Sleeve notes:
Deep in the forests of Cameroon the Baka
play music that is at the same time energetic and relaxing, simple parts
creating a complex whole, music that brings together those who play it
- in harmony with itself and the world around. Beyond the forest is a cacophony
of different tribes, nations and cultures. Baka Beyond attempt to create
a small moment of order out of this chaos. The Meeting Pool is where different
musicians, ideas and styles of music come together. Celtic melodies meet
African rhythms. Acoustic instruments meet electronic. Ancient meets modern.
Just as the music has it's inspiration
from different places and countries, so too Baka Beyond brings musicians
together from across the globe. On this album Martin Cradick is again joined
by Paddy Le Mercier from France. He brings his own style of fiddle playing,
blending celtic, Cajon and gypsy jazz styles with touches of Arabic music
and hints of Jimi Hendrix, as he did on Spirit of the Forest (HNCD 1377)
and Outback's Dance the Devil Away (HNCD 1369).
Also from Outback is Sagar N'Gom. Sagar
is descended from the famous Griots (storytellers and musicians) from the
Cassamance region of southern Senegal, renowned for it's rich music and
arts. He has been playing with Martin since 1989 and introduces West African
percussion to some of these songs. Tom Green played in a band with Martin
in the early 1980s but then went his own way, working on a number of projects
including 'The Orb' (he co-wrote Star 6 & 7, 8, 9 amongst others).
Their mutual appreciation of the Baka's
music brought them back together and Tom's very organic approach to electronic
sounds aids the cross-over between acoustic and electronic instruments.
Tom has taken time out from his solo project 'Another Fine Day', to remix
ambient dance versions of some Baka Beyond tunes and to play live with
the band. In order to perform songs from the Spirit Of The Forest live,
Su Hart needed a singing partner. This role was expertly filled by Kate
Budd who sings in an a capella group with Su. She also brings gallic and
swahili influences to the band, learned from her Scottish mother who lived
in Tanzania. Baka Beyond 'live' is completed by Sam Pope on drums who here
plays the bodhran and Mark Pinto who brings a London/Carribean roots, jazz
influence on the bass.
John Ssekitoleko Ssempeke from Uganda
met Baka Beyond while touring the UK with his father playing traditional
Ugandan xylophone music. He performed with the band at the 1994 WOMAD festival
and was an instant hit with the crowd but unfortunately could only be present
at one short recording session before returning home.
Also touring the UK last summer was Mark
Robson with his band, Kangaroo Moon. He guested on 'Ohureo' at the WOMAD
festival and was able to fit in a recording session with Martin just before
returning to Australia.
Due to the large geographical distances
between the musicians involved in Baka Beyond we have always had to rely
on spontaneity and chance both in live work and recording.
The songs on this album have grown out
of a series of recording sessions towards the end of 1994, where each musician
put their ideas into the musical pot and Martin organised it into this
resulting stew.
If you see Baka Beyond, don't expect it
to be exactly like the album. Each concert and each audience is different
and we aim to keep the music alive and evolving. On this album the music
is frozen in time by the recording process like a snapshot of an ever changing
scene. When live expect the unexpected.
HNCD 1388 1995
- Woosi (Baka Forest People, Martin Cradick) 06:44
- Ancestor's Voice (Martin Cradick, Su Hart, Kate Budd) 05:51
- Lupé (Baka Forest People, Martin Cradick, Yebga Likoba) 05:43
- Ohureo (Traditional arranged Martin Cradick) 06:53
- Meeting Of Tribes (Martin Cradick ) 05:56
- Journey (Martin Cradick, Sagar N'Gom, Paddy Le Mercier) 06:08
- Ndaweh's Dream (Baka Forest People, Martin Cradick, Yebga Likoba, Tom Green) 05:07
- Booma Lena (Baka Forest People, Martin Cradick, Tom Green) 08:48
