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World & Folk |
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Artist:
Salif Keita
 Outstanding acoustic classic, 2010-02-12
Another brilliant acoustic album from Salif. The first track, La Difference, opens with some English vocals that seem a little obvious (I am black, my skin is white - I am white, my blood is black, I am what I am). For anyone who doesn't know, Salif is an albino. The musicians thoughout are wonderful and the instruments varied. Kante Manfila and Djelly Moussa Kouyate are on guitars. There's plenty of n'goni, camele n'goni, percussion and gorgeous backing singers - but also many surprises such as piano, trumpet, cello, oud, and on four tracks a six piece Arabic string section.
There's a stunning version of Seydou, with a vibraphone, floating chorus singers and the swaying string section, all led by the gently weaving guitar lines.
Gaffou has two n'goni's, oud and cello.
Folon appears in a different version with Bill Frisell on guitar and some subtle piano.
Ekolo d'Armour is a perky dance track with strings, piano and oud.
Djele has accordion, cello, balafon.
Samigna with it's two n'goni's, swirling strings and then trumpet is a wonderfully diverse sound.
The CD ends with a version of Papa, complete with breathy vocals, piano, and subtle bass from the camele n'goni and double bass.
Salif's voice is almost upstaged by the brilliantly diverse instruments!
Outstanding.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.27
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Artist:
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
To gauge the magnitude of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's popularity in his native Hawaii, consider this: following his death in 1997 (at age 38, attributed to his profound obesity), Kamakawiwo'ole's body lay in state in the state capitol, only the second person to receive such an honor. Kamakawiwo'ole's appeal lies in his love for prestatehood, precondominium Hawaii and the expressiveness of his gently passionate voice, which can float through higher registers with an ease that brings Johnny Mathis to mind. Several selections ("Ka Pua U'i," "White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i," the sun-kissed "La 'Elima") feature Kamakawiwo'ole in a traditional mood, using only his ukulele to adorn th...
Great CD, 2009-03-09
Came across the late IZ on you tube and had to buy one of his CD's. Lovely voice and melodies... feels like you're in Hawaii!
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List Price: £18.99
Our Price: £6.75
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Artist:
The Chieftains,
Ry Cooder
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List Price: £17.99
Our Price: £11.89
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Artist:
Tinariwen
 Quality assured, 2010-01-29
As ever Tinariwen sound brilliant with great rhythm.
The only reason this didnt get five stars is because i have all thier cds and this sounds like they are sticking to a formula rather than stretching themselves as musicians. Also i have been listening to their brilliant radio tisdas sessions which is truly great so nothing compares.
Otherwise this is a very good album by a very good band of proper musicians.
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List Price: £9.99
Our Price: £5.00
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Artist:
Gipsy Kings
happy music, 2009-11-04
A collection of the Gypsy Kings' uplifting music. Great to dance to when feeling a little down - remember next to laughter dancing is the best medicine!
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List Price: £4.99
Our Price: £2.57
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Artist:
Ali Farka Toure,
Toumani Diabate
Enchanting, 2009-12-27
I had listened to both Farka Toure and Diabate before, each respectively on their own individual albums. But combined, this is breathtakingly melodic and calming experience.
To hit back at those who think it bland, they clearly did not understand the intention of the recording: a natural, semi-improvised session. As proper musicians play.
This is great for those who are beginners to African (guitar) music, as it's a fantastic double whammy of esteemed guitar talent.
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List Price: £14.99
Our Price: £9.31
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Artist:
Various Artists
Beautiful!, 2010-02-01
Apart from the first track which is ok, it's a glorious collection of folk & alternative folk of the period, with the divine 'Milk & Honey' sung by Sandy Denny being my favourite (I played it continually during the end of the 1960's). Lovely to hear these reflective, beautiful songs again. Worth getting, definately.
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £3.98
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Artist:
Buena Vista Social Club,
Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder's name has helped bring attention to this session, but it's the veteran Cuban son musicians who make this album really special. Reminiscent of Ellington in its scope and sense of hushed romanticism, Buena Vista Social Club is that rare meld of quietude and intensity; while the players sound laid-back, they're putting forth very alive music, a reminder that aging doesn't mean taking to bed. Barbarito Torres's laoud solo on "El Cuarto de Tula" is both more blinding and more tasteful than any guitar showcase on any recent rock album; a quote from "Stormy Weather" and some very distinct parallels to Hawaiian styles remind us of why it's called "world music."<...
Brilliant. Evocative, 2010-01-10
This is classic Cuban salsa, jazz - what you will. Having recently visited Havana, we thought we should revisit themusic from the film. Its brilliant.
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List Price: £14.99
Our Price: £7.99
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Artist:
Ali Farka Toure,
Toumani Diabate
Believe the hype, 2010-03-07
Do you really need another Ali Farka Toure CD?
Do you really need more kora from Toumani?
And you've probably already got their first CD together......
I was unsure whether to bother with this latest release but I'm so glad I got it.
It is simply incredibly. Two musicians completely confident with their cultures and abilities. The result is laid back, seamless fusion of different styles.
The tracks are almost totally just kora, acoustic guitar and a little bit of vocals here and there. There is a smattering of extra bass, percussion and backing vocals on a few tracks.
Outstanding - made me revisit and listen with more care to both artists previous releases. A wonderful tribute to Ali Farka Toure.
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List Price: £14.99
Our Price: £8.95
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Artist:
Tamikrest
More of the same - but pretty damn good!, 2010-03-02
Tamikrest have been mooted as the spiritual sons of Tinariwen. And in fact they sound remarkably similar. I can tell the difference between Tinariwen, Toumast and Terakaft but this latest ensemble is pretty much a Tinariwen tribute band. That said, surprisingly it's a "must buy" - if I had heard this CD before any of the others and judged all Taureg blues by Tamikrest's "Adagh" (the hills) I'd find it difficult to surpass. The sound is slightly fuller and maginally less strident than Tinariwen's, a little more comfortable to the western ear. But there's no obtrusive production and all the magic ingredients are there - jangly, rambling guitars, a chorus of voices, utulations, dub-like bass lines, evocative yet elsuive melody lines. The tracks are all different enough to be musically interesting enough in their own right yet Tamikrest (the knot of union) deliver more than anything the unique flavour of modern Tuareg music - that weird crossover sound of the Shadows playing Captain Beefheart songs with Osama Bin Laden on lead vocal!
It's not a great departure from anything you've heard before from similar bands. In fact it's more of the same. But it's beautiful, authentic desert blues, born of rebellion and a burning sense of injustice. I rate it highly.If they can keep delivering material of this standard, they will move out from Tinariwen's shadow. They may not be the first, or the most original. But they could just possibly, in time, be the best.
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List Price: £13.99
Our Price: £8.94
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