*CRAMMED DISCS: End-Of-Year News Round-up 2009*
2009 has been another action-packed year for *CRAMMED,* and 2010 is already shaping up to be as if not more crazy...
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- Band of the year for us (and we're not the only ones...) has to be Congolese kings of street rumba-funk *STAFF BENDA BILILI,* who had the international media fainting with pleasure over their debut album
"Très Très Fort" upon its release in February...then, just when those journalists thought it was safe to get up off the ground again, the band came to Europe on tour, and the critical swooning commenced once more.
Click here for a neat round-up of all the TV appearances Staff made during their two-month visit to these shores, including BBC Newsnight, ARD in Germany, the main evening news in Belgium and Norway and much more...
Meanwhile Staff are already plotting their next moves - they will be back as early as New Year's Day to appear on Dutch National TV, with another tour being planned for Spring.
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- Our two new American signings *AKRON/FAMILY* and *MEGAFAUN* have done us proud this year: Akron's
"Set 'Em Wild Set 'em Free" and Megafaun's
"Gather, Form & Fly" (each released by Crammed in Europe) both reshaped classic American musical forms in unique and inspired ways.
Click here for evidence of both bands' recent European adventures...Megafaun have already confirmed their return in March, while Akron will be back shortly afterwards.
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- *SHANTEL,* together with his trusty Bucovina Orkestar, leapt into the stratosphere with his boundary-breaking brand of European pop, releasing revelatory second album
"Planet Paprika" and playing to bigger rooms and festival crowds than ever before. There will be a new single from the album, "Being Authentic", released soon, before Shantel takes on the 2010 festivals...there can be only one winner.
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- *MOCKY* surprised and delighted with his beautiful pop-jazz suite
"Saskamodie", his first release for Crammed. Complementing this with one of the best sessions heard on Gilles Peterson's BBC show this year, a collaboration with Wu-Tang Clan rapper GZA and some wonderfully-received live shows with the Saskamodie Orchestra, watch out for the second part of Mocky's hilarious
"Mockumentary", and more news of live shows and exciting new musical adventures in the new year...
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- the *ZEEP* album
"People & Things" gave us sophisticated pop pleasures late in the year, with their daring Brazilian folk take on
"Ghost Town" proving one of the most adventurous cover versions of the year. Watch out for a full tour from Chris Franck, Nina Miranda and friends in the spring!
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- That's not to mention other great releases from
FLAT EARTH SOCIETY,
CHICHA LIBRE,
ALLÁ and
BOSSACUCANOVA... we told you we've been busy this year!
- So what new joys await in 2010? "Blue Eyed Black Boy", out in late-February, is the finest work yet from the three-headed, dancefloor-conquering powerhouse known as *BALKAN BEAT BOX.* Also ready to roll with exciting new material are *LONELY DRIFTER KAREN,* whose second album "Fall Of Spring" finds their pan-European songcraft moving to the next level. Then there's the long-awaited new *CIBELLE* record to look forward to - "Las Vênus Resort Hotel" is a wildly exotic masterpiece, and should be with us in April. Finally, all hail the Springtime return of the mighty *KONONO NO.1,* with their follow-up to the seminal first volume of the "Congotronics" series - speaking of which, there should be some more exciting news to report for "Congotronics" fans very soon...
Lots to look forward to - keep both eyes on our lovely new website to find out all the news first:
http://www.crammed.beTill next year, happy holidays,
Crammed Discs