Babylon Crackers - Roll And Tumble - N0mad23

23rd Apr 2011 22:15 - 15 years ago
Tags :
Blues
3.95 MB
Description : For the Caveman 4-track thread. This was recorded in 2001 by my band the Babylon Crackers in Bellingham, WA. We spent a week using a Tascam 4-track tape deck recording a demo for the first Western Washington University International Music Festival, and burned a CD to submit as our audition.

"Roll and Tumble (pour la reunion de Abdou et Ayshatu)"

Sean Kilpatrick (n0mad23) - Balalaika **
Blake Hausman - Guitar and vocals **
Andy Buckman - Drums (ad hoc traps made from African drums) **
Andy Hoffman - Keyboard (playing bass line) **

The melody riff is mine, and something I came up with trying to do a W. African sounding piece for a song I wanted to do for my dear friend and his spouse back in Niger. Blake was the one who realized how seamlessly it would work with the traditional blues song "Roll and Tumble."

Recorded in Andy Buckman's living and dining rooms. Live recording, with no overdubs or post-recording revisions. Four mics used for 4 tracks.

This one probably won't stay up long, but it's one worth sharing.

Comments (7)

If you have time take a listen and give n0mad23 some feedback.

Spivkurl
Spivkurl 9th Sep 2013 16:36 - 13 years ago
This is jammin! I love the ethnic flavour of it! You all seem to really be in the same mindset to record something like this! Fabulous and deep! Faved for sure!
n0mad23
n0mad23 replied 9th Sep 2013 - 13 years ago
It's one of my favorite recordings, to be sure. Especially as it's a demo, and recorded exactly the same way we played it when doing our gigs at local pubs. Three of us from the Crackers actually were at a party together this summer (the first reunion since 2005) and we jammed live with a couple South African chaps and their marimbas. Even though it'd be 8 years since we'd jammed together, we picked it up like it'd only been a week. Thanks for the review (and welcoming me back here!).
Mosaic
Mosaic 5th May 2011 11:07 - 15 years ago
G'day my friend

Very nice dose of the blues here, have to agree with Johns thoughts on this one, it does have a very raw sound to it, that also appeals to me, sounds like a few guys, having a fun jam session, nice beat, sounds a little like a satir?? think that is the word, or guitar??, nice bluesy vocals is doing the trick in this piece, this is one very enjoyable listen Mate, so pleased you shared this with us loopers...fav'd...Peace n Respect...Estefano...
n0mad23
n0mad23 replied Unknown - 2028 years ago
"Raw" and "ramshackle" - lol. Yeah, the Babylon Crackers were all about playing it live at gigs, so all our recordings were straight up "dial in and press record" approach. Our recordings sound just like our live gigs. The sitar you hear is probably the balalaika (or perhaps guitar, or both as they blend so well here). The balalaika is actually a Russian instrument and is traditionally played with tremolo strumming (think the soundtrack to Dr. Zhivago) but I play it more like a West African molo or maybe the banjo - lots of picking and bending of strings. The four of us definitely had the Right musical affinity. Miss those jams....
Kgomotso
Kgomotso 4th May 2011 07:44 - 15 years ago
Great stuff, original blues. Keep playing the world awaits. God bless
n0mad23
n0mad23 replied Unknown - 2028 years ago
I love so much of the music from South Africa, though I think I'm more personally influenced by the music of West Africa (spending part of my youth in Cameroon). Without the original influences of various musical traditions from Africa, there would be no Blues or Jazz. Credit where it's due, aye? Glad this one works for you! Regards.
StaticNomad
StaticNomad 2nd May 2011 03:05 - 15 years ago
Good stuff. Nice, ramshackle sound that's instantly enjoyable. Makes me want to play the balalaika. I like that bass drum too and the bass. Have you checked out the guitarist Justin Adams? He's in Robert Plant's band and makes some similar music, very good. Check out my uploaded track Knee Deep In The Cosmic Overwhelm. It's quite different but I think it might appeal to you. Thanks, keep up the good work and I'll check out more of your work.
n0mad23
n0mad23 replied Unknown - 2028 years ago
"Ramshackle" is a seriously underused word, isn't it? I actually kind of gave up on Robert when he released "Tall Cool One" or whatever it was called, as it seemed to be such a ready made for _insert highest paying beverage here_. Wasn't Justin Adams the original guitarist from Plant's solo projects? I did dig the Moroccan flavored guitar work happening at that time. Had to check out "Knee Deep" before responding here, and thanks for directing me there! Awesome work to be sure. Welcome to the site, and I'm looking forward to hearing more of your sonic offerings!
MStokes
MStokes 25th Apr 2011 22:20 - 15 years ago
echo bear + john - this is a take-no-prisoners mix - slave music affinities are striking - hardship, hard-won moments of joy - much respect
n0mad23
n0mad23 replied Unknown - 2028 years ago
My inspiration for the melody line was thinking about my brother-from-a-different-mother from Niger (Abdou), and how he hasn't seen his wife or son now for over 10 years. True hardship, and makes me realize just how strong his family is. No surprise that this would reflect the same sonic qualities as the original Blues and connections to slavery. Hadn't thought about this aspect until reading your review. Nice one! Thank you much.
JohnBoutilier
JohnBoutilier 25th Apr 2011 18:45 - 15 years ago
This has that raw kind of sound that I favour. I knew before the track was 30 secs in that it'd be a fav and download.

Love this track

John
n0mad23
n0mad23 replied Unknown - 2028 years ago
One of my personal faves too, John. Something about sitting down and jamming with people you share deep affinities with just can't be topped. Shoot me a note if you want a 320kbs of this one! Regards, and thanks.
ShortBusMusic
ShortBusMusic 24th Apr 2011 16:21 - 15 years ago
I'm glad you shared this one. It captured the essence of the early days of the blues.

I'm not sure where music would be today had guys like Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, Charlie Patton, and many other greats, decided to do something else for a living.

This is a phenomenal listen. I just hope the folks on Looperman can appreciate how good this really is.

Well done Sean. Again, I'm glad you put this one up. It is special.

Bear
n0mad23
n0mad23 replied Unknown - 2028 years ago
Pearls before swine, aye? Yeah, the old blues pioneers left a legacy, didn't they? In my own investigations, the real surprise is the hidden histories - for example, there's a lot of incidental evidence that what the Blues developed out of was both W. African and Celtic music in the Caribbean (Cromwell sold Irish women into slavery there). Listening closely, I think the traces of both can still be heard. Really glad you like this one, and took the time to review it. Thanks!

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