Christgau Consumer Guide
On the recordings of Paul Berliner and elsewhere I’ve always found the African thumb piano—mbira, kalimba sanza—overly delicate, fragile as a music box. These experimental compositions by a Camerounian musicologist who calls on a wide range of supplementary African instruments and techniques, are lithe and lovely.
Christgau Consumer Guide
ROBERT CHRISTGAU
FRANCIS BEBEY “Akwaaba”
(Original Music)
On the recordings of Paul Berliner and elsewhere I’ve always found the African thumb piano—mbira, kalimba sanza—overly delicate, fragile as a music box. These experimental compositions by a Camerounian musicologist who calls on a wide range of supplementary African instruments and techniques, are lithe and lovely. And when Bebey breaks into his subguttural chest voice you won’t know whether to gasp or giggle. Address: RD 1, Box 190, Lasher Road, Tivoli, NY 12583. B +
BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY “Cheaper Thrills”
(Made To Last)
Postpunks should forget Janis Joplin and dig this: just because they practiced in their own $300-a-month Marin commune doesn’t mean they weren’t a garage band. A classic garage band and they played out a lot. That’s one reason this low-fi one-night-only live-in-1966 tape overcomes the expected flaws to give forth more raunch than most singles catalogues. Janis Joplin is the other. 20445 Gramercy PI., Torrance, CA 90509. B +
BILLY BRAGG
“Brewing Up With Billy Bragg”
(CD)