newest latest on the caravan tip
hi all....here are four new reviews of discs i'll have in to the airroom quick-like. three rough guide compilations for your perusal: top honors go to BHANGRA DANCE, although URBAN LATINO has great moments too....less to be excited about on the ISRAEL set....APACHE INDIAN returns with enough gems to allow us to overlook the clunkers....keep an eye out for new LUNASA in the airroom, too.....Artist: v / a
Title: The Rough Guide to Bhangra Dance
Label: WMN
Genre: int’l
Grade: A
The term bhangra dance is almost redundant, as it was originally a folk dance style that's evolved through Western instruments into something that packs the dancefloors in clubs -- though still marked by the beat of the double-headed dhol drum. But plenty of styles come under the umbrella of bhangra, as this compilation ably shows. There's the R&B of Veronica (06) that wouldn't sound out of place in America, the almost indie rock of Manak-E (10), the more traditional acoustic sound of Madan Bata Sindhu (11), or the neo-Bollywood beat of Malkit Singh (07), who's been a bhangra star for two decades. The Americans are represented by the raga-bhangra of Soni Pabla (02), while Binder puts a touch of dancehall into "Billo Raneeay" (08). The common factor of the tracks is their danceability, sometimes subtle, sometimes overpowering, as on Daljit Mattu's naggingly infectious "Taweet" (13). Taz (14) offer a poppy bhangra-soul mix with a killer hook, and it all closes with a classic, Panjabi by Nature's "Nain Preeto De" (15) that brings roots and modern sounds together in perfect balance. ( 4 stars )
Reviewer: Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
Artist: v / a
Title: The Rough Guide to Urban Latino
Label: WMN
Genre: int’l
Grade: A-
Think urban music and chances are it's R&B and hip-hop that spring to mind. But that's a thought limited to North America and Europe. Latin music has developed its own urban sound in recent years. Yes, it draws from the sources above, but they're only two facets of the whole. Add in the burgeoning reggaeton genre, rock, ska, and dance music, as well as regional variations from cumbia to samba, and you have the fuel for a very hot fire. This excellently compiled disc explores many of those -- although, as the notes admit, it's not comprehensive. Still, much of what is here is exciting, like Ska Cubano's (06) thrilling, melodic mix of ska and Cuban music, the electronica of Holger Hiller's "Macome" (11), or the massed overdubbed samba percussion of Arakatuba's "Riva" (10). Ska is also a big component here, a beat favored by many bands, like Doctor Krapula (03). What this proves is that urban Latino tastes are far more varied than some other cultures -- and they make a hell of a lot of good music. ( 3 ½ stars )
Reviewer: Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
Artist: v / a
Title: The Rough Guide to the Music of Israel
Label: WMN
Genre: int’l
Grade: B / B-
Listening to the collection, you have to wonder if Israel's music scene is as moribund as it's portrayed. Many of the best cuts, such as those by the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra (10) or Yair Dalal (11), owe a huge debt to Arab music, showing how broad Semitic culture is, but not giving a real clue to Israel's own identity. Granted, Israel is a very young country, but its heritage is ancient. And that history helps two of the best tracks, Chava Alberstein's Yiddish "Margaritkalach" (07) and Yasmin Levy's Sehpardic "Locura" (09), which show two of the major strains of the Jewish Diaspora. Past there, it's difficult to find anything absorbing. Even the late Ofra Haza (02), arguably the biggest international star to emerge from Israel, isn't shown in her best light. It does pick up the energy level a little toward the end with Zehava Ben (13), and closes with Hadag Nahash's hip-hop lite "Kamti" (14), but not enough to redeem the compilation. One only hopes that there's much better material out there. ( 2 ½ stars )
Reviewer: All Music Guide
Artist: Apache Indian
Title: Time For Change
Label: API
Genre; int’l / world reggae bhangra fusion
Grade: B / B+
I finally figured it out: Apache Indian is the bhangra Shaggy. For every song that just cooks, you get another that bends over backwards underscoring how we, like, need peace and unity and stuff. And two that remind us (lest we forget!) what a great lover he is. Ah well. I particularly recommend “Tere Toor” (14) and “Selecta!” (15)—if the other 17 songs were this tight, Apache Indian would flat out rule. Interested parties might check out the updated version of “The Israelites” (01), which features Desmond Dekker on vocals.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
posted by Anonymous @ 12:40:00 PM
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