Valentine Shipley The Wandering Mystic: Rustic Indian Echoes (Times Music) From rock and ballads to spiritual journeys and fusion, Delhi veteran Valentine Shipley has another…
Rock, Ballads, Spiritual Journeys and Fusion
Author: Madanmohan Rao
Madanmohan Rao is an author and media consultant from Bangalore, and global correspondent for world music and jazz for World Music Central and Jazzuality. He has written over 15 books on media, management and culture, and is research director for YourStory Media. Madan was formerly World Music Editor at Rave magazine and RJ at WorldSpace, and can be followed on Twitter at @MadanRao.
Notable Cross-cultural Collaborations
Various Artists One World, Many Cultures (Putumayo, 2006) This is a superb Putumayo compilation, top of our pick this month. Duets seem all the rage…
Andalusian-Arabic synergies
Hossam Ramzy and Jose Luis Monton Flamenco Arabe 2 (Arc Music) Volume 1 was great and Volume 2 is equally spectacular! Yes, Egyptian percussion prodigy…
Calming New Age Blend of East and West
Al Gromer Khan and Amelia Cuni Monsoon Point (New Earth/India Today, 2007) With the CD cover promising “ambient soundscape and ancient dhrupad singing,” this album…
A Sharp Focus on the Didgeridoo
James Asher Feet in the Soil (New Earth/Music Today, 2002) This hit album by the prolific world music artist James Asher has a sharp focus…
Lounde with Terra del Sol: Selection Two
Various Terra del Sol: Selection Two (Free Spirit) Fans of Café del Mar would like this compilation of lounge music as well. The 17 tracks…
Outstanding Indian Fusion from Kolkata
Impulse Ibteda (NMI, 2006) This outstanding Indian fusion group from Kolkata features Arunangshu Shaudhury on percussion, Dipanker on vocals, Shankar on keyboards, Hari on violin…
World music blended with up-tempo jazz: Indonesian fusion group Rafly wa Saja
One of the most creative bands performing at the recent Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, Malaysia, was the Indonesian fusion group Rafly Wa Saja.…
Fine Showcase of British alternative electronica
Asian Dub Foundation Time Freeze – Best of: 1995-2007 (EMI, 2007) Full of bite and pulse, adventure and polemic, this compilation is a fine showcase…
The Magical Gypsy Worlds of Southern Spain
Various Flamenco: Son del Sur (EMI Hemisphere, 1998) This is a pretty compilation of flamenco music by Hemisphere, though some of the tracks have a…