreshing energy from Nigeria; and of course, Emmanuel Jal, the former Sudanese child soldier (from age 11-16). and the Indian, Columbian, Syrian tunes in this mix i hope all work together as one experience -- it can be difficult to transition different sounds and keys and rhythms in a single mix.

Genres: acid zouk, afro-dub, afro-hiphop, afro-reggae, arabic-skwee, bhangra, cumbia, dancehall, guz, hiplife, kizomba, kwaito, mbaqanga, naija, reggaeton, syrian folk

Source: http://differentwaters.blogspot.com/2010/03/ngoma-4-generation-bass.html

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dj Zhao - NGOMA 3 - Zulu House (MP3)

while staying in the same territory as 2, the journey is not the same, and many things make this one unique: the psychedelic motorik genius of Dj Clock's "Durban Guitar"; the monolithic, earth shaking visions of Black Coffee; DJ Sdoko's ominous Kraftwerkian phuture; Manya's soul stirring take on traditonal Angolan melodies; a surprisingly wicked banger from the Dutch DJ Bigga (UK is not the only place currently Afro minded), and ending with Sami vocal style from Mari Boine, reinterpreting the sound of indigenous Norway*. most of the selection are not well known or commonly used tracks in the "scene", with only one exception: just could not stay away from the Yellowtail (but check how it is used before you complain). concerning the anti-apartheid and war samples used through out the mix: the struggle for freedom from colonialism is the context which gave rise to contemporary South African music: Kwaito was born amidst antagonism and bloodshed, and has led to the current house music scene. thus songs such as "100 Zulu Warriors" and the radio broadcast at the end should not be taken as an incitement of racial conflict (especially in light of last year's wave of horrible xenophobia) but as a reminder of the political realities of the Apartheid era from which this music comes. *you might think it strange to include a traditional song from northern Europe on an Afrocentric project, but 1. thematically it fits the recording as the vocalist has for decades fought for equal rights of her people, who have long been the subject of discrimination, like South Africans, in their homeland; and 2. Henrich Schwartz who made the remix is a producer certainly with a lot of Africa on his mind.

Genres: afro electro, dub techno, electro, funk carioca, house, kizomba, kwaito, minimal, techno, uk funky, yoik, zulu house

Source: http://differentwaters.blogspot.com/2009/02/ngoma-3_19.html

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dj zhao_NGOMA Afro-Asia Soundsystem Vol. 1. (MP3)

bass pressure and soul fire from 4 continents, 19 countries. Bongo Flava, Kwaito, Bhangra, Kizomba, Rai, Dancehall, Naija, Cumbia... from the rough to the smooth, from sun to twilight, jack up the volume for perfect boom-boom -- REAL party music for those who are NOT afraid.

Genres: arabic pop, balkan beat, bhangra, cumbia, dancehall, dub, dub, gamelan, genge, hiphop, house, kizomba, kwaito, mash-up, rai, reggaeton

Source: http://differentwaters.blogspot.com/2008/01/ngoma-mix-1-dj-zhao.html

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