Reviews: October 2006

Albert Kuvezin and Yat-Kha: Re-covers

World Village

Inspired by the old albums Kuvezin played while recuperating fron an illness, this is a covers album with a twist. You might recognise a lot of the songs, but not the treatments, strange and often eerier, and the deep, dark Tuvan throat singing that groans out the words. Yes, it's hilarious at times, but there's also a dangerous shamanic power to it all. Is it world music? Who cares?

Bellowhead: Burlesque

West Park

The first full album from Bellowhead builds on their EP to show an epic sensibility and a very apt title, given the circus sensibility of "Rigs Of The Times" and "Flash Company," as if Tom Waits had cast an eye on the English tradition. Imaginative arrangements, fabulous playing, and Jon Boden singing in great voice, as if his life depended on it. It's ambitious, perhaps a little too much at times, but this is a stunning orchestral - to an extent - folk album, something new in the genre.

Dona Dumitru Siminica: Sounds from a Bygone Age Vol. 3

Asphalt Tango

With his high falsetto voice, at one time Siminica was the king of Gypsy song in Romania (and a handy violinist, too). Recorded in the early 1960s, this disc shows him at his peak, with a stunning emotive power and glorious steady tone. Listening to this, the biggest question has to be why, although he died in the 1980s, isn't he an icon of the Gypsy mahala?

Gabriela: El Viaje

Intuition

The new (and long-awaited) album from the wonderful Argentinian singer-songwriter is every bit as lovely as her previously work, dreamy, poetic, and full of emotion. Able support from Bill Frisell and an all-star band fills out the sound atmospherically, but the stage belongs to the voice and words of Gabriela. This is craft that's become art, gentle and beautiful.

Hoven Droven: Jumping at the Cedar

Northside

A double live CD that captures Sweden's Hoven Droven's heavy folk live in Minneapolis. It's sweaty, loud and rocking, with an energy level in the red. Some wonderful playing, but really it's an ensemble outing as they put the pedal to the metal and power through the material with no mercy. They can be delicate, but it's the all-out roar that's the best here, raising the blood.

Instinkt: Grum

Go! Danish Folk Music

Back after a lengthy absence, Instinkt come out with a disc that's nothing less than Danish blood music, rooted, strong, and tasty. Reminiscent at times of the Warsaw Village Band, this is music with guts and fire, without the politeness that typifies so much Danish music. Certainly one of the most arresting albums to come out this year, and crammed with passion from first note to last. If there's any justice, this is the disc to move Instinkt to the next international level. A gem.

Jarek Adamów and Traditional Polish Vocal Ansamble: Expedition to the Lost World, Part 1 - Winter

Folken Music Exlibris

An interesting collaboration between instrumentalist and singer Adamów and four traditional singers. The production's very heavy-handed at times, but the material and presentation is never less than fascinating. There's a real sense of adventure here, as well as collecting songs that might otherwise be lost. Recorded live near the border of Poland and Ukraine, this is a fabulous document.

Jim Moray: Jim Moray

Niblick is a Giraffe

The difficult second album is exactly that in Moray's case. It's nowhere near as obvious as his debut. He'd promised to shake things up a bit, and he does, offering a mixed bag of styles, even 70s rock, among the others. Some of the material, like "Barbara Allen," is a bit obvious. But no one can ever accuse him of being ordinary. This disc demands several plays to take in, and even then it's hard to decide. Intriguing, yes…conclusive, no.

Kayavash Nouari and Shahrokh Vadegari: Migration

LilaSound

Okay, this is an odd duck - improvisations between oud and a computer, based on traditional Persian music. Vadegari's Lila - the computer - transforms the oud sound and plays it back to Nouari, triggering further improvisation - a variation on the old Fripp and Eno ethos. It works beautifully, pieces cut and pasted to create glorious atmospheres. Quite what it all means is open to debate, but it's a gorgeous, spacious listen.

Kristy Kruger: Songs from a Dead Man's Couch

Just Like Freddy

She calls her music Ameritronica, and some of its, with the steel guitar, seems to be aptly described. Quite a bit is Americana, but very well done - she has an exquisite touch as a writer, and shows herself an excellent singer and musician. She's not afraid of a little musical adventure, and approaches it with both savvy and glee. Very appealing, and a talent that bears watching, although, on the basis of this, it's already borne fruit.

Natacha Atlas: Mishmaoul

Mint

Nice to have England's favourite Arabic singer back. In general it's more of what she does best, but there are R&B collaborations here that try hard but don't quite succeed. Otherwise it seems to be marking time a little as she finds a new way forward for her music. It's still good, but not her best, and certainly not her most groundbreaking disc.

Nick Hennessey: A Rare Hunger

Harbourtown

A great collections of songs from singer and harpist Hennessey. A few of his own and plenty from the tradition, mostly gorgeously performed, with "Lord Franklin" a standout. Only "Wandering Aengus" doesn't quite work, and it's a tough piece to set to music. His own songs are strong and heartfelt, and he possesses a wonderfully warm voice that entices and treats the ear. On the basis of this, Hennessey deserves to be much better known.

Roots Radics: In A Dub Explosion

Roots

Production by Jah Thomas, playing by the Roots Radics, and the dubs mixed by King Tubby and Scientist. Great dubs, especially the almost pre-ambience of "King Tubby's Cloud Dub," you can't go wrong with this, and it certainly makes you ware that Thomas was more than a deejay with a lot to say. The band, of course, is killer on these 1980s cuts, sharp as a tack, yet elastic and supple. The bottom line is that it's classic dub, and well worth the price of admission.

Sally Nyolo and the Original Bands of Yaoundé

Riverboat

When Nyolo returned to her native Cameroon, she began seeking out local talent and recording it in a ramshackle studio. Although she's involved as a writer on many of the tracks, she only performs on one. Her purpose instead is to give bands and singers a chance to be heard on the international stage. There's plenty of classy Afropop here, a touch of gospel, and some very soulful singing. While no obvious stars emerge immediately, there are plenty to be encouraged.

Various Artists: Life Goes in Circles

Pressure Sounds

Billed as "sounds from the Talent Corporation," this is a stunning collection of reggae from 1974-79. It's a remarkable list of names - the Abyssinians, Jacob Miller, Augustus Pablo, Dennis Brown and plenty more - and the music is as good as the artists, with special kudos goes to Dennis Brown's soulful title cut, which could easily have come out of Memphis, and is possibly one of the best voicings he's done.

Various Artists

The Rough Guide to Yodel

Without a doubt the coolest compilation of the year. You might not have thought much about yodelling, but someone has, and it's fairly global. Not only country (and not only Swiss - in fact the Swiss track is a blast), but as far as Bollywood and Tuva. It's fun, very hip in its own way, and delightfully iconoclastic. Buy it and forget every preconception you had about yodels.