Various Artists Baila! A Latin Dance Party (Putumayo PUT 251-2, 2006) Musical surprises are always welcome, but never underestimate the value of an album that…
Party in Session and in Motion
Category: Album reviews
Scorching Seconds
Hossam Ramzy and Jose Luis Monton Flamenco Arabe 2 (ARC Music EUCD 2000, 2006) Perhaps later I’ll be concerned that I haven’t heard the first…
Live and Give
Amparanoia La Vida Te Da (Wrasse Records, WRASS 171, 2006) There’s an interesting disclaimer in the liner notes of this album. “All tracks were recorded…
Double Dose of Half an Island
The Rough Guide to Merengue (World Music Network RGNET 1171 CD, 2006) The Rough Guide to Bachata (World Music Network RGNET 1164 CD, 2006) My…
La Kahena Remixed
Fans of global electronica will enjoy Cheb i Sabbah‘s new recording, La Ghriba: La Kahena Remixed. The Algerian electronic music wizard personally selected a team…
A Prairie Home Companion
By Susan Budig Various Artists A Prairie Home Companion Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (New Line Records, 2006) Robert Altman says in the liner notes, “Working…
Cheikh Lô, Senegalese Roots Meets Brazil
Cheikh Lô Lamp Fall (World Circuit/Nonesuch, 2006) Musician and songwriter Cheikh Lô has become of the most attractive figures in West African music. On his…
Rockin’ Shamizen
The Yoshida Brothers – III (Domo Records, 2006) The Yoshida Brothers are back with an album where they keep pushing the limits of the venerable…
David Strikes Back at the Empire
David Rovics Return (Ever Reviled Records, 0005, 2003) Now that Neil Young and other famous names are jumping on the anti-Bush bandwagon, it is important…
Chinese Kosher
Metropolis Shanghai: Showboat to China (Winter and Winter 910 111-2, 2005) Zuflucht in Shanghai: The Port of Last Resort – A Film by Joan Grossman…