World Music- recommendations

I remember really liking Khaled's second album, self titled, on Chohiba. It had a really hard beat on most of the tracks. Produced by Don Was. Allmusic.com lists several of his sides and has clips you can listen to.

Much in the same vein, alternately popping and smooth vocals with a great band, Sezen Aksu's Deliveren. Turkish pop music rooted in their traditional classical/folk music. She gets the tunes across and your (I assume) lack of the Turkish language will be no impediment. Plenty satisfying.

Similar to Ali Farka Toure though more uptown, is vocalist Salief Keita. He worked with Mory Kante and Kante Manfila all from Mali in their Afro-Cuban highlife band, the Rail Band, I remember that his first album, Soro, had elements that sounded like American soul music. I really like his 2001, mostly acoustic side Moffou, *not* Remixes from Mouffou which is ambient, tribal looping mixed over the Mouffou tracks. Once again, allmusic has clips.

You might like Papa Wemba Zaire) for soulful, urban Afro-pop or D'Gary (Mozambique), especially his album with his group Horombe. All music gives it three stars. I give it five. Great guitar work without being over the top notemeistering and a great band.

On a completely different note, I also like Arabian-Afro stuff. Three great singers come readily to mind. Ethiopia's Netsanet Mellesse's Spirit of Sheba is full of punchy, angular, soulful vocals and has another great band. Sudan's Abdel Gadir Salim is more traditional. Allmusic only has clips of his last, Blues in Khartoum, very pleasant. I have Merdoum Kings Sing Songs of Love and on the strength of that, I'd buy his other discs. Abdel Azziz Mubarak, also from the Sudan, has three albums listed on allmusic although no sound clips. I remember really liking his first, self titled. On the strength of that, I'd pick up any of his sides. Traditionally based, very soulful.

For something completely different, Djivan Gasparyan's Armenian oboe. Solo with drone accompaniment and some vocals. Extremely deep emotionally, haunting, very slow songs. My two favorites are The Moon Shines at Night and I Will Not Be Sad in the World. I find his later albums to be tampered with by adding world pop fusion bits which interfere with his pristine music. Also anything by the Tuvan/Mongolian group Huun-Huur-Tu. Wonderfully evocative stuff from a far away culture. They can each sing two and three notes at the same time, a style unique to people of their area. Their songs are "old and forgotten" about grass, water, horses and family. They sound a little bit like the Carter Family on acid. Once again, allmusic has clips. There's a *wonderful* dvd of American bluesman Paul Pena, discovering their music, teaching himself Tuvan from a Russian/Tuvan/English braille dictionary, going to Tuva and entering their national singing contest. It's awe inspiring and truly uplifting.

Hope this helps.

Sigmund,
rarely do I find useful posts (including mine !) like yours on this forum. Thank you for that ! While I only know less than a third of whom you describe here, it tells me that I have to explore the other two thirds.

Having difficulties with the category "World", though (I only know good and less good music for myself), I'd like to add the Turkish musician Erkan Ogur (especially on his "Gülün Kokusu Vardi" on Kalan Müzik), and a recommendation for an excellent "World" label to the list: Network

cheers
Stefan

I have a big collection of African, Asian and some Arabic music, including many named by Sigmund above. Pleased to hear that somebody else has heard of the Armenian Oboe!

Ali Farke Toure has been prolific, his posthumous recording Savane has just been released but not caught it yet. The two first albums 'Red' and 'Green' are stripped down bluesy classics and now available as a cheap double buy. Of a more upbeat, but still recongnisably Malian style, is 'Boulevard D'Independence' by Toumani Diabate and band. Diabate is often grouped with AFT. 'New Ancient Strings' is a gorgeous acoustic set rather like 'In The Heart Of The Moon'. I'd agree that Salif Keita's 'Mouffou' is superb, so is the more recent 'Bemba'. Orchestre Baobab hail from Senegal, 'Specialist In All Styles' is again slightly jazzier and funkier than AFT. Cheikh Lo 'Ne La Thiass' is a real foot tapper from Senagal too.

All these are recognisably West African but you might check out the sounds of Kenya/Tannzania. My favourite album from here, and one of my favourite ever, is 'Songs For The Poor Man' by Remmy Ongala. Another two artists to explore are Ayub Ogada ('Em Mana Koyou' is a sweet and soulful gem) and Thomas Mapfumo. Then you get to South Africa....

Enough!

One Asian artist, a bona fide musical genius that everyone should own I'd say is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. 'Musst Musst' is the place to start for most. Inspired.

Two links I find essential, firstly Sterns Music who have an enormous caralogue and lots of clips online. The shop in London is near St Pancras and well worth a trip. Finally you cannot ignore Real World records. Peter Gabriels's studio/label has recorded some brilliant titles (including many I've mentioned above) and the quality of their output rarely dips. I suspect you'd enjoy their recordings by Abdelli if you like Khaled for instance.

I could continue but this has spent loads of your money already. Enjoy. This is what the forum is about.

Bruce

Based on your stated preference - if you would like to dabble in some South African music and at the same time get a couple of great party discs at the same time, you can do worse than "The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, vols. 1&2" on the Earthworks label.

quote:

One Asian artist, a bona fide musical genius that everyone should own I'd say is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. 'Musst Musst' is the place to start for most. Inspired.

Wholeheartedly agree.

Somewhat different, but without doubt (imho) excellent are:

Souad Massi - Deb (Algerian / French). Well produced and a favourite of my better half who normally doesn't pay much attention to music at all.

Cesaria Evora - Rogamar. The latest from this gem from the Cape Verde Islands offers flavours of Africa and Brazil. On a warm summer's evening you just need to close your eyes and sip a cold one.

Go north young man. Try Eight Seasons by Mari Boine - takes some time to get accustomed to her singing style and this disc is probably more accessible than some of her other stuff. I love it all.

What about the Balkans? Wild, gypsy mayhem from the likes of Boban Markovic. The Promise is a good place to start.

On a gypsy theme, the popular and for good reason too "Lagrimas Negras" by Bebo & Cigala combines flamenco vocals and Cuban piano.

Also, don't forget the local roots music from wherever you are from.

Enjoy

Thanks for the recommendations guys.

I will check out those artists mentioned.

I also second the opinion on Nustrat Fateh Ali Khan, I grew up listening to his music and have enjoyed his tunes. If you haven't heard it yet, check out P.I.Rs remix of 'Tere bin nahin lagda' on the Bend it like beckham soundtrack- real nice stuff.

Some more Arabic artists that I enjoy are: Cheb Mami, Faudel, Elissa and Amr Diab.

Keep the suggestions coming!

Good thread - I can feel the wallet draining already.

No one had mentioned Richard Bona from Cameroon yet, whose music is perhaps a little more westernized than many mentioned here, but none the less inspired.

Ian

quote:

Originally posted by Noopz:
What world you music do you listen to?

I really like music from the world called Earth. I find the music made by humanoids there strangely endearing.

I haven't checked out music from Venus yet, but I've heard good things about it.

Fred

Sorry was supposed to read 'what world music' do you listen to, I apologise for my dyslexia.

And I meant world music in the sense of music that isn't sung in English.

One of the most beautifully atmospheric and intelligent world music albums, one that I repeatedly listen to, is Geoffrey Oryama's Beat the Border on the Realworld label. Just wonderful. (He's from Uganda).

And what (world) music collection is complete without something from the Baka pygmies? My vote for the best of show is Heart of the Forest on Hannibal. Demonstration quality sound, pure, simple, enchanting vocals and instrumentals including four tracks of pygmy women playing the river as a drum. Transcendent.

Btw, the Paul Pena/Huun-Huur-Tu dvd is called Genghis Blues. I guarantee that it will be one of your favorites and that you'll be telling people about it.

A tip of the hat to Stefan, one of the world music brotherhood.

Note to Stefan: I see that Gulun Kokusu Vardi is out of stock. I'll bookmark the site. I see EO has a disc out with Djivan Gasparyan, the master Armenian oboist. Have you heard it?

Noopz,

Some more items to check out:

Cheikh Lo - Lamp Fall (Toured recently with Toumani Diabate).

Abdullah Ibrahim - Echoes From Africa (With Johnny Dyani singing) contains an epic 16.51 minute song called Namhanje, which is the dogs.
Also worth looking out for "Water From An Ancient Well".

Manu Dibango - Gone Clear, just foot tappingly good African jazz that I first heard in Kenya many moons ago

Afel Bocoum - Alkibar. According to the sleve notes, he was a protege of Ali Farka Toure, and this was recorded at the same time as Niafunke.

Nice to see another Cesaria Evora fan Huwge. I've not got the latest, but have a number of her other discs.

Regards

Nic

Some of my favourite recordings within world music (my beloved Brazilian and Latin American music apart...):

A suite of a day in the beautiful surroundings of the Kashmir valley. Sublime, and the perfect record for a Sunday summer morning.


An excellent klezmer album:


A French-Algeric artist with a real party album:


A nice, classic album with an Ethiopic woman:



Many favourites have already been mentioned; especially the other-worldly sufi music of Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn and the etheral productions from Djivan Gaspariyan. "Musst Musst" for sure would be one of my 3 disks to a desert island.

In the end I would highly recommend subscribing to the world music magazine, Songlines, in order to be up to date on what's going on in world music and especially because of their excellent cover CD's with songs from the latest releases each issue.

www.songlines.co.uk

I really love Amadou et Mariam as well, because their music is SO uplifting:



The last one is more marked by Manu Chao, but for me it's still such a happy music, and they shall be an amazing live band (which I hope I will get proof for next week when they play in a festival in my neighbourhood ).

quote:

Also, don't forget the local roots music from wherever you are from.

...or you travel. I always try to get some local music from where I travel. Lovely samples next to pretty horrible stuff

cheers
Stefan

quote:

Originally posted by Sigmund:
Note to Stefan: I see that Gulun Kokusu Vardi is out of stock. I'll bookmark the site. I see EO has a disc out with Djivan Gasparyan, the master Armenian oboist. Have you heard it?

I have five Erkan Ogur CD's (probably most of what is available on CD - tape would be a different story ) and "Fuad" is with Djivan Gasparyan. I also have "Heavenly Duduk" with Djivan Gasparyan, which I love.

If you can't find a copy of Gulun Kokusu Vardi, write me an email at my Naim forum alias at online dot de, and we'll work out a way to solve this problem.

cheers
Stefan

Note to Stefan: Many thanks. I'll keep checking their site and will drop them a line if I don't see any action in a week or so. I'll keep you posted.

A Dio.

Hi,

If you like instrumental, i have been playing this couple of albums often:

Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon

and

Chinese Music for the Pipa - Wu Man

Regards

darrell

Toure Kunda, Fela Kuti, 3 Mustaphas 3, Manu Dibango, Kante Manfila,Baaba Mal, Ismael Lo, Les Super Etoile de Dakar, Sonny Okosuns (South African reggae), Thomas Mapfumo, Simon Shaheen, Gnawa Music of Marakesh, Mandingo, Foday Musa Suso. It might also be worth checking out klezmer music - the Klezmatics are amazing

Tinariwen come from the desert peoples of north Africa. I really enjoy their album Amassakoul. Infectious "reggae" style rythyms and female voice blend to give a relaxing feeling.

I have had this for many years, i think after hearing some of it on the soundtrack to 'Dead Man Walking'

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook - Nightsong



I'm also a recent Forum convert to AFT, particularly Niafunke. Also love the more upbeat Amadou and Mariam as previously noted.

Diccus

Hi Stefan and Sigmund,

I am completely blown away by the remarkable similarities in our world music tastes! And hats off to you both for introducing me to some new gems.

Surprisingly no one has mentioned Todd Garfinkle’s beautifully recorded world music on the MA label. The selection is not huge but it’s certainly quality over quantity. The latest addition is this gem. Just the gorgeous solo female, Silvia Perz Cruz and aeolian hangs, UFO-like steel pan drums. Mesmerizing.

While on the MA label, why not try Vlatko Stefanovski's KrushevoKrushevo, Macedonian folk music.

I have 75% of all the available MA recordings and cannot recommend them more highly for musical content and superbly mastered recordings. Buying on line from their web site is a pleasure and Todd's Dad will personally confirm your purchase with efficiency that puts Amazon and most other retailers to shame. Most CDs are US$15, which is a steal. Check them out herehere.

Best regards,
Ron

Rubio,

You will probably also like Manu Chao's Proxima Estacion: Esperanza.

Also worth their weight in gold is the entire Cuban team of the Buena Vista Social Club; Manuel Galban, Orlando Cachaito Lopez, Omara Portuondo, et al, but then again if you are into Latin music you will already have these.

Another Latin recommendation are Illapu (Chilean pan pipes, vocal and acoustic accompaniments), Piero and Caetano Veloso.

Best regards,
Ron

From the Pacific, I recommend Telek's Serious Sam. There nothing too serious about this wonderful vocalist from Rabaul, PNG a volcano devastated city renown for beautiful singing.

If you want a real taste of Australia, give Yothu Yindi a try, especially their first album Birrkuta Wild Honey. The first track opens with Aboriginal chatting in the background followed by the didgeridoo and then the band kicks in. Wow, this well get you dancing.

Best regards,
Ron

quote:

The latest addition is this gem.

And what a beautiful woman, too !

Yes, agreed, MA has some gems "in the cellar" Amongst those I have and like the two "pipa" records. Also Krushevo is indeed GREAT. Most of their stuff falls into the nowhereland between all genres (see also: my rambling about what World music is...). They just produce the finest music, for the sake of it.

Good one, Ron !
Stefan

Now, wait until that newbee (Haim Ronen) kicks in...

Reply to Ron. The Silvia Cruz and Vlatko Stefanovski sound enchanting. Question, are Silvia Cruz's vocals piercing or strident? Does she belt them out or is she more of a crooner? Both my wife and I feel unpleasant with vocalists or intruments that are piercing, especially over time. Thanks.