Voices from elsewhere dominate WOMEX showcase opening


A mellow sun and soft breeze from another season greeted WOMEXicans as the 11th edition of this mega trade fair got into full swing on the banks of the Tyne River. The Sage Gateshead has proven to be a conducive meeting spot for world music networking around the three stages, spacey bars and as cozy conference halls. It is a bit more of a challenge to squeeze around the hundreds of stalls under the giant marquee set up on the car park. Nevertheless, that’s where impromptu concerts by the Russian duo Alissid jostled for attention with an unassuming Natasha Atlas as she handed out samples of her soon-to-be released album.

In the Sage the serious business of showcases began with the first of 48 mini-performances by “The Voice”. That’s the nickname of South African crooner Vusi Mahlasela who overcame a stuffed throat and cold to share his powerful vocal chords and philosophy with an avid crowd. His nightingale voice was supplanted by the surrealistic croaking of Hungary’s Mitsouri. The whisp of a singer accentuated her tomblike renditions of rural gipsy songs to the accompaniment of an outstanding Peter Szalai on tablas and the club atmosphere created by Mark Moldvai’s Pro Tools and live surround.

Voices from elsewhere pretty much dominated the twelve showcases. Western Saharan Mariem Hassan weaved her bluesy magic with sparkles of seduction and humour that reminded many of a more audacious Malouma. Atongo Zimba from the northeast of Ghana complemented his savannah inflexions with the forthright playing of his colourful kolko banjo. The nasal tango of new Argentinean star Cristobal Repetto gave extra dimensions to this time-old art form. And the ageless Brazilian jack-in-the-box Hermeto Pascoal accompanied his free jazz and dazzling percussions with squeaks, squawks and an impromptu onstage interview. Both on and  back stage he treated us to an accapella boleros sung through a glass of wine.

A more instrumental emphasis was provided both by David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness, and the Mancunian ace-on-the-guitar Aziz. The impetuous British Pakistani distilled humour with wizardry on his array of guitars that managed to combine the latest sounds of western urban rock, self-styled Asian Blues and his Pakistani cultural roots. In this enterprise Aziz was ably accompanied by Dalbir Singh Rattan on tablas. Krakauerm meanwhile, allied his virtuoso clarinet with the unlikely sampling and rapping of DJ Socalled.

Day 3 of WOMEX promises wild contrasts and new names ranging from the Mostar Sevdah Reunion and Ljiljana Buttler to militant Afro-pop by South African Thandiswa.

Daniel Brown