I've got no idea where the Mystery Suggester comes up with these things, but I dutifully follow all leads coming from her quadrant. As I've said before, our tastes are remarkably similar, so these things usually pay off. In addition to knowing a shitload about just about every type of American music, she's on the International Fuzz Patrol. Today she pointed me towards a song out of 1970's Nigeria, "Amebo," by the Lijadu Sisters, which does indeed have some dyn-o-mite fuzz (not to mention some baddass organ). Yeah, Nigerian fuzz. That works around here.
The Lijadu Sisters were twins, and cousins of Fela Kuti. They were a big deal in Nigeria, for a number of reasons, not the least of which was that they were female, and they called their own shots. While it couldn't have possible hurt being the cousins of Fela, or being tight with Ginger Baker (who lurked around Lagos quite a bit in the early 70's), a big part of their sound came from one Biddy Wright, the son of one of their mother's friends. He played almost all of the instruments (with the exception of percussion) and co-arranged all four of their albums, released from '76 and 79. And he loved his fuzz.
Not a peep has been heard from the Lijadu Sisters for years, until Knitting Factory Records (who just reissued their first LP, Danger), tracked them down. As it turns out, their exit from the music business was due to one of them being seriously injured in a fall, in the Brooklyn apartment they shared. Now good to go, and with renewed interest in their music, they're ready to start performing again. Unfortunately, Biddy the Nigerian fuzz king is no longer with us.
Not a peep has been heard from the Lijadu Sisters for years, until Knitting Factory Records (who just reissued their first LP, Danger), tracked them down. As it turns out, their exit from the music business was due to one of them being seriously injured in a fall, in the Brooklyn apartment they shared. Now good to go, and with renewed interest in their music, they're ready to start performing again. Unfortunately, Biddy the Nigerian fuzz king is no longer with us.
~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Listen:Lijadu Sisters - Danger mp3 (via Soundcloud) at Soulphonic Sound (click on the small arrow above the streaming gizmo)
Lijadu Sisters - Amebo (streaming) at YouTube
Full LP:
Lijadu Sisters - Danger at With Comb and Razor
Video:
Lijadu Sisters with Ginger Baker at YouTube (short clip)
Visit:
Lijadu Sisters - Bio at Knitting Factory Records
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