If you're hearing a whimpering sound coming from the direction of Seattle this week, don't think less of our vigorous Western manliness. It's just that we're not used to this kind of thing. Yes, I know that many of you endure longer, hotter summers than what we're going through, but as our general panic at even modest snowfalls also reveals, we're not used to extreme weather. Give us the mildewy hazards of short rainy winter days, or long but cool summer evenings and we're fine. But push the mercury towards 100 degrees (that's, what, around 38 degrees Celcius?) and we [...]
CD REVIEW Baka in the Forest: Traditional songs of the Baka women recorded live in the Cameroon rainforest (March Hare Music) Martin Cradick & the Baka at Gbine: Baka Beyond the Forest (March Hare Music) My first exposure to the songs of the rainforest pygmies was in a cassette of field recordings done by Louis Sarno in the 1980s (the tape a companion to his book [...]
If you're hearing a whimpering sound coming from the direction of Seattle this week, don't think less of our vigorous Western manliness. It's just that we're not used to this kind of thing. Yes, I know that many of you endure longer, hotter summers than what we're going through, but as our general panic at even modest snowfalls also reveals, we're not used to extreme weather. Give us the mildewy hazards of short rainy winter days, or long but cool summer evenings and we're fine. But push the mercury towards 100 degrees (that's, what, around 38 degrees Celcius?) and we [...]
Reggae, Afrobeat, dub, jazz, and traditional music all find a home in the songs of Ethiopia. We explored [...]
No, the Guinea-Bissau singer isn't in jail. In fact, he's poised for some positive recognition with a forthcoming album Karam on the always-intriguing Cumbancha label. The CD isn't out for another four days, but you can download the track "Kode (Love)" for free here . I'm eagerly awaiting the full album; in the meantime, there's some nice advance buzz from reviewers, including a thoughtful review from Richard Marcus at blogcritics.org, which reads in part: [L]i ke all Griots, first and foremost [...]
No, the Guinea-Bissau singer isn't in jail. In fact, he's poised for some positive recognition with a forthcoming album Karam on the always-intriguing Cumbancha label. The CD isn't out for another four days, but you can download the track "Kode (Love)" for free here . I'm eagerly awaiting the full album; in the meantime, there's some nice advance buzz from reviewers, including a thoughtful review from Richard Marcus at blogcritics.org, which reads in part: [L]i ke all Griots, first and foremost [...]
Today, something a little different. SoundRoots has covered a number of sacred music traditions, but guest blogger Britney brings us a little new territory with a primer on Gregorian chant. Enjoy. ===== Gregorian chants have infiltrated the global music scene for centuries, dating back to the early Middle Ages in which singing the “Divine Service” nine times a day was upheld according to the Rule of St. Benedict. Singing psalms was one of the vital parts of the day for many in the monastic community, while the Gregorian Chant in specifics have undergone [...]
CD REVIEW Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara: Tell No Lies (Real World Records) One reviewer described the music of Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara as "Ali Farka Toure on speed." In truth it's more like a band of wandering Africans crashing a blues night somewhere in Mississippi. Or perhaps Bo Diddley jamming with locals in The Gambia. The unmistakable African roots come with Camara's Gambian heritage and experience. And the hard-edged blues/rock guitar comes from Adams' years in punk [...]
I've got a pile of new African music that I want to share with you, but I'm going to continue the Latin theme for one more day first. If you liked last week's taste of modern Cuban sounds from Madera Limpia , this one may be up your alley as well. I don't know of a lot of music out of Guatemala, and when I hear songs about the Orishas, I tend to think of Cuba or Brazil, or perhaps Colombia. But a musician called Santero is rearranging my [...]
This week's show featured selections from our favorite new releases, ranging from the mythical music of TriBeCaStan to the songbird [...]
I was disappointed to miss the run of the movie Sita Sings the Blues when it was at the local film society. Then this week I ran across the film website and a pleasant surprise: The film, packaged under a Creative Commons license, is free to download in high quality (up to 1080p HD!). Nina Paley, the mastermind of this engaging animated feature film, says "There is the question of how I'll get money from all this. My personal experience confirms audiences are generous and want to support artists. Surely there's a [...]
This month has brought a flood of new music. Maybe it's the summer-release thing, but that makes it doubly difficult to properly weigh all the contenders for the chart. A number of CDs were close to making it onto the list but arrived late, didn't receive a rousing response to airplay, or just seemed to want to season for a bit longer before being judged. This is a tremendously strong group of albums, any of which I would recommend to the adventurous listener. Holding on from June are Moana & the Tribe, [...]
CD REVIEW [dunkelbunt] - Raindrops and Elephants (Piranha) Some compare Vienna-based [dunkelbunt], aka Ulf Lindemann, to groups like Jazzanova. In truth, though, his music is more akin to Balkan beatmaster Shantel and Jewish DJ Socalled. But how do you find an appropriate comparison for someone whose album includes a piano solo that segues from classical to Balkan dance and back again; a remix of Watcha Clan's already boisterous "Balkan Qoulou"; and a [...]
This post is a collaboration between Mashable's Summer of Social Good charitable fundraiser and Max Gladwell 's "10 Ways" series . The post is being simultaneously published across more than 100 blogs. Social media is about connecting people and providing the tools necessary to have a conversation. That global conversation is an extremely powerful platform for spreading information and awareness about social causes and issues. That's one of the reasons charities can [...]
CD REVIEW Lura - Eclipse (Four Quarters) If Lura sang in English instead of Portuguese, the diminutive Cape Verde singer might simply be considered a fine soul-jazz singer. The flawless arrangements, vocal precision, and emotional commitment all bear witness to a singer in her prime. From the bittersweet title track to the upbeat morality tale of "Mascadjon / Freeloader" Lura simply nails every note. The songs on Eclipse may be specifically [...]
CD REVIEW various artists: Italia (Putumayo) The folks at Putumayo have been making some curious choices of late. A couple months ago there was the new India compilation . Now this Italian collection that begins with the distinctive sound of ... the berimbau? Wha...? Okay, a look at the back of the CD reveals that this is the music of "today's Italian singer-songwriters [who] combine the spirit of [...]
Ska has skanked its way from Jamaica to the far corners of the earth, and we heard some of the results, [...]
Being closely affiliated with a radio show, SoundRoots doesn't often feature DJ mix CDs -- we prefer to create our own mixes. We'll make an exception for the album Global Lingo , a mix by DK Bollygirl vs. dimmSummer. There's a nice flow from track to track, and a great blend of musical styles from artists we know (Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rocky Dawuni, Sila & the Afrofunk Experience, Funkadesi) and promising newcomers. Billed as "a mix of youth and hope featuring children and artists from around the world," the album is the work of [...]
Spin The Globe doesn't take political sides, but we do side with free expression and the rule of law. In honor of the people fighting for those in Iran, today's show features a variety of Persian music, from traditional to modern. And in the second hour, new releases and other fun stuff. [...]
I heard a radio piece today about a music reviewer who tweets his reviews. Yes, he compresses his musings into haiku-like dispatches of 140 characters. It's intriguing, though not enough to make me want to join yet another social networking site. Still, there's something to the short-form review, particularly when one's desk (I didn't say my desk, I said one's desk - stop pointing fingers) is weighed down by a multitude of new releases clamoring for attention. So herewith, the first (only?) installment of SoundRoots world music review haikus. Enjoy. [...]
SoundRoots World Music & mp3 Blog
MVSCLES- Sweet n Sour
The National
Watch The Lonely Island rap through mid-life crises in “Diaper Money” video
James Blake- A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover)
Billboard Music Awards 2013: Taylor Swift Goes Blue
