New Mix: Andy Shauf, 79rs Gang, Opium Moon, More
Clockwise from upper left: 79rs Gang, Claire Cronin; Andrea von Kampen, Andy Shauf, Opium Moon Courtesy of the artists hide caption
With many of us thinking about floods and fires, it feels like the past predictions of global warming are now our present predicament. With that in mind, there's a brilliant, heartbreaking anthem to the people affected by Hurricane Katrina and the floods of New Orleans sixteen years ago. In the song "Stop The Water," by the 79rs Gang, Big Chief Romeo Bougere and Big Chief Jermaine Bossier unite in harmony. Watch the powerful video released the day after Hurricane Ida below.
More thoughts on flooding come from Andrea von Kampen and her song "Water Flowing Downward," which considers the effects of class differences in these tragedies.
Opium Moon is a quartet of musicians from Iran, Israel, Canada and the U.S. Their album NIGHT + DAY is both a deep, thoughtful breath and an upbeat celebration. Singer Claire Cronin explores the supernatural, wondering just what it might be like to be a spirit in her song, "Bloodless." Andy Shauf imagines a vacation as the first step to a relationship's end, and I close the show with some thoughts on September 11 as we approach the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Musician Marc Farre was in New York City on that day and recalls the many, many handmade flyers he refers to as "Prayer Flags," from people desperate to find their loved ones.