Architextures Revisited 22 – Francesca – AfriCobra

This month it’s all about AfriCobra on Francesca’s Architextures radio show. Welcome to Francesca and Architextures here on Pen vs Sword re-OpenLab.

Architextures Concept and Theme

In Architextures, London Based Dj/Producer Francesca presents soundscapes exploring music as ‘an immaterial form of artistic expression; the articulation of modernist movements and cultural philosophies through multisensory meshworks in orbit’. She constructs each episode meticulously, layering different sounds and genres to create a cohesive auditory experience.

Musical Style and Selection

Francesca’s musical selection for Architextures is diverse and expansive. She draws from a wide range of genres, including ambient, electronic, experimental, and world music. Each episode is a tapestry of sounds, woven together to create a mood or tell a story.

Francesca has a talent for finding the connections between seemingly disparate pieces of music, blending them seamlessly into a unified whole. This approach not only showcases her deep knowledge and appreciation of music but also introduces listeners to new and unexpected sounds.

This Shows Theme

This episode of Architextures brings you 2 hours of music inspired by AfriCOBRA, and the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), a still-flourishing organisation of primarily African American Chicago musicians whose interdisciplinary explorations expanded the boundaries of jazz.

AfriCOBRA was a Chicago-based group of black artists whose shared aim was to develop their own aesthetic in the visual arts to empower black communities. Rather than bringing about change through political revolt, these artists used the black identity, its style, attitude and worldview to foster solidarity and self-confidence throughout the African diaspora.

This show includes music from AACM members Wadada Leo Smith, Muhal Richard Adams and Tomeka Reid and Jeff Parker, and is inspired by the intertwined legacy, style and ethos of the sounds and visual art of both collectives.

Listen to Francesca on re-OpenLab Architextures Revisited 22 – AfriCobra:

Originally aired over four years ago, the show often features rare and obscure tracks, providing a platform for lesser-known artists and genres. Francesca’s ability to unearth these hidden gems and present them in an accessible way is one of the hallmarks of Architextures. Her selections often include a mix of contemporary and classic tracks, creating a dialogue between the past and present of musical innovation.

Playlist

Joint 17 – Yussef Kamaal
Wadsworth Jarrell on Africobra
Freedom Flight – Shuggie Otis
Lebroba – Wadada Leo Smith, Andrew Cyrille & Bill Frisell Slight Freedom – Jeff Parker
In The Tradition – Amiri Baraka
This Can’t Be Real – Gill Scott-Heron & Makaya McCraven
Er Ra – Alice Coltrane
Trouble Man – Marvib Gaye
Batida – Chicago Underground Quartet
Max Brown – Part 1 – Jeff Parker
Asiko – Tony Allen
The Dreamer (feat. Maya Angelou) – Common
Guided – Gill Scott-Heron & Makaya McCraven
Blasé – Archie Shepp & Jeanne Lee
Utopia and Visions – Don Cherry
Remembrance – Yussef Kamaal
Aragon – The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble
Devika (Goddess) – Lonnie Liston Smith
Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World) – The Undisputed Truth
Discern/Define – The Poets of Rhythm
Windy C – 100% Pure Poison
Slipping Into Darkness – Ramsey Lewis
Every Way But Loose – Oneness of Juju
Inner City Blues – Placebo
Universal Mother – Don Cherry
Black Lion (ft. Joel Ross, Dezron Douglas, Tomeka Reid & Brandee Younger)
Makaya McCraven Dominoes – Donald Byrd
Sixty Minute Man – Rufus Thomas
Walk On By – The Equatics
Hyperbolicsyllablecsesquedalymistic – Isaac Hayes
Creative Musicians – Jazzanova
Introspective – Common
One World Family (ft. David Murray) – Kahil El’Zabar
A Queens Intro (ft. Joel Ross, Dezron Douglas, Tomeka Reid & Brandee Younger)
Makaya McCraven Chicago, Damn – Bobbi Humphrey

Architextures Listening Experience

Listening to Architextures is an immersive experience. Francesca’s thoughtful curation and smooth transitions create a continuous flow of music that captivates the listener from start to finish. The show is designed to be an auditory journey, with each episode offering a unique exploration of sound. Whether it’s the ambient soundscapes that evoke a sense of calm and introspection or the more upbeat electronic tracks that energize and inspire, Architextures caters to a wide range of moods and emotions.

Impact and Reception

Since its inception, Architextures has garnered a dedicated following. Listeners appreciate Francesca’s distinctive approach to music curation and the high-quality production of the show. The program became a staple for those seeking an alternative to mainstream radio, offering a refreshing and innovative perspective on music.

Architextures has also had a positive impact on the broader music community. By featuring a wide range of artists and genres, the show helped to promote diversity and inclusivity in music. It provides a platform for emerging artists and brings attention to music that might otherwise go unheard.

Architextures by Francesca on openlab.fm is more than just a radio show; it’s an artistic endeavour that celebrates the rich and varied landscape of music. Through her careful curation and passion for discovery, Francesca has created a program that still resonates deeply with listeners and contributes meaningfully to the world of music. Architextures stands out as a testament to the power of music to inspire, connect, and transform.

*Resident Advisor Francesca Mackay
**Instagram Francesca Mackay

About OpenLab:

Founded in 2013 by electronic music pioneer, composer and DJ Robert Miles and inspired by the creative spirit of Ibiza. OpenLab was conceived specifically to showcase the best in innovative yet accessible music and visual art.

Broadcasting worldwide via www.openlab.fm and on 106.4 FM in Ibiza and Formentera, OpenLab champions the worlds most exciting producers, artists, DJ’s and visual artists, offering their community a glimpse of ‘Tomorrows World.. Today’.

You can listen to their Live Radio broadcasts here https://openlab.fm/radio/on-air or download their App:
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