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‘Steam will come out of readers’ ears!’: Joe Boyd on his epic, enraging history of global music
At over 900 pages, the countercultural icon’s new book covers everything from fifth-century Roma music to Miriam Makeba. But, he argues, the drum machine marked the end of history
Named after a Graceland lyric, it is praised on the jacket cover by Brian Eno, Robert Plant and Ry Cooder – but it becomes clear that Boyd’s words could certainly rile fans of dancehall, electronic music or contemporary African pop. Boyd chronicles the Graceland tour – Miriam Makeba apparently cold-shouldered Ladysmith Black Mambazo amid Xhosa-Zulu tensions – then swings back to the country’s political and musical history, with a reminder that Zulu choirs were a success in London in the 19th century, despite Charles Dickens commenting: “If we have anything to learn from these noble savages, it’s what to avoid.” As for bestselling African pop artists such as Burna Boy(one contemporary musician who does get a mention), he agrees they “won an audience that Fela never managed … but the vibe is hard-edged and electronic-modern, while the singing is filled with the sort of Auto-Tuned grace notes that dominate modern international vocal performance”.
Or read this on The Guardian