Gangbe Brass Band Whendo (World Village 468050, 2005) The colonization of many an African nation in the 19th century brought European music to those countries…
Benin’s Big Brass Blow
Category: Album reviews
A Well-Mixed Drink
Pink Martini Hang on Little Tomato (Heinz Records HNZOO2, 2004) You could call them a globally-influenced pop band, a world music ensemble with a taste…
Kid Stuff?
The Rough Guide to African Music for Children (World Music Network RGNET 1166 CD, 2005) The Rough Guide to Latin Music for Children (World Music…
Beyond Celtic and Back
Afro Celt Sound System – Anatomic (Real World 094633180024, 2005) Various Artists – Celtic Crossroads (Putumayo PUT 243-2, 2005) Rosheen – Musique Celtique (Compass Records…
Memorable Reggae Classics
Various Artists Reggae Gold (Hip-O Records/Universal Music, 2005) The songs on this 2 CD set will take you back to the Golden Age of reggae…
Dream Walkers and Global Rockers
Kan’Nal Dreamwalker (Physiks Records [no number], 2005) Difficult to label yet strangely compelling because of that very difficulty, the music of Kan’Nal is a tightly…
Souad not so sad
Souad Massi – Mesk Elil (Universal Music France, 2005) A softer, more centered Souad Massi greets us upon our entry to this, her third album.…
Salif keeps up the momentum
Salif Keita – M’Bemba [Ancestor] (Universal Jazz, 2005) Salif Keita’s Soro is one of the few Afro-fusion releases to truly cross over into the mainstream.Soro…
Kiran, Ghazals To Die For
Kiran Ahluwalia – Kiran Ahluwalia (Triloka Records, 2005) It’s a long time since we’ve heard ghazal in a crossed-over format as good as this. The blend…
Reshaping of South African Classics
FJ & Living Souls Ambient Africa (Eagle Records ER20079-2, 2005) In 2003, Mike Howell and Brian Adams, both of Eagle Records, got the bright idea…