Cumali Bulduk, a Belgian musician of Turkish heritage, uses a variety of instruments and textures to create “Bulamadın Mı (Moğol),” a lovely blend of Anatolian…
Turkish Delight
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.
African Connections
The sonic similarities between Kenyan and Congolese music have long been evident, and Hakuna Patata celebrates as much with a song called “Kuja Tuscheze” and…
Reggae For All Times
Ivan Garzon, former frontman of renowned Southern California reggae band The Devastators, is out on his own with a track called “Right Time.” It’s got…
Coming On Strong
A Swedish band called Colmeia harnesses the charging rhythms and chiming guitars of Congolese soukous with their song “The Best is Yet to Come.” If…
Highly Professional
An American collective that goes by the name Jamateurs has a tune called “Jam It Is” that’s hard to classify. What I hear in it…
Tradition Plus
Malian artist Niarela Papou gives his country’s wassulu music an extra danceable twist on “Sigui,” where instruments like the traditional kamalé ngoni lute are prominent…
Gettin’ Freeky
With a style rather reminiscent of Manu Dibango, France’s Hoagnan gives us “Mama Afreeka,” which starts off jazzy before bringing in an African undercurrent that…
Zesty Sauce
Spanish singer Yelem gives classic salsa its due but also adds a splash of contemporary production value to “Mi Pueblo,” a sizzling tune accompanied by…
Best Foot Forward
Multicultural ensemble Sonic Alley, fronted by Caleb Hart, mixes reggae, funk, and hip hop on “Step Up,” a hard-hitting, timely-as-can-be plea for personal improvement that…
You Can’t Be Too Picky
Based on the number of uplifting reggae tracks I’ve received lately, it would seem that the world is in need of such music. I believe…