Category Archives: Music

Christy Moore’s Live in Dublin 2006 (double CD and DVD)

I write this as Europe prepares for two nights of the Eurovision Song Contest, in which each country submits a song, often performed by a starry-eyed youngster, who does his or her best to cover his or her roots, singing … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Christy Moore’s Live in Dublin 2006 (double CD and DVD)

Hayden Childs’ Shoot Out The Lights

The 33-1/3 book series by Continuum is rightly praised as one of the best and most innovative forms of rock criticism today. In this series, writers take on the subject of a favorite album and write about it in depth. … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Hayden Childs’ Shoot Out The Lights

Kevin Courrier’s Trout Mask Replica, and Sean Nelson’s Court and Spark

We have reviewed other books in the fascinating series called 33 1/3. It’s an incredible conceit. Give an author carte blanche to write about a favourite album, in any way they want. Recall Allan Moore’s didactic treatise on Jethro Tull’s … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Kevin Courrier’s Trout Mask Replica, and Sean Nelson’s Court and Spark

Allan Moore’s Aqualung

Sometimes it feels as though I am too easy on the things I review. Even the stuff I start off not liking, I listen to – or think about – long enough to see the good in it. And then … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Allan Moore’s Aqualung

Manel Fortià Trio’s Despertar

My first time through this album, I was listening as I did some editing on a certain publication. I was enjoying it well enough until the fourth track “Espiritual” came along. Then I was smitten. It’s a deep, bluesy gospel … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Manel Fortià Trio’s Despertar

Purbayan Chatterjee’s upcoming U.S. tour and album debut concert at Carnegie Hall

Indian sitar master Purbayan Chatterjee has announced a rare U.S. tour and upcoming album Saath Saath. Kicking off both, Purbayan and his collective will perform at Carnegie Hall on August 14, in celebration of India’s 75 years of independence. The … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Purbayan Chatterjee’s upcoming U.S. tour and album debut concert at Carnegie Hall

Various artists’ Folk and World Music Galore Vol 1

Over the past couple of years I’ve greatly enjoyed reviewing a number of offerings from the German family of labels Nordic Notes and CPL-Music. Their releases cover a much greater variety than I am capable of covering (or even aware … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Various artists’ Folk and World Music Galore Vol 1

An omnibus review of four CDs from Africa

Badenya les Freres Coulibaly’s Seniwe Macire Sylla’s Maya Irafama Rasha’s Let Me Be Various artists’ Live from Oba Idemili & Nri! Big Earl Sellar wrote this review. When one invokes the term “World Music,” instantly the sounds of Africa come … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on An omnibus review of four CDs from Africa

Various artists’ Wade in the Water Volume 1: African American Spirituals: The Concert Tradition

Rebecca Swain wrote this review. I once read of Harriet Tubman, a famous African American who several times led American slaves to freedom, that she carried a gun with which to shoot anyone who tried to turn back once they … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Various artists’ Wade in the Water Volume 1: African American Spirituals: The Concert Tradition

Various artists’ North African Groove

Here is another compilation from Putumayo, the world music specialists. This is contemporary popular music from North Africa and it illustrates remarkably well how totally global our, and everyone else’s, village now is. For while being unmistakably North African, the … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Various artists’ North African Groove