Recent Decents #3 — Historical-Funk, Alt-Dance, Zambian Psych
Gil Scott-Heron, porij, Amanaz
The standout moment of my 3 years studying at university is walking into a lecture theatre to hear “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” on repeat.
It went relatively unnoticed by most, but it had a big impact on me. One that has stuck with me throughout my life as I constantly uncover more of Gil Scott-Heron’s work.
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to see his original band play a tribute show to him. They were fronted by Malik Al Nasir, who, in 1985, as an illiterate 18-year old had a shared experience with Gil Scott-Heron which bonded them and turned his life around.
If you don’t know the story of how these two incredible lives crossed, check it out. Al Nasir’s story itself is incredible as he searched for his roots after years of neglect and abuse growing up in care — his article is special.
Music is always an education. There’s always something to jump off onto. Gil Scott-Heron is the epitome of this for me. His discography of finger-on-the-pulse social commentary backed up with endless creativity across multiple genres is out there on its own.
There’s always a Gil Scott-Heron track on repeat for me, at the moment it’s “We Almost Lost Detroit” so that’s in my Recent Decents alongside some indie-funk/dance and some Zambian psych-rock. Enjoy.
1. Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson, “We Almost Lost Detroit”, 1977.
Never failing to educate, Gil Scott-Heron deals with the 1966 partial nuclear meltdown of the Fermi 1 reactor.
Backed by the Midnight Band and Brian Jackson on keys, the album Bridges has a different feel than his early spoken-word cuts. Focusing more on singing than speaking, the band is given license to run with the funk.
The song itself builds in sound and urgency as Scott-Heron gets more desperate with his calls of “we almost lost Detroit”.
Here’s a writeup on how close we came to losing Detroit.
And what would Karen Silkwood say to you
If she was still alive?
That when it comes to people’s safety
Money wins out every time
2. Porij, “150”, 2020.
“Alt-dance” from a new 4-piece out of Manchester.
150 is a crisp, guitar-based indie-funk (mostly) instrumental that’s picking up radio traffic.
The lyrics are simply “tell me what you want me for” but who needs more words when you’ve got that riff.
Here’s a live version from their back garden, finishing with a typically British polite request for them to keep it down from a neighbour.
3. Amanaz, “Khala My Friend”, 1975.
Last.fm describes Amanaz’s sound as “amazing fuzz guitar…which sounds like an African version of early Cream”
My first introduction to psychedelic Zam-rock, the sound is not what I expected from the album cover at all, in absolutely the best way.
With a name that seems to be both a question and the answer, Amanaz stands for “Ask Me About Nice Artists in Zambia”.
Here’s an album of Zamrock, full of Hendrix influenced psych.
I’ve recently started the Recent Decents twitter page to throw out regular music recommendations and keep discovering new music.
Give it a follow for a follow-back and let me know what you’re listening to.
