Dennis Brown The Best Of Dennis Brown: The Niney Years (Heartbeat, 2008) While Bob Marley is considered the King of Reggae, Dennis Brown (who Marley…
Under Observation
Category: Album reviews
Deliciously Inviting Lal Meri
Lal Meri Lal Meri (Six Degrees, 2009) The hip, savvy sound of Lal Meri sizzles from the outset of their self-titled debut CD. Pooling the…
Spanish Roots in 2008
Following their annual tradition, the Fundación Autor and performing rights organization SGAE released the 2008 Spanish music boxed set. The box includes 6 albums: SGAE…
Brazilian Musical Universe
Various Artists The New Brazilian Music (2007) This double CD sampler was given out at WOMEX 2008 in Sevilla (Spain). The collection was put together…
Alluring Rokia
[image1_left]Rokia Traoré Tchamantché (Nonesuch Records, 2009) Singer, songwriter and musician Rokia Traoré has followed up her critically-acclaimed CD Bowmboï with the evocatively rich Tchamantché out…
Tracing the Banjo’s Roots
Jayme Stone & Mansa Sissoko Africa to Appalachia (Jayme Stone, 2008) A wonderful string music cultivation, combining the rolling earthy African roots music of Malian…
Inspired by Spirits
Manze Dayila Solé (As Is Entertainment, 2008), Haitian singer Manze Dayila intertwines her Haitian musical roots with African and pan-African diaspora sounds. Her first CD…
Reelroad Gets Around
Reelroad Гуляю, Гуляю – I Get Around (2007) There’s nothing like a little light-hearted folk music to liven up the cold, dark days of winter,…
Novalima Goes for It
Novalima Coba Coba (Cumbancha, 2009) Latin melodies, natty break beats, big afro rhythms, electronica, vintage analogue tape echoes, dubby sirens and muted horns. Put this…
The Diverse Sides of Wei Xiao Dong
Erhu Solo by Wei Xiao Dong (2004) & Black Silk (It’s Hot Man Records, 2008) by Madame Xd Chinese erhu master Wei Xiao Dong…