LOTUS discs are a-comin'
hi all,jim & i are working to get lotus 2005 artists into a dedicated section of the airroom....knock on wood, that might be up and running by friday night! a few discs in the genrepix tower are lotus, and a bunch more are coming in this weekend. here's a sampling of what's to come....
~bjorn
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Artist: Le Trio Joubran
Title: Randana
Genre: int’l / Palestinian oud / LOTUS 2005
Grade: A / A-
This oud trio is in fact three gifted brothers working together after individual successes. The album’s title (so sayeth the liner notes) is a made-up word that merges the Arab words for resonance and humming. So on top of their thoughtful playing, they’re linguists-in-waiting to boot. All but the final cut are instrumentals here—this is sit-down, church-venue material. A couple of cuts are longer than “Freebird,” but others should mix nicely. Start with the insistent, beautiful “Hawas” (01), and also consider the live recording of “Ahwak” (05).
Reviewer: bjorn Ingvoldstad
Artist: Kusun Ensemble
Title: Nokoko
Genre: int'l / LOTUS 2005
Grade: A
Afropop generously layered with percussion and group choruses. Insistent and syncopated, this is an outdoor-tent no-brainer. In fact, if all the credited dancers show up too, I predict late-night bedlam at the Buskirk.
Reviewer: bjorn Ingvoldstad
Artist: Sidi Goma
Title: Black Sufis of Gujarat
Genre: int’l / Sufi ritual music / LOTUS 2005
Grade: B
The material here is modified from music used in Muslim rites, so I’m hoping this really needs to be experienced live. I bet they’re majestically striking, if the inset photos are any indication. For radio play, though, this is quiet, contemplative stuff.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Alkinoos Ioannidis
Title: Alkinoos Ioannidis
Genre: int’l / Greece / Cyprus / LOTUS 2005
Grade: B
Acoustic Mediterranean smooth from the youthful crooner Ioannidis. He certainly seems to mean it, though the net effect is merely pleasant. How’s that for damning with faint praise?
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Voco
Title: Five Songs
Genre: int’l / avant-vocal / LOTUS 2005
Grade: A
Short and sweet, this five-song EP marks Voco as a must-see for those invested in vocal-led performance. Opener “Dance/Sloyfn” (01) is an intricate tapestry of voices, a Yiddish lullaby gone avant-garde. “Stand in the River” (02) downshifts into bluegrass-y gospel, while “Ngoma” (03) is a take on Africana. “Deep Blue” (04) and “Our Time” (05) are harder to pin down generically, but the latter is a particularly nice spiritual call-to-arms. Interested parties should also check out composer/arranger Moira Smiley’s solo disc, Rua.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
posted by Anonymous @ 10:34:00 AM
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