The Mighty Zulu Nation Abantu (Nation Records, 2004) On Abantu, South African group The Mighty Zulu Nation teams up with Aki Nawaz, of Fundamental. Nawaz…
When Bhangra Meets the The Mighty Zulu Nation
Category: Album reviews
Songs of the Brave
Brave Old World – Dus Gezang Fin Geto Lodzh [Song of the Lodz Ghetto] (Winter and Winter Music 910 104-2, 2005) True to their name,…
Mauritanian Crossroads
Daby Touré Diam (Realworld, 2004) Mauritania is a crossroads of cultures. It connects the Arabic traditions of North Africa (Magreb) with the sounds of the…
Latin Percussion Masters in Their Element
Ray Barretto – Time Was-Time Is (O+ Music OP109, 2005) Tito Puente – The Rough Guide to Tito Puente (World Music Network RGNET 1162 CD,…
Celtic Czechs
Irish Dew Sance (Indies Records, 2005) Despite the name, this Celtic band is from the Czech Republic. Inspired by the music of the Emerald Isle,…
Hip Flamenco Billy
Mártires del Compás Sin Papeles (World Village) Mártires del Compás represents the hip contemporary urban sound of Seville, the capital of Andalucía (southern Spain). The…
Steamy Cuban Songs
Omara Portuondo Sentimiento (Escondida ESC 6516-2, 2005) Omara Portuondo is perhaps the most important living Cuban female singer. Sentimiento is a great introduction to her…
New Cuban Series Packs Only the Essentials
Ibrahim Ferrer – Ay, Candela (Escondida ESC 6513-2, 2005) Ruben Gonzalez – Momentos (Escondida ESC 6514-2, 2005) Omara Portuondo – Sentimiento (Escondida ESC 6516-2, 2005)…
The Saharawi Medej
Mariem Hassan, Jeirana, Faknash, Shueta and Nayim Medej (Nubenegra, 2004) Spain’s Nubenegra continues to explore the sounds of the Saharawi people. Sadly, most Saharawi musicians…
Re-check Your Pulse
Steel Pulse – True Democracy (Elektra/Rhino R2 79287, 2005) Steel Pulse – Earth Crisis (Elektra/Rhino R2 74687, 2005) These two albums, originally released in 1982…