CDpedia : GQ CD Library : Genre : W

Release: Jul 1996

Label: Universal / Island

Genre: World Music_Ethnic

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Summary: This album is what really made Baaba Maal's name in the UK. It was not his first, but the one that got him noticed by those of us who enjoy african music but don't know too much about it.
Island records obviously invested a lot in this success, judging by the huge numbers of additional musicians involved and the very high production values. It was produced by Simon Emmerson (of Afro Celt fame) and it could be argued that Baaba Maal has compromised his music to make it more acceptable to western tastes. I prefer to see it as making full use of all the technology and instruments available. There are some celtic influences, a smigeon of hip hip (the French variety), and some jazzy touches.
In my opinion, there are no duff tracks on this album, and three which can stand up against anyone else's best - Sidiki, Sama Duniya and Gorel. While I accept that the griot-influenced vocals might grate on some people initially, I reckon the music would grow on anyone.
The band contains one of the most ubiquitous of African musicians - Massamba Diop on talking drums, who seems to crop up as a guest on every other african CD, especially if Simon Emmerson is producing.
You may have heard Baaba Maal described as a genius, and may be aware that the Melvyn Bragg dedicated an entire Southbank Show to him several years ago, and may be wondering if all the hype is justified. If so, of all his albums this is the one to listen to see what all the fuss is about. (and if you ever get the chance, go and see him play live. It really is spectacular.)

Release: Oct 1990

Label: Nonesuch

Genre: World Music_Ethnic

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Summary: More than any other band, the Gipsy Kings are responsible for the renewed interest in gypsy music, and this is the album that broke them through to the international mainstream. Although their carefully crafted music is not "pure" gypsy, their impassioned performances create a window for the uninitiated into the deeper world of flamenco and other styles. If you're not a purist, the Gipsy Kings provide powerful, highly contagious, mostly acoustic music that may represent a new form of contemporary gypsy music for the masses; or you can view it as pure pop. This disc lays down their trademark mix of guitars, handclaps, and percussion over 12 varied tracks ranging from intense dance numbers to passionate love songs such as "Un Amor." Linking it all together are the throaty, emotional vocals, notably those of Nicolas Reyes, evoking the smoky campfires of his underprivileged brethren where this highly polished music originated. "--Derek Rath"

Release: Oct 1992

Label:

Genre: World Music_Ethnic

Duration:

Summary:

Release:

Label: HUNGAROTON

Genre: World Music_Ethnic

Duration:

Summary: Recorded in the mosque named after Suleiman the Great.

Release: Jan 2002

Label:

Genre: World Music_Ethnic

Duration: 1:10:15

Summary:

Release: Oct 1999

Label:

Genre: World Music_Ethnic

Duration: 52:02

Summary:

Release: Jul 1992

Label: Castle Music UK

Genre: World Music_Ethnic

Duration:

Summary: Correct tracks......

1. The Rocky Road To Dublin -- The Dubliners

2. The Curragh Of Kildare -- Finbar & Eddie Furey

3. Polkas: The Glenside # 1 & 2 -- The Glenside Ceilidh Band

4. Henry Joy -- The Grehan Sisters

5. The Handsome Cabin Boy -- Sweeney's Men

6. The Frog's Wedding -- The Johnstons

7. The Exile's Jig -- Sweeney's Men

8. The Lambs On The Green Hills -- The Johnstons

9. The Spanish Cloak -- Finbar & Eddie Furey

10. The Golden Jubilee -- The Glenside Ceilidh Band

11. The Cook In The Kitchen -- The Dubliners

12. The Orange & The Green -- The Grehan Sisters

13. St Patrick's Breastplate -- Royston & Heather Wood

14. Innis Dhun Ramma/Paidin O'Raifeartaigh -- Na Fili

15. Foggy Dew -- Imlach, Hamish

16. Three Pieces By O'Carolan -- John Renbourn

17. Madam Bonaparte -- Finbar & The Furey

18. Rakish Paddy -- Finbar & The Furey

19. Roisin Dubh -- The Dubliners

20. Chanter's Tune/An Samnradh Crua/Green Fields Of Rossreigh/Murphy's -- Na Fili

21. Spanish Lady -- The Johnstons

22. The Killarney Boys Of Pleasure -- Dave Swarbrick

Release: Apr 1991

Label: Rykodisc

Genre: World Music_Ethnic

Duration:

Summary: Interesting, enjoyable record, but not for everybody. The album depicts an archetypal day in the life of the Bosavi people of Papua New Guinea. Some of the tracks are ambient recordings of jungle noises, with interesting titles that are apparently literal translations of Bosavi idiomatic phrases -- "From Morning Night to Real Morning," "From Afternoon to Afternoon Darkening," "From Night to Inside Night." Some of the tracks are women and men singing alone or with others, melodically repetitive & motivic, rhythmically subtle, energetic songs. One lovely, mesmeric track is of somebody playing a "Bamboo Jew's Harp" for four and a half minutes. Noises of the jungle accompany all of the "music" tracks. The excellent booklet notes by the producer/ethnographer inform us that the Bosavi people think of music and jungle noises as contiguous. Their phrase for music translates literally as "lift-up-over-sounding" -- a beautiful, evocative expression. According to the booklet notes, the Bosavi's homeland was threatened by surrounding industrialization. The Bosavi people knew this, and their fear led them to abandon the ceremonial singing included on the record during the time the album was recorded.
In one view, this album could be viewed as a mixture of 3 elements: the fascinating booklet notes, the interesting ambient sounds, and the lively human music. (Being a typical westerner, I hear the jungle noises & the human "lift-up-over-sounding" as separate but related phenomena.) But the album also works as an aesthetically satisfying whole: It's a poignant narrative of the life of a group of people in a place far from the industrialized world, "from morning night to inside night." Poignant, because the Bosavi way of life was threatened at the time of recording, and perhaps by now has disappeared.

Release: Nov 1994

Label:

Genre: World Music_Ethnic

Duration: 52:58

Summary: