DEMON HANDS

You really realise what a remarkable instrument the djembe drum is after you begin to understand how to play it. Its pure atavistic physicality is fed back to you through the sound as your hands slap against the taut skin giving you an immediate rush leading to the point where, as the pace gradually increases, and as the volume subtly rises along with the excitement, you're taken to ecstatic overwhelming heights. Your body completely takes control over your actions.

The djembe, also known as the Devil Drum, originates from West Central Africa (mine is one from North East Ghana that I was encouraged to purchase when beginning classes) and it has a design which produces a hearty sound that is actually an example of Helmholtz resonance (the sound created as a result of air in a cavity, for instance, blowing across the top of an open beer bottle, or the airbox of an acoustic stringed instrument).

There are essentially three different sounds you learn to produce: the bass, the slap, and the tone; and it's the powerful mixing of these different sounds that create the magical power. Each sound belies its simplicity - they can each take months to perfect in combination. I remember one teacher making the kinesthetic analogy of the tone sound to a well-aimed skelp, which immediately reminded me of a former girlfriend who would insist on deserving a bright red backside and fifteen minutes in the corner before going to bed on a Sunday night. But enough of that, because when you get it, it really feels so good to bang this drum with your bare hands and, to me, it's moments like this that remind you how short and fragile life is (this theme to return in a future post).

Prepare yourself: these African women djembefola will blow your fucking mind and remind you what utter fucking trash most music is.