Various Artists Japanese Traditional Music: Koto – Shamisen | Kokusai Bunka Shinkokai (World Arbiter, 2011) Traditional Japanese music buffs should check out the third installment…
Rare Koto and Shamisen Gems
Category: Album reviews
Balkan Brass Fury
Fanfare Ciocarlia and Boban & Marko Markovic Orchestra Balkan Brass Battle (2011) Two of the finest brass bands in the world, Romania’s Fanfare Ciocarlia and…
Masterful World Fusion from Malaysia
AkashA Karakoram Highway (2011) Malaysian band AkashA is quickly becoming one of the most interesting bands in the world fusion category. The multiethnic band has…
Sahara Groove 2
Various Sahara Groove 2 (Arc Music) This is a terrific compilation of music from North Africa. The 11 tracks make for over an hour of…
The Return of Kar Kar
Boubacar Traore Mali Denhou (Lusafrica 562492, 2011) Hard to believe it’s been six years since Boubacar Traore’s quietly stunning Kongo Magni CD, but Kar Kar…
Delicious Romp through the New Quebecois Sound
Genticorum Nagez Rameurs (Mad River Records, 2011) Looking to kick up your heels this summer with a little Quebecois flair? Look no further than the…
How Sweet It Is
Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga Maisha Ni Matamu (Life Is Sweet) (Virunga Records VR003, 2011) Still supple, spine tingling and, yes, sweet after 30 years…
Colossal Ethiopian Dub
Dub Colossus Addis Through the Looking Glass (Real World, 2011) Following up on their 2008 debut recording In a Town Called Addis, Dub Colossus is…
Belarusian Masters of Ethno Fusion
Troitsa Zimachka (VIGMA 3666-1, 2011) Belarusian trio Troitsa released their vibrant sixth album “Zimachka” (“Winter”) this year. Troitsa combines the rich folk music traditions of…
Captivating Collection of Ghazals
Pooja Goswami Pavan How Shall I Say? (Innova 232, 2011) If you listen carefully there are some surprising sound coming from Minneapolis, Minnesota – Indian…