A spell cast in rhythm & reverie
Orchestra Gold is an ensemble from Oakland that doesn’t sound like any other American band. They play a sludgy, heavy kind of psychedelic rock — it’s almost stoner metal. They also have a full horn section. And underlying all of it are the traditional melodies and rhythms of Mali’s centuries-old Mandé culture. Band leaders Mariam Diakité and Erich Huffaker met in Mali almost 20 years ago, and they’ve build this project patiently and organically since then.
That process has led to the album Dakan (Destiny), which will be released on October 2. It’s massive, noisy and abrasive, also beautiful and thrilling, and one of the best rock or African records I’ve heard in 2025. I’ll play you three songs from Dakan on this week’s program so you can hear it for yourself.
Also this week (Sunday September 21, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Sly & Robbie, the producers, including a previously unreleased digital roots single voiced by Al Campbell; a wonderful new collaboration between England’s Balimaya Project and musicians from Colombia’s Pacific region; Bio Ritmo, salsa celebrities in Colombia, play a hometown gig at Get Tight Lounge on Thursday September 25; and new Ethiopian sounds from Mulatu Astatke, Meklit, Yalla Miku, Trio Kazanchis + 1 and Trio Mokili.
Podcast: radio4all.net/program/120987
All the podcasts: radio4all.net/series/Global%20A%20Go-Go
Show archive
Playlist
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Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, “Global a Go-Go”
from Global a Go-Go
BMG Rights Management (US) LLC - 2001
England UK
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Al Campbell, “Declaration of Rights”
from Declaration of Rights - Single
17 North Parade - 2025
Jamaica, 1985
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The Tamlins, “Baltimore”
from Sly & Robbie Present More Baltimore
Tads Record Inc - 2008
Jamaica, 1980
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Discos Pacífico All Stars & Balimaya Project, “A Life Worth Living”
from CALIMA
Discos Pacífico + Jazz Refreshed - 2025
England UK-Nigeria-Gambia-Guinea Conakry- Colombia
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Dub Colossus, “Guragigna”
from Addis Through The Looking Glass
Real World Records - 2010
England UK-Ethiopia