Artist
Cameroon
Influences:
African
, North American
, Latin American
IN THE CHARTS
4 times in the Global Top 40
BLOGS
Trust The Doc Media is a wide-ranging portfolio with its focus on providing support,
exposure and opportunities to grassroots music artists. It is curated and managed by
Neil March of Fresh on the Net.
CONTENTS
Part One: The Month in Brief
Vanishing Point News (Page 2)
South East Central: Update (Page 2)
Unsigned & Gifted (Page 3)
Trust The Doc Live: Women of Synth Electronica (Page 3)
The Oddfellows Arms (Page 4)
The Independent Music Tour: Update (Page 5)
Fresh on the Net Faves (Page 6)
Part Two: Reviews of New Music
Albums & EPs (Page 7)
Pop Noodles (Page 10)
Alt Rock & Indie (Page 11)
Urban Flavas (Page 15)
Soulful Sensibilities (Page 17)
Club Culture (Page 18)
Singer-Songwriters (Page 19)
Synthematic (Page 19)
Electronic & Ambient (Page 21)
Contemporary Classical & Sound Art (Page 21)
Jazz & International Journeys (Page 22)
Folk & Country Fare (Page 23)
Part Three: Other Commentaries
Promoting Independents: A New Model (Page 24)
And Finally (Page 26)
It’s always a pleasure to receive a new track from fellow Welsh Londoner Phoebe Coco.
Clear Eyes is a slow, striking track with a kind of arpeggio based melody that is
countered by a lovely descending chord figure as cinematic keyboards enter from
every corner of the mix as the track builds texturally and dynamically. All this
time Phoebe’s dexterous and beautiful voice dominates with some lush harmonies to
boot. It’s been a while but it’s been worth the wait for material of such quality.
New Yorker Aisha Badru describes Lazy River as Folk but I don’t think that tells
the full picture. This is slightly otherworldly songwriting and singing with picking
guitar, simple beat and multi-tracked harmonies. It has elements of Folk, Soul,
Country and general singer-songwriter vibes. Her voice is soft but assured like
Corinne Bailey-Rae in a mash with Hayley Bonar. The style is organic but
sophisticated and Aisha’s harmonised voice is the icing on a very
appealing cake.
South East London-based Israeli singer-songwriter Florie Namir is, of course, my
bandmate in The Music of Sound. But she is also an accomplished solo artist and
she has now teamed up with Cameroonian artist Franck Biyong on a track entitled
Silence is music. It has a lilting Jazz-tinged undercurrent with shimmering guitar
chords and Florie’s classy piano leading the instrumental backdrop along with some
distinctive percussion. But it is the quality of Florie’s and Franck’s voices that
make this track so goose-bumping. Both have highly distinctive and richly beautiful
voices that gel effortlessly as they bring a sweet song that oozes class from start
to finish.
more
Historically, when the global order seems to be reaching a boiling point, art comes
to the rescue. In fact, one could argue that the primary role of artists is to inspire,
empower and drive cultural change, striving for the better. Well, Florie Namir and
Franck Biyong do exactly that.
After connecting through digital avenues, the two musical heroes used their combined
strengths to create a stunning piece of lyrical sensibility, ‘Silence is Music’. On an
eclectic bed of soothing, jazzy afrobeat, the two talents declare a message of cooperation
and peace, birthing a relatable song that seeks to highlight the power of dialogue
and self-acceptance.
This is a much-needed statement, especially during volatile and complex times. It also
works very well with Namir and Biyong’s artistries. The evocative vocals of the Israeli
songstress pair perfectly with Biyong’s masterful guitar playing and charming,
soulful vocal tone.
Recommended!
Discover ‘Silence is Music’ on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/00WPTjitBqhaJwa3Y4U923
more
Global A Go-Go originates in the studios of WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Independent
Radio in Richmond, Virginia, USA, from which it is usually broadcast live every
Sunday from 1 to 3 PM Eastern time. You're looking at WRIR's Studio A, my
home for two hours every week.
WRIR World's NACC Adds
1 ACID ARAB | Trois | Crammed Discs
2 PETER CULSHAW | Music From The Temple Of Light | Iskra
3 SOLOMANE DOUMBIA | Segou To Lagos | Mieruba
4 ALFREDO GUTIERREZ Y LOS CAPORALES DE MAGDALEN | Asi Es ... Con Salsa! | Vampisoul
5 KALA JULA AND GANGBE BRASS BAND | Asro | Buda
6 FLORIE NAMIR AND FRANCK BIYONG | "Silence Is Music" [Single] | Akhetaton
7 NORRAC | New Born | Megawave
8 RODRIGO Y GABRIELA | "Descending To Nowhere" [Single] | ATO
9 VOPLI VIDOPLIASSOVA | Tantsi | Org
10 WE REMEMBER BOB ANDY | various artists | VP
Bill Lupoletti hosts Global A Go-Go, a weekly two-hour world music radio program
that originates in the studios of WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Independent Radio. Bill
is also WRIR's Assistant Music Director for World Music. more
https://freshonthenet.co.uk/2023/02/eclectic-477/
Every week Signal Committee present an Eclectic Picks playlist. All tracks
are selected from the full inbox of 200 tracks that are submitted each week
to Fresh On The Net. This week all the credit goes to our special guest
curator, Trevas.
INTRODUCING TREVAS
Trevas is no stranger to Freshonthenet. A regular face in the Eclectic
Picks and, if he’s well behaved, the Listening Post and Fresh Faves.
When it comes to his own music, Trevas is not one to be pigeon holed.
Awakening Organica is ‘modern Kraftwerk’, Thames Iron Works is dark
and industrial, Sandstorm Rising belongs on the soundtrack to a
perilous journey backpacking across the Middle East, but he went
for ambient with his most recent tracks such as Lunar Maria.
ARTISTS SELECTED THIS WEEK
SON OF UGLY – Out of Time
SOLEA – Coast to Coast
ADAM GREENPIANO – Something For Sarah
LAST OF THE FREE – Will Gaelic Ever Die
CHRISTOFRDAVIS – Father
ELIE WAAGAN – Crystal
SPOONFINGERS – esooG
BLOOD FARM – Air Raid
CARDBOARD – Tenner
HAYLEY MORTON – Will’s Leaving
APPRAXIS – Love of The 80’s
BULKIER NOONS – Rubber Bends
PULSES AND MICHAEL DONOGHUE – False Memory
CRUSADER BEACH – Littler Wonders
ACOLYTE – Memory & Make Believe
FLORIE NAMIR & FRANCK BIYONG – Silence Is Music
Listen to this weeks Eclectic Picks playlist using your weapon of choice below:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4J1nHm4ULob3xOtTyXURZL more
Every week Signal Committee present an Eclectic Picks playlist. All tracks
are selected from the full inbox of 200 tracks that are submitted each week
to Fresh On The Net. This week all the credit goes to our special guest
curator, Trevas.
INTRODUCING TREVAS
Trevas is no stranger to Freshonthenet. A regular face in the Eclectic
Picks and, if he’s well behaved, the Listening Post and Fresh Faves.
When it comes to his own music, Trevas is not one to be pigeon holed.
Awakening Organica is ‘modern Kraftwerk’, Thames Iron Works is dark
and industrial, Sandstorm Rising belongs on the soundtrack to a
perilous journey backpacking across the Middle East, but he went
for ambient with his most recent tracks such as Lunar Maria.
ARTISTS SELECTED THIS WEEK
SON OF UGLY – Out of Time
SOLEA – Coast to Coast
ADAM GREENPIANO – Something For Sarah
LAST OF THE FREE – Will Gaelic Ever Die
CHRISTOFRDAVIS – Father
ELIE WAAGAN – Crystal
SPOONFINGERS – esooG
BLOOD FARM – Air Raid
CARDBOARD – Tenner
HAYLEY MORTON – Will’s Leaving
APPRAXIS – Love of The 80’s
BULKIER NOONS – Rubber Bends
PULSES AND MICHAEL DONOGHUE – False Memory
CRUSADER BEACH – Littler Wonders
ACOLYTE – Memory & Make Believe
FLORIE NAMIR & FRANCK BIYONG – Silence Is Music
Listen to this weeks Eclectic Picks playlist using your weapon of choice below:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4J1nHm4ULob3xOtTyXURZL more
Franck Biyong 957 is a piece of digital artwork by Tony Adamo which was uploaded on February 21st, 2023. more
PHOTOS
ABOUT
Franck Biyong is a Cameroonian guitarist, composer and singer, creator of the Afrolectric sound
fusing Afrobeat, Electro Funk, Jazz and Rock sounds. Attracted to music at a very early age, he
spent most of his childhood in West Africa (Gabon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast) where he learned music.
He left Africa or Europe where he started his musical carrer.
Franck released 20 albums and operates outside the lines which map the trajectories of African
musicians in and out of the continent. Doing so, he gained a reputation over the last fifteen
years as one of the very few authentic innovators of modern African music, blessed with a solid
and sophisticated production, a celebration of diverse influences driven by a heavyweight
spatial sound.
fusing Afrobeat, Electro Funk, Jazz and Rock sounds. Attracted to music at a very early age, he
spent most of his childhood in West Africa (Gabon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast) where he learned music.
He left Africa or Europe where he started his musical carrer.
Franck released 20 albums and operates outside the lines which map the trajectories of African
musicians in and out of the continent. Doing so, he gained a reputation over the last fifteen
years as one of the very few authentic innovators of modern African music, blessed with a solid
and sophisticated production, a celebration of diverse influences driven by a heavyweight
spatial sound.