Occidental Brothers Dance Band International (Self-Released, 2006) You could easily believe the tracks on this very sharp CD were recorded in Kinshasa or Accra years…
The Occidental Purists
Category: Album reviews
The Fascinating Side of the Accordion
Mike del Ferro, Stian Carstensen and Azerbaijani Traditional Musicians – Jazz-Mugham Bridges (American Voices Association, 2006) Motion Trio – Play-Station (Asphalt Tango, 2006) Jazz Mugham…
Indian Ocean Hybrids
Various Artists Musiques Metisses – Océan Indien (Marabi 46816, 2006) This compilation takes a look at the cross-cultural sounds coming out of several islands in…
Gnawa Beats from the North
Michy Mano The Cool Side of the Pillow (Justin Time/Enja, 2006) Moroccan musician Michy Mano has been living in Oslo (Norway) for a few years.…
Evocative Danes Release Tusind Tanker
Zar Tusind Tanker (Tame, 2006) Denmark is producing excellent contemporary folk bands lately. Zar recreates Danish folk and mixes it with Irish-style arrangements and other…
Calling Out Around the World
Various Artists Putumayo World Party (Putumayo PUT 263-2, 2007) The various-artist collections from the prolific Putumayo label can be built around the lightest of concepts,…
Sephardic Valencians
Aman Aman Musica I Cants Sefardis D’orient I Occident (Galileo GMC017, 2006) If you are familiar with Spanish world music ensemble L’Ham de Foc, the…
Nigerian Afrobeat: Raw and Remixed
Lekan Babalola Songs of Icon (Mr Bongo, 2006) In recent years Afrobeat has become popular in North American, with large multiethnic jam bands inspired by…
The Guitar Travels to Persia
Lily Afshar Hemispheres (Archer Records ARR31926, 2006) On Hemispheres, virtuoso guitarist Lily Afshar combines the classical guitar tradition with Persian music and South American pieces.…
Marcio Faraco, a Melodic Descendant of Joao Gilberto
Marcio Faraco Interior (2007) Marcio Faraco’s 4th release, Invento, takes you into his studio with 11 tracks featuring acoustic guitar and percussion,along with Marcio’s fine…