Swap a CD: 15 Recently Posted CDs

Shaday - Ofra Haza

Ofra Haza — 2009-11-18T12:58:22-05:00

This CD made Haza a household name throughout Europe because it was her first to sell millions of copies there, earning her the nickname "the Israeli Madonna." She combines Hebrew, Yemenite, and English in prayers and original compositions with a driving European dance beat. Included is the international hits "Im Nin Alu" and "Galbi" (later made famous after rap stars Eric B. & Rakim sampled it for one of their hits). It's also available domestically on Sire with bonus remixes of the above tracks. ~ Phil Fink, All Music Guide

Black Ivory Soul - Ang�lique Kidjo

AngÉlique Kidjo — 2009-11-18T12:12:52-05:00

AngÉlique Kidjo's records have brought her plenty of acclaim, but they've tended to be very mixed -- some tracks exceptional, others remarkably ordinary. Black Ivory Soul, her exploration of the connection between her native Benin and the Bahian region in the north east of Brazil, might just be her most consistent and satisfying effort to date. She's toned down the r&b influence that peppered 1998's Oremi -- indeed, only the title cut is r&b, and that has a sweet Brazilian inflection -- and focuses instead on the job at hand. Working with talents like Carlinhos Brown and Vinicius Cantaria has obviously helped; "Tumba," for example, fairly crackles with crisp axÉ rhythms that drive the song along, while"Ominira" and "Afrika" makes the distance between the two continents seem very small indeed. Kidjo gets rootsier here than she has in a long time, as on her version of Gilberto Gil's "Refavela," which offers an unvarnished look -- lyrically and musically -- at the ghetto, or the more introspective "Okanbale," where the rippling kora lines falling like water through the song. Kidjo uses her trademark lush harmonies throughout the album, and she's in great voice, even content to play second fiddle to Dave Matthews on "Iwoya," where the status of the guest star (and the English language vocal) seem like a calculated move to push one of the disc's weakest tracks straight to AAA airplay. But, happily, that's the exception, not the rule; on the whole this record's heart is in art, not commerce, even tossing in a spare, loving cover of Serge Gainsbourg's "Ces Petits Riens" to close things out, although it's quite out of place on the record. This time around, Kidjo seems to have followed her muse, not the money, and the results are, virtually, everything she's always promised to do, but never quite achieved before. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide

Oremi - Ang�lique Kidjo

AngÉlique Kidjo — 2009-11-18T12:12:21-05:00

afro-pop star Angelique Kidjo's last album of the 1990s is her best yet. Titled Oremi, which means "friends," her fifth album is a tour de force with many great collaborations, including hip-hop star Kelly Price ("Open Your Eyes"), Robbie Neville, Cassandra Wilson (the duet "Never Know"), and Branford Marsalis. Oremi is the first CD in a proposed "American" trilogy exploring the connections between African music and r&b. The album begins with a reinterpretation of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child," perhaps the best cover of his material ever. Oremi, however, is not simply a stylistic album; higher consciousness and political sentiments are here too, especially with the impassioned plea in "Babalao" to care for the world's youth. This album is Angelique Kidjo's strongest, most inspired one, but her mainstream stylistic choices opened her up to criticism for being too "pop" and not "African" enough. Such comments are truly unfounded. Oremi is sexy, thrilling, and powerful. One of the best albums in the genre. A good place to start for someone beginning to listen to world music. ~ JT Griffith, All Music Guide

Drums of Passion The Invocation - Babatunde Olatunji

Babatunde Olatunji — 2009-11-18T11:49:06-05:00

The first in a pair of releases that featured percussionist Olatunji showcasing his celebrated multi-rhythmic style in a fresh context. Olatunji was adding African beats to jazz and R&B dates back in the '60s, and does roughly the same thing on this date, fueling careening, expansive tracks that are long enough to incorporate everything from singers to numerous drummers playing traps, congas, shakers, and all manner of drums. It's infectious and among the best blends of traditional and contemporary African and American elements. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide

Vodou Adjae - Boukman Eksperyans

Boukman Eksperyans — 2009-11-18T11:34:30-05:00

This is an exciting blend of traditional drum rhythms and modern Caribbean pop attack. ~ Bob Tarte, All Music Guide

Majestik Zouk - Kassav'

Kassav' — 2009-11-18T11:33:59-05:00

Majestik Zouk was Kassav's second release on the Columbia label. The first release on this label, Vini Pou, was ironically one of their weaker efforts. Possibly in reaction to the tepid response to the first album on an American major label, Kassav fired up the zouk machine and came out with this album of strong and varied material. The opening track by Jean-Philippe Marthely burns things up with its high wattage merengue-tinged rhythm. There is also the classic "Ou Le," one of the most popular songs that Kassav ever recorded. It is another one of their well-known anthems, and is French Antillean music at its best, simply melodic and very rhythmic. "Dezodie" is another outstanding track that moves. However, the American music market virtually ignored the album and, although Kassav went on to produce a few more albums on Sony-Columbia, zouk was slow to infiltrate the American music scene. Recommended. ~ Mark Romano, All Music Guide

Nordic Roots Vol 2 Northside Sampler - Various Artists

Various Artists — 2009-11-18T11:17:31-05:00

These 22 tracks culled from the Northside catalog represent artists such as Hoven Droven, Boot, Hedningarna, Garmarna, and Wimme. Altogether it is an excellent second introduction to the gems found on the Northside label, which has done a terrific job of bringing Scandinavian artists to wider attention in the United States. The musical styles range from serious folk to energetic contemporary offerings involving the use of large amounts of electricity. ~ Steven McDonald, All Music Guide

Essence of Rhythm - Zakir Hussain

Zakir Hussain — 2009-11-17T18:41:19-05:00

Hawaii Music from the Islands of Aloha - Various Artists

Various Artists — 2009-11-17T12:32:27-05:00

This album, sponsored by the Hawaiian tourism bureau, showcases a series of contemporary artists in an attempt to portray the brightest and best of the music from the island chain. As such, there's a nice mix across a series of subgenres showing aspects of the music left and right like there's no tomorrow. The album opens with the Hawaiian Style Band and a rather contemporary piece (complete with synths). Moving through the exceptional guitars of Hapa the album makes its first stop with the great Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and his plaintive, soulful voice on the gorgeous song "Kamalani." The Brothers Cazimero maintain some of that aesthetic with a bit more instrumentation and a lounge format, and a mix of traditional and contemporary comes courtesy of Willie K and Amy HÄnaiali'i, two of the current masters of the duo form. One of the Beamer brothers presents a wonderful bit of slack key, and Moe Keale finishes off the first half. From this point, with a relaxed mood, the album turns back around to revisit many of the same artists in a more up-tempo form -- Kamakawiwo'ole comes back with a bouncier number, The Brothers Cazimero blend some traditional percussion and a rumbling sound, and Keola Beamer's brother Kapono has a faster, but relaxed bit of instrumental slack key. NÃ Leo Pilimehana avoid their usual wedding songs in favor of a bit of ukulele party nostalgia, and the album takes a turn back toward the nostalgic end of things in response. Jack DeMello and wife Nina Kealiiwahamana perform a bit of the classic, string-section-and-harp filled exotica that made the Mountain Apple label back in the early days, Hapa go a little more traditional with their second offering (coming closer to a traditional slack key), and the album ends with the inimitable Don Ho. For a sheer wide-spanning overview of Hawaiian music made for tourists, this album delivers. There are a few major subgenres and players missing of course (Jawaiian, for example), but what's here is quite nice. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide

Authentic Belly Dance Music Laserlight - Various Artists

Various Artists — 2009-11-16T18:34:52-05:00

Authentic Belly Dance Music, on the Laserlight label (a sub-label of Delta), is this album of belly dancing Music, on the deep-discount end of the spectrum. The music is somewhat discounted as well, unfortunately. The tunes come from around the North African world, presumably, but are given a somewhat lazy rendering by the songstress and chorus. The instrumental accompaniment is rather better, but is still hit and miss. The affair sounds distinctly as though the focus is on exoticism rather than quality, almost directly out of a theme restaurant. Worth hearing primarily for knowledge of what not to listen for in North African music. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide

Tchaikovsky Trio Op 50 Brahms Trio Op 40 - Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg — 2009-11-16T15:17:11-05:00

Varekai - Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil — 2009-11-16T13:27:23-05:00

Since it began in 1984, Cirque du Soleil's unique fusion of theatrical arts elements has enraptured more than 33 million spectators on four continents, with the show Varekai representing the 14th live production. Composed by Violane Corradi and produced by Natin Sawhney, this trippy, operatic, classical-new age flavored recording is the soundtrack to that show and invites the listener into the visual experience by way of musical diversity and wide emotional landscapes. "Rain One" is a bit on the avant garde side, mixing vocal samples, exotic female whispers, and rain soundscapes with Eastern music textures. "Le Reveur" blends soaring foreign voices with an ominous wall of electronic sounds and groove. "Vocea" mixes this same type of percussive foundation with a melancholy string section and a violin solo. Overall, it's a fascinating mÉlange of world music and electronica that takes more than one listen to fully appreciate. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

Brazilian Dreams - Various Artists

Various Artists — 2009-11-16T13:05:30-05:00

Mystre Live in Las Vegas - Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil — 2009-11-16T12:58:41-05:00

The live-recorded soundtrack of Cirque du Soleil's hugely successful production Mystere is fuller, richer, more powerful, and more gripping than the studio album or the recordings of earlier shows such as Saltimbanco. The musicians and vocalists lose no finesse in the live version; if anything, they sound more confident. Also, the album follows the sequence of the show, which gives it a sense of continuity that is lacking in the studio album. From the eerie, disturbing opening strains of "Ramsani" to the thunderous drums of "Taiko," this album offers a tapestry of sound that is nearly seamless. The vocal stylings of returning soprano Nathalie Gauvin and new addition Wendy Talley manage to be sweet and raw at the same time. Several tracks are exclusive to the live album. One of the best is the seven-minute "High Bar," an exultant, dramatic cascade of sound. The string instruments and vocals soar one moment and plummet the next, just like the acrobatic routine that they accompany. Songs such as "Ulysse," "Kalimando," and "Finale" are tinged with equal parts longing and joy. A full complement of acoustic, modern, and exotic instruments create a sound like no other. Of all the Cirque du Soleil albums, this is the one that best shows why this troupe evolved from street performers to world-famous artists in a single decade. ~ L. Katz, All Music Guide

Magic Gipsy - Eric Fernandez

Eric Fernandez — 2009-11-16T12:56:38-05:00

This zesty, rhythmically explosive disc brings Higher Octave Music's flamenco-kissed decade full circle. The label was just another little new age outlet in 1990 when Ottmar Liebert's Nouveau Flamenco became one of the first major instrumental sensations of the '90s. HO got on the map and was able to diversify into one of the best indie labels in the instrumental world. While Liebert had his critics who claimed he was just borrowing and watering down true flamenco music, Eric Fernandez offers the real, hardcore deal. The modern-day gypsy masterfully intertwines numerous musical traditions of the Mediterranean, weaving intricate Spanish guitar melodies with Moroccan rhythms and -- talk about exotic -- the soaring voices of Sardinian shepherds. Those wordless vocals sweep over the seductive funk foundation and lighthearted guitar melody of "Adios Andalucia," then add a graceful sense of harmony to one of the more unusual cuts, the violin and accordion-strewn romance of "Shalom Israel." Much of Higher Octave's world music blends sounds from nether regions with the r&b grooves so often found in smooth jazz, and the best example of that here is the title track, which begins with Fernandez's acoustic dancing brightly over a thick shuffle before the tune breaks into rapid castanet claps and Spanish chanting. Aside from some other unique instrumentation -- including Arabian violin and cello -- Fernandez scores high marks for keeping his tunes short and to the point; each tune states its case, improvises and jams, and ends within less than four minutes. That leaves more room for new material and less repetition. One of Higher Octave's best of 1999. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide