I don’t know if continuing to review both singles and albums is doing anything to improve my already questionable writing skills, but it is opening me up to music I may have previously (at my peril) overlooked. Mustn’t let that happen, so bear with me while I make certain it doesn’t. I’ll start with the singles.
Raiis Kamal
Morocco’s Raiis Kamal generates a whole lot of niceness on “Ana Nhabak Ya Lmyma,” (I Love you Mom), a mix of reggae, zesty clarinet bursts and heartfelt singing in a tribute to moms everywhere.
Peter Lake
“Comforts Cross” by Peter Lake is difficult to categorize, but this American artist sounds like a cross between Roger Waters and Donovan as he makes his way through a ballad of lost love that’s both harrowing and heaven sent.
Wax
A French saxophonist who calls himself Wax (which seems to be his band name also) rolls through “Skate Park,” an instrumental that goes from jazzy to rocking to funky with hardly a seam. Long yet totally engaging.
False Crab
Oddly-named Portuguese guitarist False Crab rings true throughout “Head Rush,” on which his emotive fingering sounds like a chilled but still fiery Carlos Santana. And to be clear, I consider that a very good thing.
Adrian Fahey
Irishman Adrian Fahey has things to say on “Idols,” a snappy acoustic rocker with hints of Celtic folk but even more influence from the likes of Bob Dylan. The lyrics are a rather cryptic jab at idolized things in general, plus some poetic self-reflection that encourages close listening and perhaps reflection of one’s own.
Shorn B
Shorn B, an American who reportedly works in several genres, has a good reggae-flavored tune called “Blessings,” which he wants to bestow even on the haters he calls out. It’s always a refresher to hear the positive messages that reggae music expresses so well, and this is a shining example.
Gillebride MacMillan
Gillebride MacMillan celebrates the magic of the midnight hour with “Meadhan-oidhche,” sung in Scottish Gaelic and assisted by Karen Matheson of Capercaillie fame. The beauty of the song lies in simplicity and an earnest feel that, to my ears, overcomes the language barrier.
Joachim Horsley
Pianist Joachim Horsley follows up “Beethoven in Havana” through the heat of “Carnival Capriccio,” which matches his ivory skills with bass and a battery of percussionists from Martinique, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, and the US. It’s an incredible explosion of non-processed intersecting beats and rapid fire melody. And any tune with dueling maraca solos is okay by me.
Karl Loyson
The meaty vocal attack of “Lanmou” by French chanter Karl Loyson is bolstered by pummeling percussion and sweetened just enough by piano and acoustic guitar. It’s got a brash effectiveness that comes on strong and leaves you feeling likewise empowered.
Elida Almeida
Like Jamaica, Cape Verde is a small island country that has a big musical output. I’ve previously mentioned the goodness of emerging Cape Verdean star Elida Almeida on this site, and her recent “Bedjera” is a hot Afro-Portuguese jumper that shows she’s here to stay.
Mariaa Siga
In my far-from-expert opinion, not nearly enough African female singers employ reggae as a key facet of their artistry. I therefore find Senegal’s Mariaa Siga to be something of a revelation. Her “Les Murmure des Anges” has a modern, distinctly Africanized reggae vibe that makes me want to hear more of what she’s got.
Zila Lima
Seems as though I receive more than my share of Brazilian music, and “O de Casa” by Zila Lima shows why that’s not a problem. The song starts as a mellow showcasing of Lima’s brightly elastic vocals before bursting into a celebration of accordion-led music and rhythm, sounding like a rural party that city folk could easily dig as well.
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.
que belleza todos!!