Summertime is in full swing. And this being a summer like no other, what with the planet now presumably on the rebound from the virus that caused considerable tragedy, let there be music. I’ve had the good fortune of receiving a substantial number of recent releases that are making the light at the end of the tunnel (or perhaps beyond it) all the more bright. Here’s a brief look at a few of them.
Francesc Sans
Some albums take a while to grow on you. L’infinit (Segell Microscopi, 2021) by Spanish bagpiper Francesc Sans isn’t one of them. I was hooked once the sinister drone-and-clatter that gives way to joyfully romping sounds on the opening “Tres Tocs, Un Cant” filled my ears, and my heart followed close behind. The disc gets better and better as it goes along, with swirling dance pieces occasionally mellowed by slower tracks like the tragic war tale “Les Quintes,” splendidly voiced by Mariona Escoda, just one of the featured vocalists who all bring added grace.
You wouldn’t be faulted for thinking this music is Scottish or perhaps Irish in origin, given the Celtic-like tartness of Sans’ brilliant playing and how well it blends with the sonic wall of other acoustic and electric instruments. But tracks like the merrily reverent “A La Nit De Nadal” and devotional/ancestral meld “Dolors Gegants” sound out of this world. In the liner notes, Sans gives thanks to, among others, all those who feel goosebumps listening to the sound of the drones. Count me in. This one’s a keeper of the highest order.
Delgres
Delgres is a French threesome of multi-instrumentalists named for an early 19th century Creole officer who fought Napoleonic troops attempting to reinstate slavery in the French Caribbean. On 4:00 AM (PIAS, 2021), they combine power trio might with rockish grooves, New Orleans flair and blues inflections on songs that lament the plight of immigrants, spotlight the woes of poverty, blast racist attitudes and document the kind of struggles that the band members or those close to them know firsthand. It’s a unique, energizing sound (one that uses a sousaphone in place of a bass, for example) and it doesn’t pull any punches. Recommended for those who appreciate gut level music with a global flair.
Esma Redzepova and the Nune Brothers
Shortly before her passing in 2016, renowned Roma singer and humanitarian Esma Redzepova recorded six tracks with the Nune Brothers, a versatile Macedonian band she helped nurture. Those half dozen comprise the bulk of My Last Song: A Tribute to Macedonia’s Gypsy Queen (ARC Music, 2021). Even in a supporting role, Esma’s soaring vocals were full-blooded and heartfelt to the end, and this mix of Balkan roots with ska, jazz, swing, Iberian rhythms, Latin spice, tango and samba is an abbreviated but still wonderful tribute to her greatness. It’s a solid showcase for the expert chops of the Nune Brothers as well.
Abdelli
Word of a new release by Algeria’s Abdelli reminded me of how much I loved his album Among Brothers nearly 20 years ago. Songs of Exile (ARC Music, 2021) does not disappoint. In fact, it’s excellent. Abdelli’s understated Berber vocals and his finesse on mandola, banjo and guitar mix seamlessly with players, instruments and sensibilities from Morocco, Belgium, Brazil, Tunisia, Armenia and Chile. The result is an intriguing blend that’ll really get under your skin.
Words like “exotic,” “hypnotic” and “mesmerizing” are applicable but hardly sufficient in describing the boundary-defying mosaic of sounds. It’s fusion music that never feels forced or pretentious, inspiring alternating urges to dance or simply close your eyes and listen to how wonderfully the whole thing results from the sum of its parts. As to the album’s title, Abdelli’s own story recounted in the liner notes, along with detailed descriptions of each song’s subject matter, will tell you all you need to know about just how inspired his music is. Highly recommended.
Belcirque
The mostly female Belgian septet Belcirque has a delightful third album in La Grande Fete (ARC Music 2021). Combining bright harmonies with street performer roots, storytelling ethos, sparsely tight instrumentation and an ear for gleaning inspiration from African, Latin, Caribbean and Americana sources, the band breezes through a collection of a baker’s dozen tracks that each engage on their own level. It’s the vocals that’ll grab you first, but the rhythms follow close behind. Quirky balladry (“The Musketeer of Love and Fear”), shared adversity (“Petit Chemin”) and steadfastness (“The Anchor”) are a few of the areas explored, often with a wink and a nod but never coming across as merely silly or trivial. Then again, things don’t get so serious that you lose sight of how very committed these six ladies and one gentleman are when it comes to crafting their smile-inducing sound. If you’re looking for music to truly fall in love with, this is it.
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(headline image: Abdelli – Photo credit: Eric Cherpion)
Author: Tom Orr
Tom Orr is a California-based writer whose talent and mental stability are of an equally questionable nature. His hobbies include ignoring trends, striking dramatic poses in front of his ever-tolerant wife and watching helplessly as his kids surpass him in all desirable traits.