int'l genre adds (10/24)
here are new int'l discs coming in this evening....ryan should be posting a review of the ANOTHER WORLD compilation....right ryan???--bj
artist: v / a
title: The Rough Guide to Latin Music for Children
label: WMN
file under: Int’l / Latin
grade: A / A-
Hot on the heels of last month’s African compilation, this RG sampler culls top Latin tracks as voted by a gaggle of UK kiddies. Your typical 4th grader from Norwich appears to be a bit more MOR in terms of her salsa, et al. Nothing bad, but not as many fireworks as the African set. Big names here include Chango Spasiuk (06), Plena Libre (10), Sierra Maestra (11), and Africando (04). Nice finds include upbeat Merengada (07), the salsa swagger of Herencía (09), the tango flair of Sandra Luna (14), and the funky Pancho Quinto (08). Plenty to work with: seek out your set-stealer!
top tunes: 07, 11, 14, 09, 06, 12, 08, 05
reviewer: “pablo” ingvoldstad
artist: Hapa
title: Maui
Label: Hapa
file under: Int’l
grade: A
Hapa is a duo that sings in both Hawaiian and Tahitian, and doesn’t shy away from the occasional instrumental to boot. Lead track “Haleakalā” (01) deserves to be a big single—shiny guitars, and a fine vocal harmony demand a spin. The version of “Redemption Song” (07) is just sweet…until the polyglot bridge. The acid jazzy “Kealoha Bebop” (11) is a blur-blast manifesto for 21st Century Hawaii. I also liked the bass noodlings on “Twinkletoes” (02). Hapa have chops to spare—they’d be a great act to get into town, but until then spin this with confidence.
Vocal Tracks: 01, 07, 10, 11, 03, 12
Instrumentals: 02, 04, 09
reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
artist: v / a
title: Rolas de Aztlán: Songs of the Chicano Movement
Label: Smithsonian Folkways
file under: int’l / Latin
grade: A
Much-welcomed archival set of songs of the Chicano movement of the 1960s and 70s. The disc includes several field recordings, as well as a wealth of studio tracks, with a too-brief, previously unreleased track from Los Lobos (14) headlining. Generous booklet gives background and translation for each track—worth flipping through before pressing play!
Choice Cuts: 14, 10, 07, 19, 15, 17, 11, 18
reviewer: “pablo” ingvoldstad
posted by Anonymous @ 10:35:00 AM
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