Frigg Grannen (Frig00007, 2011) If you like fiddles, Finnish-Norwegian band Frigg is as good as it gets. Fronted by five fiddlers, the Scandinavian band wows…
On the New Edge of Kaustinen
Category: Album reviews
Persian Tapestries
Mamak Khadem A Window to Color (2011) Wrap Mamak Khadem’s vocals with clarinet, electric cello and oud surrounded by a tapestry of percussion and the…
Uzbek Seduction
Sevara Nazarkhan Tortadur (Sevaramusic, 2011) Often our first taste of a new musical flavor is bold. On her latest recording Sevara Nazarkhan introduces listeners to…
Balkan Lusitanians
Mu Casa Nostra Portuguese band Mu continues its global musical travels with its second album titled Casa Nostra (Our House). Mu combines original Balkan-inspired material…
Noah Never Had it so Funky
The Funk Ark From the Rooftops (ESL Music ESL176, 2011) I don’t know what your reminiscences of the good old days are all about, but…
Klezmer Rooted and Reinvented
The Klezmatics – Live at Town Hall (Klezmatics Disc KD2010, 2011) Roger Davidson – On the Road of Life (Soundbrush Records SR1020, 2011) Could New…
Spanish Fiesta in Havana
Various Artists La Habana era una fiesta (Vampisoul) This double CD set unearths a collection of recordings from Cuban radio’s vaults, ranging from the 1940s…
An Enlightening Nigerian Threesome
MonoMono – Give the Beggar a Chance (Soundway/Tummy Touch TUCH2027CD, 2011) MonoMono – The Dawn of Awareness (Soundway/Tummy Touch TUCH2026CD, 2011) Joni Haastrup – Wake…
Kiran Ahluwalia Unearths a Magical Mix
Kiran Ahluwalia Aam Zameen: Common Ground (Avokado Artists Recordings/Ais, 2011) The Indian Canadian artist Kiran Ahluwalia is a female powerhouse on the world music scene…
African Reggae Revolution
Tiken Jah Fakoly African Revolution (Indie Europe/Zoom, 2011) I consider reggae one of those wonderfully sly genres where powerful messages are entwined with bright, feel…