London (UK) – Fantazia has recorded Mul Sheshe, one of the most exciting North African fusion albums in recent years. Unlike some who stick to…
Fantazia, Polyglot Berber and Gnawa Funk
Category: Album reviews
Jamaican Sounds Aged to Perfection
(Trojan/Sanctuary 06076-80548-2, 2005) Lyn Taitt & the Jets – Hold Me Tight: Anthology 65-73 (Trojan/Sanctuary 06076-80543-2, 2005) The evolution of Jamaican popular music from ska…
Existentialist Tides: Marta Topferova
Marta Topferova La Marea [The Tide] (World Village 468040, 2005) I had never heard of Marta Topferova until recently when I received an e-mail about…
Moacir Santos, Splendid Sounds of the Brazil of Old and New
Moacir Santos and Various Artists Choros & Alegria (Adventure Music AM1022 2, 2005) Following the success of the critically acclaimed CD Ouro Negro, producers Mario…
Tejano Music – Ruben Ramos
Reloaded is the title of the new CD by Rubén Ramos, the contrast of different styles fluctuating between conjunto, norteño, cumbia, salsa and polka is…
Ecstatic Afternoon Raga: Vikas Gupta
Vikas Gupta A Journey (Sense World Music, 2005) I had one of those deja vu experiences upon receiving Sitarist Vikas Gupta’s debut release, A Journey…
The Beautiful Sea
Various Artists The Caribbean (Putumayo PUTU 245, 2006) The rather broad scope of this album seems odd, since the Putumayo label has already put out…
Sweet as honey: Classical Indian Women Violinists
Kala Ramnath – Nectar (Sense World Music, 2005) N. Rajam & Sangeeta Shankar – Violin Dynasty (Sense World Music, 2005) Nectar marks the illustrious Indian…
Old and New Sounds from Ancient Mediterranean Islands
Various Artists Illes Balears del Folk al Pop (Blau CD400, 2004) This compilation by Mallorca-based Produccions Blau features music by artists from the Balearic Islands…
Abdel Wright – A Different Take on Jamaican Musicians
Abdel Wright Abdel Wright (Weapons of Mass Entertainment/Interscope Records – B0001931-02, 2005) The first thing you will probably notice about this CD is his music…