FEATURE WORLDBEAT ALBUMS 

FRESH SPINS FROM world.beats

Tillers Folly – A River So Wide (Independent) It’s said that “life is short … but it’s wide!” On their sixth album called ‘A River So Wide’, Tiller’s Folly have set their sights beyond the west coast’s colorful past to include songs about life and how to live it. Taking cues from some of today’s most popular songsmiths, the band continues to shape acoustic roots and Celtic arrangements into music with mass appeal and now, more than ever, that speaks eloquently to the human condition. ‘A River So Wide’ flows from different streams of inspiration than their previous recordings which have revealed so much about Canada ’s pioneers. The new disc explores broader questions of life, love and humanity. But while the themes may be more universal this time around, their trademark acoustic roots and Celtic flavors bring it all back to the west coast … where the Tillers have always been right at home.

 Key Tracks: Take Pride, A River So Wide, Irish Rose

 

Gloria Estefan – 90 Millas (Sony/BMG) Gloria Estefan takes us on a different musical voyage … the ninety miles of open sea that separate Cuba and America . For her fourth Spanish language release, Estefan retells the modern history of Cuban music through the talents of some of the island’s legendary performers, alongside her own circle of notable Latin musicians like Carlos Santana, Jose Feliciano and Sheila E. The album sparkles with authenticity and bristles with controversy. It’s an emotional tribute to her heritage that has some asking where her loyalties lie. She can take some comfort in the knowledge that “no publicity is bad publicity”. During the telecast for the 2005 Academy Awards, Carlos Santana proudly strolled the red carpet wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt.  So, when he recently appeared on Estefan’s album tribute to the music of Cuba , it touched off a flurry of protest and controversy. Regardless of political perceptions, the new disc serves global music fans well, matching some of the great musicians of Cuba ’s golden age like Cachao, Paquito D’Rivera and  Arturo Sandoval with their American contemporaries. Emilo and Gloria Estefan have issued a joint statement that they hope will put a quick end to the controversy over the new album. In it the couple states, “For the past thirty-two years of our career our position against the Castro regime has been crystal clear . . . we have expressed our disagreement with the Cuban dictatorship and have spoken worldwide of the pain of the Cuban people. We have never nor would we ever collaborate with anyone who supports the Cuban dictatorship or Che Guevara.”

 Key Tracks: No Llores, Los Nuestro, Morenita

Federico Aubele – Panamericana (ESL Music)  Living as a foreigner in Europe for five years left Argentinean guitarist, Federico Aubele homesick for the Americas and, especially, his hometown of Buenos Aires. That inspired his debut recording, GranHotel Buenos Aires, a gentle but ground-breaking fusion of tango and dub. His highly anticipated follow-up to that disc is finally here, dramatically expanding his musical vision to embrace all the Americas . Entitled, Panamericana, the new album illustrates this by including a map in the liner notes that highlights a network of roads stretching from Fairbanks , Alaska to Cape Horn , Argentina . Looking back, he explains, “All of his musical influences originated in American countries, like dub reggae from Jamaica , Mexican bolero, Argentine tango and old school US hip hop. So, the idea of a road linking these cultures and places together became a very strong theme on this record.” Aubele compares living abroad to an exotic love affair. Then when the relationship ends you realize, “What am I doing here. I just want to go home.”

 Key Tracks:  La Esquina, Este Momento, Lluvia

 GLOBAL GROOVES ON DVD

 

DJ Krush– History Of DJ Krush (Sony/BMG) DJ Krush has taken turntablism from the streets of Tokyo to the stages of the world.  His latest accomplishment is a DVD retrospective of his career so far, simply called, ‘History of DJ Krush’. The documentary was culled from hours of raw and grainy video footage. But, while the lens looks at the past of this hip hop pioneer, it has the effect of providing the viewer with a surreal, Sci-Fi glimpse into the future. The history of DJ Krush was written on the streets of Tokyo . As a teen he got into gang life and developed loose ties to the Yakuza, often referred to as the Japanese mafia. But, a movie called ‘Wild Style’ opened the next chapter in his life. It was the first hip hop motion picture.  Shortly after, he got his hands on two turntables and mixer and began to experiment.' History of DJ Krush’ is an exhaustive, three DVD set that looks back on his career as a pioneer turntablist, mostly through grainy, hand held camera footage. It’s not all fascinating but it IS real. And, through English subtitles, some of his comments reflect on a visionary model for the future. When Krush was getting his start in the 80’s, he had a hard time getting the equipment he needed. There was not even a Japanese word for ‘mixer’.

 

12 Girls Band – Live In Shanghai (EMI) The Twelve Girls Band is a dozen lovelies from the People’s Republic of China who are winning Western audiences by presenting their traditional sounds in the context of popular standards. When the concept of the Twelve Girls Band was being developed, the answer to how many performers there should be was a ‘no brainer’. According to Chinese numerology and myth, it is twelve ‘Jinchai’ or hairpins that represent womanhood .After opening new markets abroad for their Chinese arrangements of western tunes, the girls returned to Shanghai to perform a special outdoor concert in the shadow of the city’s famous Pearl Tower . Joining them on stage for a real cross-cultural experience was Mexican chanteuse, Lila Downs. Her soulful treatment of the Gershwin classic, Summertime is one of the highlights of their new DVD. Some of the other material on the DVD plays pretty schmaltzy, but they have never been billed anything more innovative than a Chinese answer to Riverdance and on that level they succeed beautifully. BTW George Gershwin wrote that song in 1933 for the musical Porgy and Bess. Along with ‘Yesterday’ by The Beatles, Summertime is believed to be one of the most covered songs in popular music history. A group called The Summertime Connection claims to have on file 8, 764 recorded versions of the song

 

 Manu Chao – La Radiolina (Because)  Manu Chao is the consummate global citizen and a poster boy for today’s revolution in world beat, yet one corner of this planet has remained surprisingly beyond his universal embrace, and that’s the United States. He hopes to change all this with his first new studio recording in over six years entitled, ‘La Radiolina’. The new album acknowledges the long gap between releases by giving listeners twenty-one new tunes. Fans will also notice a new, edgier attitude creeping into his signature light and bouncy reggae vibe. This time out he’s turning up the guitars and setting his sights on rocking the festival crowds state-side. Another aspect of La Radiolina that rings loud and proud is its voice of protest which may or may not fly in America . Manu Chao is openly critical of the current US administration and he has always been a spokesperson for the anti-globalization movement. But, he’s also clever enough to make every protest a party like on the electric debut single, ‘Rainin’ In Paradise'. Strategic concert bookings are helping Manu Chao build his American fan base. In the summer of 2007, his band performed two hugely successful shows in New York as part of the multicultural ‘Celebrate Brooklyn’ festival.

 

Key Tracks: Tristeza Maleza, Rainin' In Paradize, Mel Llaman Calle

 

Joe Amouzou – Mist Of Charms (Rossignol Records)  While today’s pop may be polished to perfection and manufactured for mass appeal, charm is one element that seems to have been sacrificed in the process. Joe Amouzou 's new album, ‘Mist Of Charms’ was crafted with an artisan’s touch. The disc was a two year labor of love, which drew on his personal experience with many different styles of African music and his extensive repertoire of global and contemporary rhythms. As a composer, writer, arranger and singer, Togolese-born Amouzou takes a ‘hands-on’ app roach to his music. Mist Of Charms is a mix of Afro Jazz fusion which charms the listener with an array of songs and styles that offer both personal insight and universal appeal. It's a finely crafted recording that draws on his passion for the global rhythms and the added skill of some of our city’s finest players.

 

Key Tracks:  Koko Song, Guilty, Mist Of Charms

 

Bedouin Soundclash – Street Gospels (Dine Alone)  Through poetic turns of phrase, rousing sing-along choruses and an island vibes that’s closer to Kingston , Jamaica than Kingston , Ontario , Bedouin Soundclash have found a warm spot in the hearts of everyday people. ‘Street Gospels’, their latest triumph of understated excellence continues to touch people where they live with great songs of unguarded and unaffected honesty. It’s an album that gives people credit by giving them a taste of the real deal. On their previous release, 'Sounding A Mosaic, the Canadian trio was truly sounding the depths of their own potential, ultimately spilling over onto commercial radio and music television with the smash single, ‘When The Night Feels My Song’ and earning themselves a Juno for the ‘New Group Of The Year’ in 2006. ‘Street Gospels’ continues to ring true with the grass roots appeal of their honest and soulful Caribbean vibe.

 

Key Tracks:  Walls Fall Down, Hush, Gunships

 

Tarrus Riley – Parables (VP Records)  Born under the sign of the bull, Tarrus Riley is blessed with the determination his star sign is famous for. His father was a reggae singer himself but it was his mother that gave him the push to enter the music business, and he’s never looked back.' Parables’ is his first ‘big league’ release and, as the title would suggest, Tarrus Riley has drawn inspiration from classic children’s stories, attaching a moral to every one of the CD’s songs. As he puts it, “Each of the songs on the album has more than one meaning.” The first single from Parables, She's Royal uses a queen as a metaphor for the dignity and respect with which all women should be treated. It’s a refreshing change of pace in a music genre that’s been notorious for negative female imaging.

 

Key Tracks: Something Strong, Groovy Little Thing, She's Royal

 

GLOBAL GROOVES ON DVD

 

Liberacion – The Songs Of The New Cuban Underground (Petrol Records) Old Havana still moves to the pulse of Afro-Cuban rhythms, a reminder of the city’s glamorous past in the age before the Cultural Revolution. But, today a new musical revolution is brewing further south in Santiago de Cuba , which has become lightening rod for urban culture, Caribbean influence and youthful experimentation. It’s all culminated in the emergence of Cuban reggaeton, a new rebel voice that the government would dearly like to silence. But, an intrepid label manager may just have blown their cover with the DVD release of Liberacion – The Songs Of The New Cuban Underground. Petrol Records boss, Chris Murphy went to Cuba in search of the sons and daughters of that island’s legendary musicians. What he discovered instead were the songs of the new Cuban underground. And, while Murphy and Petrol Records should be credited with exposing Cuba ’s new music revolution, they appear to have left the work of exposing the artists themselves to someone else. Very little if any information is available on the emerging talent like 3.X on the DVD. The videos are cookie cutter to say the least but do give the viewer a peak into this movement.