Eclectic Vibes

by Andrew Frey

Reviews From: International
Mahala Rai Banda - Ghetto Blasters

Mahala Rai Banda - Ghetto Blasters

Mahala Rai Banda
Ghetto Blasters
Label: Asphalt Tango Records

Warning: Listening to this could cause an Instantaneous Dance Infection! Balkan, Gypsy, and Rai styles coalesce into driving compulsions of neck wrecking horn breakdowns and contagious hip swinging parties. Very memorable.

Mahala Rai Banda Wiki

Rupa And The April Fishes - Este Mundo

Rupa And The April Fishes - Este Mundo

Rupa And The April Fishes
Este Mundo
Label: Cumbancha Records

Tossing an entrancing musical salad filled with Indian ragas, French chanson, Colombian cumbia and a wild Gypsy panache. Headed by the mega-talented Rupa Marya, the multilingual sophomore effort from these San Francisco natives explores the concept of timeless human migrations finding voice through a range of musical emotions.

Rupa And The April Fishes WebsiteRupa And The April Fishes Wiki

Vandana Vishwas - Meera The Lover…

Vandana Vishwas - Meera The Lover…

Vandana Vishwas
Meera The Lover…
Label: Self Released

Vandana’s gently gliding vocals are more entrancing than the tablas in this musical respinning of classic poems epitomizing specific life points in the famous story of Meera Bai. This beautifully delivered traditional Indian devotional music is available with or without story narrative.

Vandana Vishwas Website

Väsen - Vasen Street

Väsen - Vasen Street

Väsen
Vasen Street
Label: Northside Records

The amazing Nyckelharpa (a fiddle with a keyboard) matched with guitars and viola charm again as this iconic instrumental Swedish folk trio brings us a street-full of songs and mark their 20th year. Utilizing their various vast infiltrations of innovation they still manage to stay rapt in the musical traditions they were born with while shining brightly to the world.

Väsen WebsiteVäsen Wiki

Robert Soko - BalkanBeats

Robert Soko - BalkanBeats

Robert Soko
BalkanBeats
Label: Piranha Music

Encapsulating the energy, excitement and amazing confluence of various Balkan dance grooves that erupt once a month at club Lido in Berlin thanks to this renowned DJ. A trailblazer since the early 90s, Soko hosts this international dance party friendly to both his fellow Balkan expatriates as well as the vibrant Berlin club crowds. Current and contagious!

Robert Soko Website

Souljazz Orchestra - Rising Sun

Souljazz Orchestra - Rising Sun

Souljazz Orchestra
Rising Sun
Label: Strut Records

As the name aptly implies, this is a very jazz centric soul filled multi instrumental offering. Capturing the vibrant emanations from the 60s and 70s and melding Afro and Latin rhythms to their base, this Ottowa, Canada group feeds your ear with the traditional while stoking the contemporary fires of innovation and pizzazz.

The Souljazz Orchestra WebsiteThe Souljazz Orchestra Wiki

Next Stop... Soweto - Township Sounds From the Golden Age of Mbaqanga

Next Stop... Soweto - Township Sounds From the Golden Age of Mbaqanga

Next Stop... Soweto
Township Sounds From the Golden Age of Mbaqanga
Label: Strut Records

20 unreleased tracks of rare and obscure 60s-70s compositions from South Africa producing a brief historical overview of the infectious rhythms and jazz inspired beats that were energizing the townships at the time. The wonderful variety of vocals and local styles on this first of 3 volumes make this a winner in any era.

Next Stop... Soweto Website

Sora - Heartwood

Sora - Heartwood

Sora
Heartwood
Label: Corvid Media

Soothing and refreshing Celtic music spearheaded by this traditionally styled vocalist. Her voice twinkles with delicate splashes of vibrato amidst the lushly melodic atmospheres that bloom from the emotional tales told as the panorama of instruments unfolds.

Sora WebsiteSora Facebook

Bako Dagnon - Sibida

Bako Dagnon - Sibida

Bako Dagnon
Sibida
Label: Syllart Productions

Bako Dadnon is a renowned vocalist. Known in her native land of Mali as the premier Mande musician as well as an acclaimed female griot (traditional singer/story teller) her voice leads with a confident power denoting the story teller that she is. Regardless of the language you speak, few vocalists have the command and attention she draws. All buffeted by percussive beds of electrified native rhythms.

Bako Dagnon Facebook

Just A Band - 82

Just A Band - 82

Just A Band
82
Label: Akwaaba Music

Mellow moods shift in the glimmering of an emotion with embellishments of contemporary down tempo ethics. These 3 musicians from Kenya were all born in 1982, hence the name. Most songs were constructed and concocted within the influence of 80s synth pop while injected with ethnic grooves.

Just A Band WebsiteJust A Band FacebookJust A Band Wiki

Gamma Ray - To The Metal!

Gamma Ray - To The Metal!

Gamma Ray
To The Metal!
Label: Earmusic

Seeking to bridge the gap between past and present, these classic German speed metal minstrels deliver their 10th studio album in 21 years. Although the album manages to occasionally get me in the groove and will certainly please their fans, it simply doesn’t express anything that I haven’t heard numerous times before.

Gamma Ray WebsiteGamma Ray FacebookGamma Ray Wiki

Carmen Souza - Protegid

Carmen Souza - Protegid

Carmen Souza
Protegid
Label: Galileo Music

Curiously comfortable musical flirtations conjoining the surprising influences of West Africa’s Cape Verde with contemporary vigor and vision. The lyrics may be in Creole but her dextrous vocals dance with effortless accompaniment to the jazzy rhythms spiced with Arabic, Polish, Euro and African injections.

Carmen Souza Facebook

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