‘World music’ is a problematic concept, in that it smacks of western global imperialism. By its very nature, it places the ‘developed’ west at the centre of the map – hell, the known universe – and reduces everything else to that vague, lesser bracket of ‘world’. there’s almost a disdain there in the culturally ignorant blanket term that shows a reckless contempt for the differences between different cultures. Being a product of my time and my geography, I’m guilty of the same ignorance. That I’m abundantly happy to devote hours to discussing the minutia that distinguish one microgenre from another in contemporary western music while knowing precisely nothing of ‘world music’ is evidence of this.
Still, it’s not as insulting as the way some western artists have incorporated ‘world’ music and made like they’re intrepid musical explorers bringing exotic delights to our society, because let’s face it, ‘Gracelands’ was a commercialised, diluted packaging, and in no way representative of the music or culture it plundered.
Anyway, I’m perhaps not the best qualified to provide an informed opinion of this EP by Ilita! But I will say this: it’s really rather good and sounds nothing like any ‘world’ music I’ve ever heard. ‘Gue’ has a strongly rhythmic spine, over which a crunchy guitar-like sound chops, cuts and stutters. There’s a fat, strolling rockabilly bassline, too, which only adds to the skiffly post-punk groove. Somehow, it ends up coming on like a Bollywood tribute to the B52s remixed by Cabaret Voltaire circa 1980.
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‘Selame’ is perhaps more conventionally ‘world’, clattering kettle drum rhythms and handclaps dominating an upbeat, danceable tune that’s again complimented by a solid, dubby bass.
The two tracks here illustrate just how pointless genre distinctions and categorisation really is. Ultimately, it boils down to whether or not the music is any good – and this is definitely good music.
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