Watcha Clan - radio Babel

DISCOGRAPHY

"radio Babel" - Watcha Clan

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  • Artist:Watcha Clan
  • featured artist:Watcha Clan
  • region:Borderless
  • release year:2011
  • style(s):
    • Electronic
    • Mediterranean
  • country:France
  • catalogue numberPIR2543
  • formats:
    • CD
    • Vinyl

The biblical city of Babel and its infamous tower have received bad press over the centuries. Imagined as a looming structure built by children in which all residents spoke the same language, the omnipresent God decided to trick humans in order to make them scatter (the word Babel is derived from the Hebrew balal, to “jumble”). Yet if we consider the tower as a prototype radio transmitter, as Marseille, France-based Watcha Clan does on its latest album, Radio Babel (Piranha), the sound of one world singing and dancing together makes perfect sense.
Unlike many other electronic-fueled projects, every member of Watcha Clan can play their instruments well. They employ samplers and drum pads not as crutches but accentuations of the trance-inducing, rhythmically astute rhythms they reproduce on stage. No album to date has highlighted this as beautifully as Radio Babel. Previously the band felt like two: a studio project that pumped out itinerant folklore in a digital age, and a wonderful live band that triggered kick drums as quickly as clanked karkabous. This new record is the perfect fusion of these two entities.

On Radio Babel, the electronics have taken a slight backseat to more mature and fuller songwriting. Kouti and K’s harmonizing on the Tuareg-drenched “Hasnaduro” is yet another example of cultural convergence. Pulling from the great surge in Malian desert music via Tinariwen and Toumast, Watcha Clan injects a hearty dose of electric guitars, ululations and North African percussion, including the low register of the bass-like gumbri, into this throbbing dance song. Perhaps the most inventive song, however, is the band’s take on the 17th century Hebrew poem by Rabbi Shalom Shabazi, “Im Nin’alu,” most famously covered by Israeli great Ofra Haza.

Whatever sound these nomadic souls travel through, you can be certain that Watcha Clan will accomplish what great artists do: highlight the similarities between cultures through music, instead of complaining about the differences. To hear the sound of one world united by music, join the movement on Radio Babel.

Derek Beres (NYC) Words – Beats – Postures

Press Quotes

"The sound of one world united by music." WorldMusic.co.uk

"This isn't just music but the essence of life itself...Much of the album is buttressed by mesmerising Maghreb-style percussion which gives the sound an unrelenting, dynamic edge."
Morning Star - March 2011

„Watcha Clan began as support for Asian Dub Foundation and Transglobal Underground. After they had released their last album Diaspora Hi-Fi they became more independent and achieved the reputation of a brillant live band!“
Resident Advisor (SLO) – March 2011

"The new Watcha Clan album is a success: more than 10 years after their beginning, the quartet from Marseilles offers us a joyful demonstration of their raga, dub and electronic mix spiced up with Mediterranean and trip hop sounds...This savory mix, rhythmic and enjoyable, proves its pertinence through the refined musicality of its electronic-instrumental choice, a base on which the irresistible voice of the singer Sister K can surf graciously."
Rock&Folk (France) - May 2011

„Watcha Clan hightlights the similarities between cultures through music instead of complaining about the differences.“
Worldmusiccentral.org – March 2011

"Watcha Clan are not your average world fusion electronica project that might be interesting at first but forgotten about later. The tracks on Radio Babel have real lasting power .... Borrowing from hip-hop, drum-n-bass and dub-reggae, their leader on the wires and samples, Suprem Clem, twists and turns his way through hundreds of years of Balkan, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern sounds with outrageously catchy blips and loops. Sista K's transcendent vocals are worthy of a higher existence as she uses her amazing range and power sparingly, yet effectively. The whole thing comes together as if it were an effortless endeavour." The Line of Best Fit (UK) - March 2011

"In ihrem 'Radio Babel'...sorgen sie nicht für babylonische Sprachverwirrung, sondern verbinden Menschen und Kulturen mit der Kraft der Musik. Orient und Okzident verschmelzen...zu einer Klangwelt, die auf wunderschön klingende Weise die Ähnlichkeit zwischen den unterschiedlichsten Kulturen hervorhebt...Eine berauschende Mixtur."
All My Music - April 2011

"In their 'Radio Babel'...they don't cause Babylonian language confusion, but instead they bring together peoples and cultures through the power of music. The Orient and the Occident blend...to form a sound world that stresses the similiarities between different cultures in a wonderfully beautiful sounding way."
All My Music - April 2011

"Mit ihrem 2008 erschienenen Album 'Diaspora Hi-Fi' hat die aus Marseille stammende Watcha Clan-Truppe im Sektor Weltmusik allerhand Staub aufgewirbelt...Mit so einem Erfolgserlebnis im Rücken läßt es sich in der Szene natürlich vortrefflich leben. Aber irgendwann ist es auch Zeit für ein Nachfolge­produkt und das hat der Watcha Clan nun mit 'Radio Babel' endlich vorgelegt...Um es gleich vorweg zu nehmen: die Franzosen haben ihre neue Aufgabe gut gelöst... die Mittelmeer-Karawane hat sich ein knackiges Update verpasst. Global Disko eben."
Sound&Image.de - März 2011

"With their 2008 album 'Diaspora Hi-Fi', Watcha Clan from Marseille stirred up a lot of dust in the World Music sector...With a success like that, a group can live well in the scene. But eventually comes the time for a follow up and that is just what Watcha Clan has done with 'Radio Babel'...To say it straight out: the group from France has done a great job at their latest task... the Mediterranean caravan has gotten themselves a luscious update. It's global disco."
Sound&Image.de - March 2011

"Watcha Clan gehören zur Speerspitze der globalen Musik, sie zeigen in beispielhafter Weise auf, wie Änlichkeiten zwischen den Kulturen durch Musik vermittelt werden können."
"Watcha Clan are part of the spearhead of global music. They reveal in an impressive way, how similarities in cultures can be conveighed through music."
Concerto 1 2011

CD Pick of the Week
WDR Funkhaus Europa, 21 March 2011

"I highly recommend this it is world music in its newest, truest and rawest form to feed a new generation."
Vainzine Blog - 21 March 2011

"the new Watcha Clan album is out and it is hot! ... All the tracks are so unique and beautiful, this album will satifisy your soul on many levels!"
Generation Bass - 21 December 2010

"Doch Watcha Clan verstehen sich keineswegs nur als gut gelaunte Partyband - auch wenn die Leute bei ihren Konzerten in erster Linie feiern wollen. "Ich denke, als Künstler hat man eine große Verantwortung seinem Publikum gegenüber", sagen die Musiker. "In gewisser Weise hat man einige Macht, von daher kannst Du nicht irgendwelchen Mist sagen oder singen. Wir achten sehr darauf, welche Botschaft wir ausrufen." Natürlich sei ihnen klar, dass sie nicht die Kraft haben, die Welt zu ändern, dennoch glauben sie an die Möglichkeit, den Leuten etwas mit auf den Weg zu geben. Mehr noch als die Texte sehen sie bereits ihre Musik als deutliche Aussage, die für Suprem Clem eine 'Mischung aus Unterhaltung und Verantwortung' ist."
Claudia Frenzel, FOLKER 4.11

"Für das Musikerkollektiv Watcha Clan ist der Name ihres neuen Studioalbums Programm, gleich einem Radiosender, der durch seine verschiedenen Sprachen möglichst viele Menschen aller Kulturen erreichen und sie zum Singen und Tanzen bringen soll."
Rhein-Main Magazin Jan 2013

Quotes

"The sound of one world united by music."

WorldMusic.co.uk

"This isn't just music but the essence of life itself...Much of the album is buttressed by mesmerising Maghreb-style percussion which gives the sound an unrelenting, dynamic edge."

Morning Star - March 2011

"With their 2008 album 'Diaspora Hi-Fi', Watcha Clan from Marseille stirred up a lot of dust in the World Music sector...With a success like that, a group can live well in the scene. But eventually comes the time for a follow up and that is just what Watcha Clan has done with 'Radio Babel'...To say it straight out: the group from France has done a great job at their latest task... the Mediterranean caravan has gotten themselves a luscious update. It's global disco"

Sound&Image.de - March 2011

"In their 'Radio Babel'...they don't cause Babylonian language confusion, but instead they bring together peoples and cultures through the power of music. The Orient and the Occident blend...to form a sound world that stresses the similiarities between different cultures in a wonderfully beautiful sounding way."

All My Music - April 2011

"Watcha Clan are not your average world fusion electronica project that might be interesting at first but forgotten about later. The tracks on Radio Babel have real lasting power .... Borrowing from hip-hop, drum-n-bass and dub-reggae, their leader on the wires and samples, Suprem Clem, twists and turns his way through hundreds of years of Balkan, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern sounds with outrageously catchy blips and loops. Sista K's transcendent vocals are worthy of a higher existence as she uses her amazing range and power sparingly, yet effectively. The whole thing comes together as if it were an effortless endeavour."

The Line of Best Fit (UK) - March 2011

"Watcha Clan gehören zur Speerspitze der globalen Musik, sie zeigen in beispielhafter Weise auf, wie Änlichkeiten zwischen den Kulturen durch Musik vermittelt werden können."
"Watcha Clan are part of the spearhead of global music. They reveal in an impressive way, how similarities in cultures can be conveighed through music."
"

CD Concerto 1 2011 Pick of the Week WDR Funkhaus Europa, 21 March 2011

"In ihrem 'Radio Babel'...sorgen sie nicht für babylonische Sprachverwirrung, sondern verbinden Menschen und Kulturen mit der Kraft der Musik. Orient und Okzident verschmelzen...zu einer Klangwelt, die auf wunderschön klingende Weise die Ähnlichkeit zwischen den unterschiedlichsten Kulturen hervorhebt...Eine berauschende Mixtur."

All My Music - April 2011

"Watcha Clan hightlights the similarities between cultures through music instead of complaining about the differences."

Worldmusiccentral.org – March 2011

"The new Watcha Clan album is a success: more than 10 years after their beginning, the quartet from Marseilles offers us a joyful demonstration of their raga, dub and electronic mix spiced up with Mediterranean and trip hop sounds...This savory mix, rhythmic and enjoyable, proves its pertinence through the refined musicality of its electronic-instrumental choice, a base on which the irresistible voice of the singer Sister K can surf graciously"

Rock&Folk (France) - May 2011

"I highly recommend this it is world music in its newest, truest and rawest form to feed a new generation"

Vainzine Blog - 21 March 2011

"Mit ihrem 2008 erschienenen Album 'Diaspora Hi-Fi' hat die aus Marseille stammende Watcha Clan-Truppe im Sektor Weltmusik allerhand Staub aufgewirbelt...Mit so einem Erfolgserlebnis im Rücken läßt es sich in der Szene natürlich vortrefflich leben. Aber irgendwann ist es auch Zeit für ein Nachfolge­produkt und das hat der Watcha Clan nun mit 'Radio Babel' endlich vorgelegt...Um es gleich vorweg zu nehmen: die Franzosen haben ihre neue Aufgabe gut gelöst... die Mittelmeer-Karawane hat sich ein knackiges Update verpasst. Global Disko eben."

Sound&Image.de - März 2011

"the new Watcha Clan album is out and it is hot! ... All the tracks are so unique and beautiful, this album will satifisy your soul on many levels!"

Generation Bass - 21 December 2010

"Watcha Clan began as support for Asian Dub Foundation and Transglobal Underground. After they had released their last album Diaspora Hi-Fi they became more independent and achieved the reputation of a brillant live band!"

Resident Advisor (SLO) – March 2011

"Doch Watcha Clan verstehen sich keineswegs nur als gut gelaunte Partyband - auch wenn die Leute bei ihren Konzerten in erster Linie feiern wollen. "Ich denke, als Künstler hat man eine große Verantwortung seinem Publikum gegenüber", sagen die Musiker. "In gewisser Weise hat man einige Macht, von daher kannst Du nicht irgendwelchen Mist sagen oder singen. Wir achten sehr darauf, welche Botschaft wir ausrufen." Natürlich sei ihnen klar, dass sie nicht die Kraft haben, die Welt zu ändern, dennoch glauben sie an die Möglichkeit, den Leuten etwas mit auf den Weg zu geben. Mehr noch als die Texte sehen sie bereits ihre Musik als deutliche Aussage, die für Suprem Clem eine 'Mischung aus Unterhaltung und Verantwortung' ist."

Claudia Frenzel, FOLKER 4.11

"Für das Musikerkollektiv Watcha Clan ist der Name ihres neuen Studioalbums Programm, gleich einem Radiosender, der durch seine verschiedenen Sprachen möglichst viele Menschen aller Kulturen erreichen und sie zum Singen und Tanzen bringen soll"

Rhein-Main Magazin Jan 2013

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