OCTOBER REVIEWS

Daara J - Boomerang (Wrasse Records) - As a music genre, hip hop is a juvenile, more accurately, it's still in its infancy. But Senegalese rappers, Daara J offer a tantalizing glimpse of what a sophisticated and credible musical force hip hop may soon become.The trio of N'Django D, Aladji Man and Faada Freddy part company with ordinary North American urban fare right from the get-go. "In our music," they say, "the melody is always the starting point". And, Daara J's melodies spring from the rich traditions of Zulu music and Mandingo tradition. On Boomerang they add to their own formidable talents with the incredible voices of Rokia Traore and China.The trio writes in several different languages giving their raps a refreshing cadence that sounds more like poetry and less like a quarterback barking signals before a play (as is the case with the majority of North American urban artists). And before any wannabe bangers from the 'burbs diss Daara J for taking the tough talk out of hip hop, nothing could be farther from the truth!. This is music from the hard streets of Dakar.On Boomerang, they deal with real issues of greed and development, exploitation and abandonment. Back at cha like a boomerang, Daara J!

 

Fito Blanko - Higher Level (MRP) -  Like  Dancehall before it, Reggaeton (pronounced: reggae-tone) is a growing wave of global flavored influence permeating urban music. This is a potent blend with all of hip hop's street 'tude, all of salsa's spice and all of reggae's heavy drop beat. Fito Blanko is a young Panamanian from Montreal who is taking reggaeton to a 'Higher Level' as the name of his new album would suggest. What makes this collection of songs so great is Fito's keen awareness of where all the musical elements come from. And there's a lot of them. The liner notes are worth the price of admission to this disc alone. He takes the time to explain the wild mash of styles each track delivers from Cuban Timba with Reggaeton, to Son/Hip Hop to Vultron (Panamanian lyricism) over Jamaican riddims.Credit must also be given to Fito's producer and collaborator on the project, Peruvian-born Keith Kanashiro (aka Sensei) who wrote much of the music, but regardless of who gets the props, Higher Level is highly recommended. 

 

Twelve Girls Band - Eastern  Energy (EMI) - There are concerts and then there are 'shows'. When I saw the Twelve Girls Band perform at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, it was a real 'show' like Riverdance, Barrage or  Stomp or any other off-Broadway musical production. It's what should be expected though when you start with a novel concept: 12 beautiful girls from mainland China playing traditional instruments (erhu in front - a two string Chinese violin, pipa in the centre - a finger-picked Chinese banjo and a battery of gu zheng - a plucked horizontal harp in back with various exotic flutes and dulcimers thrown in) playing very untraditional western music for the most part.  For the uninitiated to Chinese music, the girls offer their renditions of Coldplay's 'Clocks', Riverdance composer Bill Whelan's 'Reel Around The Sun' and even a surreal reworking of Beethoven's 5th. Not all of it translates well but the Far Eastern flavored material is engaging when its powered by such a large (but petite) ensemble. And, it all goes over big in America where their tour was gobbled up like dim sum. Wisely, the disc 'Eastern Energy' gives consumers a CD and companion DVD for the full effect. The Twelve Girls would do boffo box office in Vegas. It's the kind of 'show' that would go well with happy hour and one buck shrimp cocktails.After all, Celine has to take a break one of these days ...

 

Wyclef Jean - Welcome To Haiti Creole 101 (BMG) - I am constantly amazed by the resilience of the Haitian people. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for much of its history and recently Hurricane Jeanne visited a new wave of death and destruction on the beleaguered island nation. It all should make Haiti's celebration of 200 years of independence from slavery (the first Black Republic to do so) bitter sweet at best. But there's no more joyous and pride-filled music on the planet than the Creole beats of Konpa, Zouk and Rara, the sounds that buoy the hearts of the Haitian people. Haitian son and Fugee founder, Wyclef Jean came home with a celebration in hand and on disc, "Welcome To Haiti Creole 101". It's an important release, bringing the weight of a globally recognized performer to bear on a woefully overlooked Caribbean tradition. And Creole 101 is just what it suggests, an introductory course and the first of many to come hopefully. Wyclef has commited to starting a label called Sak Pase (Creole for "What's Up") which will expose Haiti's message of jubilation to all who want to share its indominatable spirit.

 

Fernanda Cunha - Dois Coracoes (Independent) - The wonderfully wacky worldwide web is really amazing. It allows you to make the most remarkable connections with people from around the world by virtue of simply hanging your shingle in the windows for Microsoft. Fernanda Cunha is a brilliant singer from Rio de Janeiro who found us at www.worldbeatcanada.com and sent along a couple of her albums. Dois Coracoes (Two Hearts) is a gorgeous realization of Brazilian elegance.Fernanda has a classic samba and bossa delivery that's soft but with trained strength and foundation. Hers is a substantial and versatile voice reminiscent of the late, great Elis Regina and Joyce (two singers who first caught my ear during my introduction to Brazilian rhythms). Fernanda finds herself in distinguished company on Dois Coracoes, performing with composers Johnny Alf and Sueli Costa.The string and piano-based jazz arrangements are irresistible and worthy of repeated late night listens. I don't know if you'll find this disc in North America but I'm sure Fernanda wouldn't mind an unexpected connection from abroad asking for more information. Visit www.fernandacunha.com.br.

 

Issa Bagayogo - Tassoumakan (Six Degrees) - A remarkable thing happened recently while conducting an interview at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. As my guest and I conversed while seated on the edge of the stage, the opening act came out to sound check. He positioned his kora (an exquisite and ancient African harp) near the microphone and plucked a few notes only to stop suddenly and take an incoming call. The image is something that could only materialize in the 21st century, a person holding a kora in one hand and a cell phone in the other. That performer could have well been Issa Bagayogo or 'Techno Issa' as he's known to his Malian musical friends. His instrument is the 6 string n'goni similar in form and timbre to the kora with far fewer strings. Many global artists have attempted to broach the traditional and the technological but few as seamlessly as Issa. As a follow up to 'Timbuktu', his ear opening debut release on Six Degrees, Issa presents "Tassoumakan' which means 'Voice Of Fire'. It's a wonderful study in contrasts: organic and electronic, chilled and engaging, blues and beats. No one element of Issa's music appears imposed upon the other. All the compelling sounds symmetrically orbit in harmony around timeless melodies and chants.

 

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SEPTEMBER 2004 REVIEWS

AUGUST REVIEWS.

Los Lobos - The Ride (Hollywood Records) - On the inside sleeve, the credits are listed as, "Los Lobos still are Louie Perez, Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, David Hidalgo, Steve Berlin". It's just a cheeky reminder that after more than 3 decades, little has changed for these Mexican roadhouse rockers and their latest release leaves you with the impression that this time, they really are just enjoying The Ride. Lacking the thematic focus of their previous studio disc, Good Morning, Aztlan or the new music experimentation of This Time, The Ride is Los Lobos in their comfort zone ... a little rippin' blues, a little Spanish folkloric and a whole lotta soul. And what's a road trip without a few friends? Along for The Ride are Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson and David Allen among others (come to think of it, it would be kinda fun counting license plates with those guys!). Standout tracks include the opening La Venganza de Los Pelados featuring Mexico's alt-rock innovators, Cafe Tacuba and Kitate with Tom Waits' gravel and whiskey tones and the lovely Martha Gonzales from Quetzal (a band Steve Berlin produced an awesome album for). Naturally, these are terrific road tunes. Take a drive and enjoy The Ride.

 Te Vaka - Tutuki (Warm Earth Records) -  Te Vaka means The Canoe in the language of Tokelau, a small chain of islands deep in the South Pacific. The band, Te Vaka takes their inspirational cues from their forefathers; explorers who traveled great distances by canoe. Their 11 members have come together from all over Polynesia including Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, The Cook Islands and New Zealand offering what has been described as “a stereotype smashing glimpse into the true soul of the South Seas.Tutuki or 'The Beat' is their 4th album and it solidifies them as the top group in all of Pacifica. There's always been a child-like innocence in Te Vaka's sweet melodies, further enhanced on the new album with the addition of the voices of real children. This coming to the table with palms pointed upward makes singer/songwriter Opetaia Foa'i's pleas all the more poignant. He's tackled Polynesia's most pressing concerns from environmental damage to racism and loss of culture through encroachment. On Tutuki he points to the arrival of the 21st century's plague to the islands of paradise, AIDS. But don't get me wrong, this disc is not a downer. In fact, it's as bubbly as the sea foam on a sandy beach and as buoyant as the outriggers the band took their name from. It's nearly impossible to pick a favorite track. Start to finish it's quite simply one of the best records of the year.

 Los Mocosos - American Us (Six Degrees) - Little snot-noses are the future of America. The Mission District's Los Mocosos (literally ' the snot-noses') are neither cute nor wet at both ends (not that I've checked) but they do represent the new face of America. This band has a defined sense of self and community, of lineage and heritage.  Through their music they extol the positive virtues of being Latino in America today and being damn proud of it. True to the musical roots of their 'hood, the potency of Santana, Malo or War resonate with every funky, ska-soaked chord they play. Another translation of Los Mocosos is 'the mischievous kids" which also fits the band's 'fun-loving but not to be ignored' presentation on disc and in concert. American Us finds them goofin' on silly ditties like Hey Mama or Genius, but don't turn your back ... next moment they're dishing out socio-political commentary on Le Presidente, veiled as a dance tune in the the true Caribbean tradition. On personal note, Los Mocosos are a smart, thoroughly motivated band and a nicer bunch of guys you won't find. American Us treats listeners to another great album from a group of guys who know who they are and where they're going.

 Antibalas - Who Is This America? (Ropeadope) - New York's Afrobeat powerhouse on the other hand, are having real problems figuring out who America is these days. And who can blame them. America is dealing with one of the biggest cock-ups on the world stage in recent memory (going to war on the advice of bad intelligence) and now they must prepare to elect a new President. It's a weighty decision and I'm sure many Americans are searching for answers. Antibalas (Bulletproof) asks the questions on this new album, but are quick to clear some serious space for dancing. Afrobeat is quite possibly the most infectious groove on the planet and these guys have the chops. But I'm talkin' serious space ... like 19 minutes and 14 seconds for the the 7th and final track alone! And, they're all like that with only one exception. To Ropeadope's credit, they suggest radio programmers fade in and fade out these behemoths, but come on guys, that only leaves the listener feeling ripped off for not hearing the entire song. Be brave, dump the tracks into ProTools and slice up some cohesive radio edits. You can still leave the 19 minute versions on the disc should some poor slob working the all-night shift at your favorite radio station need a potty break.

 Bebel Gilberto - Bebel Gilberto (Six Degrees) - One would have to assume that Bebel is not the type of individual to be rushed. Though born with Brazilian music royalty in her veins (the daughter of Joao Gilberto and Miucha, pretty much the parents of Bossa Nova as well), Bebel didn't release her first solo album until 2000. And, what a debut! It was the third largest selling Brazilian album of all time. Four non-rushed years later comes her self-titled follow-up, a carefully crafted offering sure to delight her fans and enchant the uninitiated. There seems to be a correlation between the unhurried pace of her recorded output and the relaxed, breezy vibe that has become her signature (drawn heavily from the original Bossa of course). With time, Bebel found some very complementary co-conspirators to help write the new songs. Marius de Vries, Carlinhos Brown and Didi Gutman make major contributions but especially intriguing is the addition of a track written by Daniel Jobim and Baby Consuelo, two artists who's pedigrees run as pure in Brazilian music as Bebel's own. It's all very worth the wait. Bebel is cool flame that time and talent have stoked into global music's hottest commodity. 

 Aboubacar Camara & Doundounba - Fanyifan (Independent)  - Aboubacar Camara is a man of many talents. In Vancouver, he's known primarily for training and performing with African dance troupes but he's also earned his brown belt in Shotokan Karate, competing in Germany for the Guinean national team. Now, he's released one of the most exciting West African albums to come out of the westcoast in sometime. Fanyifan (Kindness) flips from highlife to soukous and other rhythms native to Guinea.In West Africa they call it 'amasumbou' music ... a mingling of musical traditions. It's interesting to note that global fusions have been occurring for a long time, independent of western elements like jazz rock, funk or hip hop. One of the standout tracks on the disc, Yenkeke does adopt a little B-boy rap for urban flair. I was also taken by 'Confederation Canada', what you might call a new soukous twist on our stuffy national anthem. It's a patriotic salute from a grateful countryman. I think every hockey game should open with it. You can bet there'd be a lot fewer fights.

 De La Terra - Rhythm and Passion (Independent) - Nuevo Flamenco, like sangria is one of those great summertime concoctions that, while no less tasty, seems out of step at other times of the year. Langley, BC trio, De La Terra make hay while the sun shines (people used to do a lot of that in Langley when it was still a rural community). I saw the group up at the Harrison Festival Of The Arts, just one stop on the busy summer festival circuit. You can't get much tighter than a three-piece, and the road-seasoned combination of Doug Towle on guitar, Lyndon Dewitt on drums and percussion and Jeff Warren on bass deliver the duende with a singular voice. Rhythm And Passion effectively displays Towle's sophisticated sense of melody and his penchant for shredding acoustic solos.  The 15 tracks make superb listening for a sunny afternoon.  

Afro Celt Sound System - Pod CD/DVD (Real World)

 

If you have not yet been initiated into the magical musical experience of The Afro Celts, their new Real World release called Pod leaves you with few if any excuses to remain out in the vacuum. Granted, the CD itself may provide first-timers with an uneven impression of the band. It's a collection culled from their first four albums and remixed by the Afro Celts themselves and some like-minded collaborators. In testament to the strength of the material, the tunes don't easily give up their integrity to the rigors of reimagination. However, some tracks would be better appreciated on first listen in their originally recorded state.

 

That said, there's no doubt, this album is for the fans in the first place. They know just how enthralling the Afro Celt's live experience is. They know what it is to be powerlessly swept up in one of their fevered grooves. Now, Pod gives them the chance to share those elated experiences with friends who for whatever reason, have shied away from the Afro Celts. Pod includes a 24 minute bonus DVD with video clips for the songs Persistence Of Memory, When You're Falling and North, plus, some live highlights from their WOMAD USA 2001 performance in Redmond, Washington. North, in particular is impossible to look away from, but all the video footage is of such quality as to shatter any misconceptions or misgivings anyone may have about The Afro Celts. There's really little else I can imagine the band doing to impress themselves on a world that's dying for the next big thing.

 

The  Afro Celts are the future of global music. They are poster children for culturally diverse vibrancy and they are true musical alchemists and ethnomixicologists with a global vision like no other. I find it particularly ironic that they chose to revert back to their old 'Afro Celt Sound System' moniker for this collection. 'Seed', their latest all-new studio recording was the first to be released under the name, Afro Celts dropping the Sound System surname because the members all felt that they had moved beyond the 'project' status into the realm of a full-fledged band. Pod will leave listeners and viewers with little doubt of this and may even convince some doubters that the Afro Celts are indeed one of the greatest bands in the world today. 

 

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Gráda - The Landing Step ( Compass Records)- Ireland should be proud of their next generation of traditional players. While New World Irish punks like The Dropkick Murphys lay the boots to Emerald Isle standards like The Black Velvet Band (and do a mighty fine job of it too), Ireland's sons and daughters are blowing the dust off of their rich musical heritage and adding some new twists to bring the sounds into the 21st century. Making the effort even more challenging are bands like Lunasa and Dervish who have set the bar of musical prowess so extremely high, that releases from many of these newer groups pale in the light of their brilliance. Grada is up to the challenge and are now poised to receive some deserved international acclaim, already labeled 'firebrands' for their heretical use of double bass and percussion in their arrangements (I don't see what the big deal is here, folks ... it's not like they're plugging in or anything). Grada, more impressively have reintroduced instruments like the coronet into Irish traditional music. Not surprisingly, Lunasa's Trevor Hutchinson produced The Landing Step for this five-piece. Somewhere in a small Irish pub, purists will rage at his insolence. The rest of us will just smile while our ears perk up and say, "Thank you".

 

Chris Stout - First O' The Darkenin' (Greentrax) - First O' The Darkenin', the new solo album from Chris Stout, is what can transpire when one of these 'firebrands' is given creative carte blanche by the record label. Scotland's Greentrax, who give much credence to 'letting the creative juices flow', have proven the value of this practice over the years with a roster that includes Shetland band, Fiddlers' Bid and genre-benders, Salsa Celtica. The fact that Chris is an alumnus of both of these groups must have given Greentrax plenty of confidence in his solo project. Chris surrounds himself with a modern ensemble including soprano sax, guitar, double bass and piano. Sound like a jazz arrangement? You bet. There's plenty of jazz flavors and soloing mixed into a compelling batch of Shetland tunes. He even serves up a Norwegian hymn. First O' The Darkenin' is a relaxing, rewarding listen that echoes the twilight it honors.