Eclectic Vibes

by Andrew Frey

Reviews From: International
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

Luisa Maita - Lero-Lero

Luisa Maita - Lero-Lero

Luisa Maita
Lero-Lero
Label: Cumbancha

Singing in Portuguese, this sultry songstress who was born from a family of musicians in Sao Paulo and is a rising star in the Brazilian music scene, delivers a sleek samba swing injected with downtempo electronica and pop sensations.

Luisa Maita WebsiteLuisa Maita Facebook

Pierre De Gaillande - Bad Reputation

Pierre De Gaillande - Bad Reputation

Pierre De Gaillande
Bad Reputation
Label: Barbes

Georges Brassens was sort of a French Bob Dylan type dark pop bardic icon. Here his music and poetry is evoked, channeled and translated into English via De Gaillande’s tantalizing obsession with the silver tongued poet and musician. The simple rhythms were maintained as original as possible while being fitted for English. Thought provoking, memorable and disturbingly charming.

Pierre De Gaillande Website

Bottegasonora - Disco Naif

Bottegasonora - Disco Naif

Bottegasonora
Disco Naif
Label: Bottegasonora

Warbling ranty vocals are accompanied by quirky simplistic synthesized rhythms from this Italian musician. Lyrics are formed into pop format so the accented choruses are repeated often, but this is then countered by a curious and bewildering cabaret atmosphere. Fans of kitchy throwback electro music inspired by the late 70’s will find that this will hit the spot.

Bottegasonora WebsiteBottegasonora Facebook

Janaka Selekta - Pushing Air

Janaka Selekta - Pushing Air

Janaka Selekta
Pushing Air
Label: Chaiwalla's Boombox

Prepare for an exotic and lush musical journey as diverse as the road taken by the musician himself. Born in Sri Lanka, raised in the United Kingdom and Kuwait, he now resides in the Bay Area. Over the past 10 years he has been formulating dreamy Indian and Middle Eastern electronica that melts from genre to genre, showing more depth and wonder with each song.

Janaka Selekta WebsiteJanaka Selekta FacebookJanaka Selekta Wiki

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