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 12/2007

    JAI UTTAL
    Dial M for Mantra

  • reviewed 06/2011

    ZIGGY MARLEY
    WILD AND FREE

  • reviewed 08/2008

    NIYAZ
    Nine Heavens

  • reviewed 01/2007

    ASTRID WILLIAMSON
    Day of the Lone Wolf

  • reviewed 08/2017

    TOPS
    Sugar at the Gate

  • reviewed 01/2008

    VARIOUS ARTISTS
    Radio Noise Vol. 1 & 2

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.