What an astounding follow-up! We had the pleasure of reviewing Al-Qasar’s work in 2022, but this sophomore release (at least as far as we know) is a compilation of covers including Depeche Mode’s seminal classic Personal Jesus. From the band’s Bandcamp site: “With this second full length, Al-Qasar consolidate their Continue Reading
World Music
The Resian Folk Group – Resia Valley: String-Band Music from Eastern Alpine Italian Villages ca. 1978
The Resian Folk Group were from the Resia Valley in the Italian Alps. What sets them apart from their countrymen are their folk traditions and language, which seem to have a strong Slovene influence. Canary Records does their usual outstanding job remastering this collection. It sounds absolutely gorgeous considering the Continue Reading
Various Artists – Magnificent Sounds Records: ¡Con Piano, Sublime! : Early Recordings from the Caribbean 1907-1921
This is the second Magnificent Sounds Records release we’ve had the pleasure of featuring. This one covers music from Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago and Puerto Rico, among other locales. Wonderfully remastered, and worthy of your time.
Yoruba Singers – Fighting for Survival
It’s not often that we get to present to you a band from Guyana! From the Yoruba Singers’ Bandcamp site: “Having remained continuously active since 1971, the Yoruba Singers are the longest-running musical group in Guyana. Emerging from a music scene mostly dominated by slick, commercial entertainment, the Yoruba Singers Continue Reading
The River Voices – Çorovodë, Albania | May 2017
From Remix-Culture‘s Bandcamp site: “Recorded live in May of 2017 by Hatim Belyamani and Bajram “Kafu” Kinolli in Çorovodë, Albania. We are a non-profit organization celebrating musical traditions in harmony with digital remix art. Our mission is to inspire people to reconfigure their relationships with other cultures, communities, and individuals, Continue Reading
Hossein Alizadeh (حسین علیزاده) – Classical Music From Iran – Great Masters of the Setar
I will be traveling back to the United States for about 15 days, so I will not be posting much either today or tomorrow. I leave you with a video of the magnificent setar master Hossein Alizadeh from Iran to keep your spirits up. It’s helped mine, for sure.
Etran de L’Aïr – 100% Sahara Guitar
From Sahel Sounds’ promo sheet, and this is an album worth waiting for!: “Etran de L’Aïr the STARS OF THE AÏR, the longest running wedding band in AGADEZ, capital of Tuareg guitar, return with a new album of sun-schlazed desert sound! Their first album, No.1, brought their music to critics Continue Reading
Ambient Folklore – Bestiary
The Bulgarian band Ambient Folklore have a new album out, and it surpasses any neofolk/dark-folk album I’ve heard over the past two years. The sounds on this record are heavy and foreboding, made more so by very prominent hurdy-gurdy expertly played by Petar Delchev. It sounds as if mid-period Death Continue Reading
Various Artists – Mississippi Records: Street Musicians of Yogyakarta
Mississippi Records released a collection of field recordings covering local music from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. These were recorded between November 1976 and January 1978.
Chiyomi Yamada – Gilyak Songs
From Chiyomi Yamada’s Bandcamp site: “Piano songs by the Japanese composer Akira Ifukube (1914–2006), interpreted by , voice, and Reiko Yamada, piano. Ifukube, who also composed the theme song of “Godzilla”, wrote these magical pieces based on traditional songs from native tribes of northern Japan. The sound and style of Continue Reading