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 11/2010

    THE GREEN
    The Green

  • reviewed 11/2015

    Symbolic Olives
    The Scene That Celebrates Itself

  • reviewed 03/2005

    Two Siberians
    Out of Nowhere

  • reviewed 07/2004

    Like Water Drumworks
    Like Water to the Roots

  • reviewed 05/2009

    STAFF BENDA BILILI
    Tres Tres Fort

  • reviewed 09/2008

    Various Artists – Absolutely Irish
    Absoulutely Irish Soundrack

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.