Tag Archives: world music

Guillem Ballaz’s Substrat

I would never have seen the cultural or artistic similarities between the Sami of Norway and the people of the Spanish region of Catalonia, but Catalán musician Guillem Ballaz did. And he incorporates a couple of Sami singers including the … Continue reading

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Edward Simon’s Femeninas: Songs of Latin American Women

I first encountered the song “Gracias A La Vida” on the iconic album of the same name by Joan Baez, when one of my university Spanish teachers played it in class. It was my introduction to the sublime joys of … Continue reading

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Childsplay’s The Great Waltz

No’am Newman wrote this review. Childsplay is an occasional ensemble who derive their name from the fact that all the musicians play instruments made by the American violin maker Bob Childs. As the title of the disc suggests, all the … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Festival au Desert: Live From Timbuktu

The Festival in the Desert has been held in the arid northern region of Mali annually since 2001. In January 2012, however, just after that year’s festival, a rebellion in the region began that has since spiralled into civil war, … Continue reading

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Tinariwen’s Amatssou

I’ve been a fan of the music of Tinariwen since their 2004 sophomore release Amassakoul, and although I’ve not followed their every release I’ve always remained aware of them. I’ve reviewed several albums by some of the other bands that … Continue reading

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Glengarry Bhoys’ Mountain Road, Crookshank’s Crookshank, and Various artists’ Cold Blow These Winter Winds

This omnibus, while detailing Celtic releases of an ensemble nature, finds three releases with their own individual approach, style and sound. The result is a mix of solid Celtic rock, experimental Celtic and medieval cum renaissance strains, and a novel … Continue reading

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Scree’s Jasmine on a Night in July

Jasmine on a Night in July is the debut studio full-length from the trio that calls itself Scree. They’re led by Arab-American guitarist Ryan El-Solh in creation of a unique melding of American exotica, minimalist jazz and El-Solh’s Lebanese and Palestinian … Continue reading

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Neal Walters and Brian Mansfield’s musicHound Folk; Adam McGovern’s musicHound World; Simon Broughton’s The Rough Guide to World Music, Volumes One and Two; and John Guinn and Les Stone’s The St. James Opera Encyclopedia

The music guides of musicHound Folk, musicHound World, and The Rough Guide to World Music, Volume One have been in use by me for some time now. So which is the best, in my opinion? It depends on what you’re … Continue reading

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Various artists’ The Rough Guide to World Roots

From lesser-known Asian countries to tropical provinces off the coast of South America, this Rough Guide offering provides a wide array of samples of music from places still in touch with their native roots. The recording especially explores the vocal … Continue reading

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Arar’s Arar

Marina Tomás Amado and Maria Cruz Millet are two very busy and creative young artists. But somehow they’ve found the time and inspiration to record this album of music that joyously celebrates youth, love, connections, and the act of creation … Continue reading

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