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
Category: Album reviews
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…
Tracing the Aboriginal Songs’ Roots
Ungambikkula O Rastro do Canto (Azul, 2008) Brazilian band Ungambikkula embraces global culture and spirituality in its latest album, O Rastro do Canto. The large…
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…
The Best of Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys – Best of Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys (Rounder Records, 2008) The double CD set of Best of…
Bewitched by Al Andalus
Luis Delgado As-Sirr (Nubenegra) For many years, Spanish multi-instrumentalist Luis Delgado has been researching the music of Medieval Muslim Spain. He has recorded and composed…
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…
Dazzling Sounds of Aboriginal America
Several recent releases show the rich traditions of Native Americans. Father and daughter duo Jay & Tiinesha Begaye. Showing the increasing influence of intertribal music,…
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…