int'l genre adds...now in!
COMRADES! Five new discs now to be found in the airroom....GOTAN PROJECT returns with a bang, now as an 'FHB ADD.....NURU KANE's debut on Riverboat is well worth checking out--he's already cracked the CMJ Caravan Top 20 (or whatever it is they call it there).......ASHA BHOSLE has a two disc set out--aim for the 2nd disc of older duets and you'll be right as rain.....DEL CASTILLO are creating much buzz in Austin, and deserve to break out with this new set.....and PUTUMAYO PRESENTS: PARIS is a solid set to draw upon for those who dug LE POP 3, FRENCH CAFE, et al.....PROCEED!Artist: v / a
Title: Putumayo Presents: Paris
Label: Putumayo
Genre: int’l
Grade: A
Following the successful French Café compilation, Putumayo here updates the French sound, but in a tricky way. The sound on this album is again chanson, the music of the French café culture. Now though, it's the core of la nouvelle scène instead: younger, more world-influenced artists performing chanson with their own touches and flair…While chanson is perhaps one of the best examples of a dated music (if one hears chanson, it's obviously in a period format, on a scratchy record, etc.), this compilation shows off what's new. While entirely deferential (and referential) to the old masters, there's just enough updating to create that contemporary aspect, but not so much as to destroy the simple pleasure of French café music. This is an excellent introduction to the field of French music at large, but especially chanson. (4 stars)
Reviewer: Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
Artist: Del Castillo
Title: Brotherhood
Label: Smilin’ Castle
Genre: int’l / rock
Grade: A
Make no mistake about it: Del Castillo is an Austin phenomenon up there with bluebonnets, cheap breakfast tacos and lighting up the tower after a championship. With a thunderous, polyrhythmic Latin throb, they've built a fanatical live following, racked up a mess of Austin Music Awards. Brotherhood — packed with Del's singular mix of explosive percussion, dual (or is that dueling?) flamenco guitars and thrilling harmonies built around Alex Ruiz's dynamic pipes — could be the breakthrough they need. Of course, when the grooves are this deep, this explosive, this potent, they could be singing the phone book and you couldn't stop dancing. They remain perhaps Austin's most egregiously underrated outfit.
Reviewer: Joe Gross, Austin360.com
Artist: Gotan Project
Title: Lunático
Label: XL
Genre: int’l
Grade: A
Lunático is adventurous, engaging the tango directly, both musically and in spirit. It mixes beats to be sure, but it's so much more musical than 2001’s La Revancha del Tango by allowing strings, Nini Flores' bandoneon, and the standup bass of Patrice Caratini to hold sway over the top of most tunes… Gotan Project are to be commended for their musical bravery; it would have been so easy to repeat the formula; instead they've ventured into unknown territory. (4 stars)
Reviewer: Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
Artist: Nuru Kane
Title: Sigil
Label: Riverboat
Genre: int’l / Senegal
Grade: A
Riverboat has become a trusted brand in Caravan-land for bringing deserving new artists to our attention, and Sigil is a case in point. Kane’s debut starts with the sparse and atmospheric “Toub” (01), then launches into the uptempo “Niane” (02), only to back into a Saharan groove with “Colère” (03). And there’s ten songs left to go. Where did this come from? Kane isn’t a familiar name—yet. Another winner from our favorite “new artist” imprint.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
Artist: Asha Bhosle
Title: Love Supreme
Label: Times Square
Genre: int’l / brimful of Asha
Grade: A- / B+
A hybrid release from Asha Bhosle on the heels of her Kronos collaboration disc (where did our copy of that run off to?), Love Supreme starts with a new set of romantic songs, follows it with a disc of older duets with the same vibe, and throws in a few radio-unfriendly video clips to boot. The new stuff is hampered by some questionable arrangements—but heck, maybe in 30 years this will sound as wacky/retro/brilliant as “Aaja Aaja” does now? Still, plenty to mess about with—just start with the older material from CD2 first, and work your way over to the contemporary stuff.
Reviewer: bjorn ingvoldstad
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