Saturday, December 10, 2016

Island Records 40 Years 1959-1999 Vol.1 Ska's the Limit

 Island records


This compilation features twenty songs from the first musical chapter of Island records. Beginning with the label's founding in Jamaica in 1959-an exciting time in Jamaican music, when old and new styles were converging and mutating in new sounds-this set highlights exceptional material released during Island's first five years in operation.

The album serves as quite possibly the best and most accessible ska compilation available. It progresses chronologically from Laurel Aitken's 1959 hit "Boogie in my Bones" through the formative years of early ska, through Millie Small's 1964 smash "My Boy Lollipop." Along the way, it covers its bases with cuts from undeniably the world's greatest trombonist, Skatalite Don Drummond, as well as early tracks from Toots Hibbert, Jimmy Cliff, and Bob Marley. 







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Sunday, October 30, 2016

The Rough Guide to West African Music

West African Music



If you haven't been exposed to West African music, then this is the perfect introduction. Some of the songs are absolutely captivating, Oumou Sangare and Ali Farka Toure especially. The selections aren't limited to bongo drums and acapella chants either, with other artists such as Super Rail Band, Toumani Diabate, Kante Manfila, Bajourou, Orchestra Baobab and Mansour Seck. A brilliantly sourced and produced album. 

West African Music


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Monday, October 10, 2016

Unwired: Europe..An Acoustic Musical Journey Across A Diverse Continent

Unwired Europe


Throughout Russia, the Balkans, Iberia, Scandinavia, the Central Powers and the Celtic and English isles, innumerable artists are rediscovering or reinventing the acoustic music traditions of Europe. This collection is an acoustic folk music lover's dream, with unique tunes sung in languages and dialects that may not be familiar to many of us. Featuring artists such as Christina Branco, one of the stars of Portuguese Fado, Hungarian folklorists Marta Sebestyen and Muzsikas, Gabriel Yacoub of France, Celt/Brit stars Eliza Carthy and Altan, along with several bands affiliated with the innovative Northside label. A strong sampler that may send you off on many rewarding musical journeys! 

  1. Manto De Acucenas - Cristina Branco
  2. Arapiko Louloudi - Eleftheria Arvanitaki
  3. Ebla - Lucilla Galeazzi
  4. To Nie Ptak - Kayah & Goran Bregovic
  5. Dilele - Angelite
  6. Knodelpolka - Die Knodel
  7. Opa Cupa - Saban Bajramovic
  8. Ne Nado Grustit, Gospoda Oficerui - Zhanna Bichevskaya
  9. Ces Dieux-La - Gabriel Yacoub
  10. Remate - Pepe Habichuela
  11. Repulj Madar, Repulj - Muzsikas
  12. Donal Agus Morag - Altan
  13. Puirt A Beul - Mairi Mac Innes
  14. 10,000 Miles - Eliza Carthy
  15. Isabelle - Lais
  16. Fonix - Annbjorg Lien
  17. Veli - Hedningarna
  18. Naar Oostland - Jams


Unwired Europe





Sunday, September 11, 2016

The World of Narada...An Artist Collection

World of Narada



Narada is a record label formed in 1983 as an independent new-age music label and distributed by MCA Records. Now a fully owned subsidiary of Universal Music Group and distributed by Capitol Music Group's Blue Note Records, the label evolved through an expansion of formats to include world music, jazz, Celtic music, new flamenco, acoustic guitar and piano genre releases.

This 15 track collection from the label combines world and new age music from mainly North American artists. Most tracks are instrumental of a jazz/fusion/world/new age genre, with unique artistry and beautiful compositions that will let your mind wander.


World of Narada


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Tuesday, August 23, 2016

African Voices...featuring 14 of Africa's most popular artists



"The voice was undoubtedly the first instrument that early mankind had to play with"

14 track compilation, "African Voices", featuring the cream of Africa's vocalists; Miriam Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, Papa Wemba, Franco and Madilu, Symbiose, Oumou Sangare, Koffi Olimide, Mahlathini and The Mahotella Queens, Manu Dibango and Mpongo Love.









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Thursday, August 4, 2016

The Rough Guide to World Roots compilation sampler album



"If you want to explore the music of another country you need a guide...like the useful Rough Guide travel books and television shows, these discs delve right into the heart and soul of the region they explore" - Rhythm Music Magazine (USA)

This 14 track Rough Guides compilation from 1999 is another excellent sampler and introduction to World Music and features music from countries as diverse and far apart as Uzbekistan, Cuba, Ecuador, Senegal, Brazil, Italy, Hungary, Sudan and Pakistan. Focusing on the roots origins, some of the more well known artists include Natacha Atlas, Afro-Cuban All Stars, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Baaba Maal.





                                     


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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Putumayo World Music Record Label Origins and Sampler album



Putumayo World Music is a New York City-based record label, now specialising in compilations of music from various nations, regions, or musical styles which may be classified as world music.

Origins - In 1991, on his way home from Bali, Dan Storper stopped in San Francisco, California. In Golden Gate Park, he heard the Nigerian band Kotoja. He was impressed by the music and the way it gathered many different people. He made a compilation of music he had gathered on his journeys and gathered a positive response. This led him to give out his first release in 1993. Storper took the name of his record label, Putumayo, from Colombia's Putumayo Department where he travelled in 1974. The word is said to be the name of a bird (heron). Every release features the art of Nicola Heindl. Her art is both folky and modern, and, according to the Putumayo website, "represents one of Putumayo's goals: to connect the traditional to the contemporary.





Typically a Putumayo World Music compilation is presented as a theme under the title “Putumayo Presents:” The themes can be regional (South Africa, Caribbean, Asia), music types (reggae, folk, Latin, jazz) and other themes (lounge, groove, party).

The Putumayo Kids division was created in 2002. Since the release of the World Playground CD in 1999, Putumayo Kids has achieved honors from Parents' Choice Awards and the National Parenting Publications Association, and has grown to be one of the more important children's record labels.

Putumayo launched the Putumayo World Music Hour in 2000, a commercially-syndicated world music radio show. Rosalie Howarth of KFOG hosts the Music Hour. The weekly show is heard internationally on over 150 commercial and non-commercial stations.




Putumayo has ten offices worldwide. Their products are sold at a network of more than 3,000 book, gift, clothing, coffee and other specialty retailers in the US. The label claims to distribute their CD's in more than 80 countries around the world.

Putumayo's compilations have been available digitally since August 2011.

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Saturday, July 16, 2016

Going Global...A Musical Journey Around the World by various artists



16 tracks from various diverse and unique artists including Mariza, Blind Boys of Alabama, Nigel Kennedy, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Afro Celts, Damon Albarn and Sheila Chandra. This sampling will whet your appetite for the eclectic sounds of world music.






next post: Putumayo World Music Sampler

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Thursday, July 14, 2016

One World: Music From Around the World; compilation from Rounder Records



This generous 18 track compilation, Music from Around the World, released in 1994 on Rounder Records, brings together a varied assortment of artists presenting a myriad of musical forms and productions.

On this journey we experience Astor Piazzolla's Argentine Tango, Mingo Saldivar's Conjunto music from South Texas, Latin Jazz from Mario Bauza, Mali's Oumou Sangare, Nigeria's Prince Nico Mbarga, plus sounds from Brazil, Mauritania, Mexico, South Africa, Cuba, the Caribbean, Togo and Zaire.





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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Music Rough Guides: Out of This World; compilation by various artists



Released in 2004 on the World Music Network label, this compilation, Out of This World, celebrated 10 years of musical exploration with a 10 track showcase from various artists of the label.

Includes music from Africa, Portugal, India, USA, Middle East and South America, encompassing Latin, Tango, Bhangra, Arabesque, Bluegrass, Cajun and African Blues.



Next post: One World: Music From Around the World

Monday, July 11, 2016

What is World Music and How is it Defined



It's been said that ALL music is World Music, and, if taken in that context, that is correct. The term "World Music" was originally coined to distinguish various forms of music from the more traditional and popular music that most western countries and communities are used to. 

The average music listener or aficionado knows the genres of pop, rock, jazz, blues, country and their variations, but if they look a little further or broaden their musical tastes a bit more, there is a whole plethora of instruments, rhythms, vocalisations, songwriting and production techniques that are just waiting to be discovered and appreciated.

At almost every corner of our globe from the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, Pacific and all points in between, there is indigenous music that has been around for decades, if not centuries, that can open our mind and ears and take us on a musical journey that is practically endless.

World Music has now become a popular form of music within itself, and artists now tour the world to present their sounds to populations that may not have heard or seen them before, and there also many collaborations between western artists and indigenous musicians that have resulted in multi-selling albums and music awards. 

Take some time out and discover these sounds, you'll be enlightened beyond your dreams.




Next post: Music Rough Guides: Out of This World