NII OTOO ANNAN AND STEVEN FELD

Bufo Variations

2009-09-06

When Steven Feld traveled to Ghana in 2004, for musical studies, he took notice of the croaking of the frogs (Bufo regularis) emanating from the city's sewers. He recorded them and called it his "Bufo Aria". There, he also met multi-instrumentalist Nii Otoo Annan. Their collaboration consisted of Nii Otoo listening to the bufo aria in headphones, while recording his drummed responses. Essentially, this album consists of the Bufo Aria as the first song. The succeeding variations are all Nii Otoo drumming to the frogs, but with the frog track removed. The drums used are most often traditiona African hand drums with occassional use of guitar (Variation 6) or with the addition of sax and voice (Variation 10). This album is an interesting concept as experimentalist music, but it's not altogether radio-friendly. Rebecca Ruth.

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #World

  • reviewed 01/2011

    BALVAL
    Le Ciel Tout Nu

  • reviewed 07/2009

    SILA AND THE AFROFUNK EXPERIENCE
    Black President

  • reviewed 11/2010

    DARK DARK DARK
    Wild Go

  • reviewed 10/2015

    Meg Myers
    Sorry

  • reviewed 06/2014

    Hollie Cook
    Twice

  • reviewed 10/2006

    JACKIE MITTOO
    Wishbone

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.