The Rough Guide to the Music of Mali (World Music Network RGNET 1208, 2008) It’s been said numerous times and hardly bears repeating that Mali…
Good Golly Mali
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.
A Quibble-less Quebec Quickie
Putumayo Presents Quebec (Putumayo PUTU 279, 2008) I visited Quebec several times as a youngster with my Canadian father, and despite my tender years was…
Fine China
Sa Dingding Alive (Wrasse Records WRASS 213, 2007) I’d be the most terrible of liars if I said I possessed anything resembling a comprehensive knowledge…
More Than One Way To Rock
Rachid Taha Rock el Casbah: The Best Of (Wrasse Records WRASS 215, 2007) While there’s not a release by Algerian/French vocalist Rachid Taha that isn’t…
Variations on a Cuban Theme
Yusa Haiku (Tumi Music TUMI 143, 2008) I had to do a bit of memory jogging and digging through my collection when I received this…
In Gods We Trust
The Ipanemas Call of the Gods (Far Out Recordings FARO 127 CD, 2008) Like it or not, a band called the Ipanemas is bound to…
Going Goema
Barry Van Zyl & The Bo Kaap Collective Goema Music From Cape Town, South Africa (ARC Music EUCD 2133, 2008) Woefully uneducated as I am,…
Call It What You Will
Arvel Bird/Will Clipman/Mary Redhouse/William Eaton Ananeah (Singing Wolf Records SWF 90304-2, 2006) I’ve long been keen on Native American-based music that breaks the mold of…
I Love A Parade
Cedric “Im” Brooks and the Divine Light – From Mento to Reggae to Third World Music (17 North Parade VP 4118, 2008) Cocoa Tea –…
Six Degrees Times Three
Jef Stott – Saracen (Six Degrees Records 657036 1146-2, 2008) Sonantes – Sonantes (Six Degrees Records 657036 1148-2, 2008) Niyaz – Nine Heavens (Six Degrees…