I was working out this morning when Hot Love in a Cold World from Bob Welchs French Kiss popped up. Boy I love that song and a few of the songs on that album. Welch soon after sank sadly into obscurity.
Anyone have any other obscure music they would like to share?
There’s this band from Ireland called Iona (named after the island). They’re a Christian-Celtic-progressive rock band. They are absolutely fantastic - and I’m an atheist. Their vocalist, Joanna Hogg, has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard. Having said that, I’m linking to an instrumental.
I have mentioned Starcastle’s “Fountains of Light” album, and the Candy Skins’ “Fun” album on this board many times, and also really enjoy an 80s power pop band called Dumptruck. They really should have been bigger than they were.
Nigerian legend Fela Kuti was on some American late night music show in the 80s playing a long jam that I remember as Sambia. I recorded it but I cant find any record of it. Saw him at the Greek Theater in LA. He was awesome.
I heard Rhiannon Giddens for the first time the other night. An astounding voice (she had some opera training). She plays violin and banjo and her music runs the gamut from country to jazz to blues, and sometimes a mix of all of them. Some of her playing sounds very Celtic.
Something I miss here in Panama is international music. When I lived in Washington DC in the 1980s I was able to see King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, Kanda Bongo Man, and others live.
I also like East African music, particularly Jit from Zimbabwe from bands like the Bhundu Boys or the music of Thomas Mapfumo.
I particularly like updated versions of folk traditions. One of the more unusual bands is Varttina, who might be described as Finnish punk-folk on speed.
I’m a big fan of Kak. Their “Electric Sailor” is a great song from an excellent album.
Very few people have heard the original band Renaissance (they know the later Annie Halsam version), an offshoot of the Yardbirds who place classical-influenced rock. “Kings and Queens” starts off their album with a bang.
I’ll have to give that a listen. I saw Toure live in Bamako, and I’ve seen Koite and Keita on tours here in the states. I also saw Amalia Rodrigues live in her last concert in Lisbon. There have been other African groups that we’ve seen touring, but I can’t recall the names at the moment.
There’s an Irish folk singer named Damien Dempsey. He opened for Morrissey in a few concerts, and everyone I talked to agreed that he was better than the main act.
I can’t recall ever having heard of Iona before this, but I checked them out on You Tube last night. They’ve been around for at least 30 years, and I really liked what I heard.
Not sure if this quite fits the OP, but there are times when I just feel the need to settle down with Youtube and listen to well loved songs played on the theremin. There’s some fascinating stuff out there. I even take delight in the slightly iffy attempts - but there’s great virtuosity to admire as well. A selection: