Tag Archives: world music

Anouar Brahem’s After The Last Sky

Each of Anouar Brahem’s albums, going back more than 30 years now, has a different feel, a different vibe. Although the Tunisian oud master and composer’s music is centered on Arabic folk music and classical maqams, since the early 1990s … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Anouar Brahem’s After The Last Sky

Uusikuu’s Piknik

I find myself open to good party music these days, and nobody makes party music better than the Finnish group Uusikuu. They’re an exhuberant ensemble that has made five previous albums that mostly focused on updated and uptempo versions of … Continue reading

Tagged , | Comments Off on Uusikuu’s Piknik

La Baula’s Cançons a l’Ombra

The new Catalonian roots music ensemble La Baula’s debut album Cançons a l’ombra (Songs in the Shadow) is a listener friendly collection of traditional songs collected from various sources. La Baula is a big group. Members include Roger Andorrà, Pau … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on La Baula’s Cançons a l’Ombra

Various artists’ Folk and Great Tunes from Belarus

Here is yet another outstanding release in CPL-Music’s Folk and Great Tunes series. This one brings us a variety of contemporary folk music from Belarus, which is, sad to say, one of those former Soviet republics that most of us … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Various artists’ Folk and Great Tunes from Belarus

Various artists’ Nouse Luonto: Lauluja Monimuotoisuudestat

“The birds gifted us their song thousands of years ago. Now it is our responsibility to ensure the vitality of their song.” Those words from Heikki Laitinen, a musician, researcher, and emeritus professor of folk music, state the theme of … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Various artists’ Nouse Luonto: Lauluja Monimuotoisuudestat

The Baltic Sisters’ Värav • Vārti • Vartai

The Baltic Sisters’ single “Soka Saule Rītiedama” was one of my favorite songs on the Folk Galore label’s Folk and World Music Galore Vol. 3 compilation that dropped in late 2024, and I’m delighted to share the news that the … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Baltic Sisters’ Värav • Vārti • Vartai

Voice of the Turtle: An omnibus review by Chuck Lipsig

From the Shores of the Golden Horn: Music of the Spanish Jews of Turkey (Paths of Exile, Quincentenary Series Volume I) Bridges of Song: Music of the Spanish Jews of Morocco (Paths of Exile, Quincentenary Series Volume II) Balkan Vistas, … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on Voice of the Turtle: An omnibus review by Chuck Lipsig

Manel Fortià & Libérica’s Alé: Iberian Chants

Over the past few years Catalonian jazz bassist Manel Fortià has risen to the top tier of musicians I hold in high esteem and always enjoy listening to. Whether with his trio, or with singer Magalí Sare, or with his … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Manel Fortià & Libérica’s Alé: Iberian Chants

Ensemble Voskresenie & Nikita Savostin’s Telega, Testo’s Marya.Ivan, and The Unknown Composer’s KOVRЫ (Carpets)

Here are three albums from the 2024 Russian World Music Chart. The music on Telega bridges the folk music of the Perm region of Russia, modern ethno-folk, and musical theater. The songs, most of them dance and other social occasion … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ensemble Voskresenie & Nikita Savostin’s Telega, Testo’s Marya.Ivan, and The Unknown Composer’s KOVRЫ (Carpets)

Coloma Bertran’s En Moviment, and Carmela’s Vinde Todas

Barcelona based composer and violinist Coloma Bertran released this EP of experimental dance tunes late in 2024. It’s a beguiling short album that leaves the listener wanting more. Playing entirely by herself with rhythms supplied in part by two guest … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged | Comments Off on Coloma Bertran’s En Moviment, and Carmela’s Vinde Todas