Rare Tongan Gospel
'Discovering' music has been stripped of all its wonder. Cult Brazilian classics make the top of mediocre sounds-like lists. Exhaustive discographies of micro-works and labour-of-love catalogues are less than a mouse click away. I have heard the British cassettes of the 80's. I have heard the Left Banke sing in praise of local car dealerships. I have heard the first African hip-hop single. I've heard every song by every band that I've ever called 'my favourite band'.
I know that you've probably done the same.
So it seems ridiculous to come here an post anything. It feels difficult to be passionate about discovering any music from the web, the radio, a record store or even a junky $1 bin.
However, I recently heard a band that I desperately wanted to share. I stumbled across them in Tonga. They are a Pentecostal church house band for a small congregation of working class people. I heard them practicing on a Saturday night and when I poked my head in they invited me to come back on Sunday morning. It was a reverse missionary situation. I went back and toughed it through one of the only church services of my life. Upon questioning, I (politely?) lied and said that I was a member of the United Church of Canada. I'm pretty sure you don't have to believe in anything except general kindness, so I didn't feel like it was that much of a fabrication. I recorded the musical selections collected here and am proud to present to you some of my favourite tracks of 2009.
The entire set was distinctive mix of dirty soul, 60's garage and the incredible smoothness of Polynesian tonality and harmony, all highlighted wonderfully in Track 8.
Tongan Pentecostal Gospel - Track 8
Track 9 can only be described as a psyche-pop ballad in the purest sense. The tune in question was played multiple times over the 2 1/2 hour service, but this is the most intense version, clocking in at just over 10 minutes long.
Tongan Pentecostal Gospel - Track 9
The entire set of 13 tracks can be downloaded here: TonganGospel.zip.
I know that you've probably done the same.
So it seems ridiculous to come here an post anything. It feels difficult to be passionate about discovering any music from the web, the radio, a record store or even a junky $1 bin.
However, I recently heard a band that I desperately wanted to share. I stumbled across them in Tonga. They are a Pentecostal church house band for a small congregation of working class people. I heard them practicing on a Saturday night and when I poked my head in they invited me to come back on Sunday morning. It was a reverse missionary situation. I went back and toughed it through one of the only church services of my life. Upon questioning, I (politely?) lied and said that I was a member of the United Church of Canada. I'm pretty sure you don't have to believe in anything except general kindness, so I didn't feel like it was that much of a fabrication. I recorded the musical selections collected here and am proud to present to you some of my favourite tracks of 2009.
The entire set was distinctive mix of dirty soul, 60's garage and the incredible smoothness of Polynesian tonality and harmony, all highlighted wonderfully in Track 8.
Tongan Pentecostal Gospel - Track 8
Track 9 can only be described as a psyche-pop ballad in the purest sense. The tune in question was played multiple times over the 2 1/2 hour service, but this is the most intense version, clocking in at just over 10 minutes long.
Tongan Pentecostal Gospel - Track 9
The entire set of 13 tracks can be downloaded here: TonganGospel.zip.
posted by David Readshaw Barclay at 2:02 PM
8 Comments:
thank you for posting this! i hope it helps knowing that others are just as passionate about new music, especially such gorgeous tracks as these.
yes, this is amazing..
If you register as an NDP voter, you're automatically in the United Church - I think it's a package deal. You can also get a discount on a used Saab.
Thanks so much David
This is very inspiring
I hope you're well
p-man
I've been a big fan of Pacific Island music since hearing "The Spirit of Micronesia" and am a long time fan of Gospel, and this one is really great. Thanks for sharing!
Everyone know David's a Volvo man and would never be so wasteful as to buy a Saab.
I have spent lots of time in Tonga and will go again. Would you happen to remember where this church met? Was it in Nuku 'aloga or on an outer island? Do you have a contact at the church?
Please e-mail me:
shauna@eyeballtraffic.com
Thanks!
Shauna
Oops!
I meant Nuku 'alofa!
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