International music reviews

I accidentally came up with this CD while doing a search for books on bamboo...listened to the tracks and immediately purchased it from Amazon.com. I love New Age, Certain Jazz, and Exotica music and this album fits the bill in every way. Genius at work! I want more and more!

I never heard of Craig Russell before. But one night, "Out on the Sarengeti" was playing on my satellite New Age music channel. It immediately caught my ear. I had to have the CD. For some unknown reason, I could not play the sample tracks on Amazon.com. So I wasn't sure if the other tracks were as good as the one song I heard. I purchased it anyway and was pleasantly suprised. If you like an upbeat, world music kind-of New Age sound, then this CD is for you. It's a mix of synthesizers, bamboo flutes, recorders, hand drums, guitars, and rain sticks. Pop it in you car CD player and you can almost see the zebra running along side of your car because it's just like being on Safari (at least sounds like it)!

Sorry, but the truth is, I never heard Craig Russell perform. Wish I had some equipment so I could listen to the indicated songs with a 'note'. Anyway, I think I get myself some real good music buying this CD and I truly wish I could say something nice about Craig, which I eventually will. I have written down three songs though with Spanish titles, a)Bamboo, b)Vaquero and c) Hijos de la Amazona, el rio mas grande del mundo que todos sabemos habiendo estudiado un poco, no demasiado! Lo que es interesante es que Craig tambien esta siendo atraido por el tropico! Buena suerte te deseo.

There is a lot of reggae available but the "Poets" are a fresh new sound, youhful and spirited, with solid voices and top musicians.

The republic is barely a memory. Only the scribes care. Past its apex the empire is crumbling. How much time remains? How will the end come? The oracle is silent. Astral probes are being launched. Lightning splashes low across the desert night. Peals of thunder uncoil toward the city. Each morning the diaspora of a thousand tribes passes through the city gates. In the market self-appointed artists and prophets in motley press forward, proclaim their spurious instant truths, then vanish. From every corner and platform mongers bark the commodification of all value, which only they can purvey. You drift bewildered among the crowd, eye the booths, strain to discern some genuine article you might take away to experience in a clearer moment. A stranger touches your arm, directs your attention to a table stacked with small flat plastic cases, selects one, nods approval and recedes without a word into the crowd.

"Barefoot Poets-One House Music" (a humble offering) is the genuine article. It is the expression of artistry achieved through integrity and deep craft. It is reggae music affirming its roots with emphatic conviction. The playing is consummate, the singing powerful, the production first-rate. It represents maturation, not nostalgia. And significantly, today in the year 2002, when reggae is no longer heard as a lone call from the "third world" but as one voice in the chorus of world popular music, this record emanates not from the island of Jamaica but from the cosmopolis of Queens, New York. You should check it out.

...P>"Barefoot Poets-One House Music" (a humble offering) is the genuine article. It is the expression of artistry achieved through integrity and deep craft. It is reggae music affirming its roots with emphatic conviction. The playing is consummate, the singing powerful, the production first-rate. It represents maturation, not nostalgia. And significantly, today in the year 2002, when reggae is no longer heard as a lone call from the "third world" but as one voice in the chorus of world popular music, this record emanates not from the island of Jamaica but from the cosmopolis of Queens, New York. You should check it out.

What immediately strikes me about this recording is Ragani's sincere devotion to her guru and to the divine. This is evidenced in the opening mantra, the Akhanda Prayer, a beautiful prayer to the Guru. Though I am not a musician, each chant on this CD seems to me to be well recorded and more importantly these chants are infused with Ragani's sincerity as a bhakta. I feel as though I am listening to a seasoned yogini when I listen to this fine collection of chants.
Especially appealing to me about these chants is the shift from a slow repetition of the Name to an accelerated and ecstatic repetition. The gradual acceleration has the effect of locking my mind's attention onto the mantra so that by the time the chant ends, my mind is subdued and I experience the peace brought about by the chant. In other words, when the chant is moving very quickly, there is less room for thoughts (other than the Name) to creep in. By the time the chant speeds up the Name takes hold and my mind begins to settle down. My particular favorites are Sita Ram and Shiva Hara. Whereas Sita Ram is intense, by contrast Shiva Hara is light and uplifting. In addition, the chants on this CD are all in call in response style which makes participation in the chants very easy.

I thought no other kirtan style music could even compare to Krishna Das (whom I love dearly), but Ragani's voice is so beautiful. This CD is enchanting so much so that I cannot seem to tire of listening.

Great CD!!! I play it everyday commute to work. Would highly recommend it to anyone looking for Kirtan music.

I was first introduced to mike in my sixth grade english class..
Had I been the only one in class I would of started crying...
We were studying Phantom Of The Opera, and had to listen
to "Music Of The Night" as part of the lesson..I couldnt start
crying at my desk because other students wre there... I was
sincerely moved.. his singing was almost crystaline-- it was
overpurified , and I couldnt imagine someone who could express
emotions so well... the only problem is -i have all of his CD's
and Im desperately want more...!!! I only wished I could have
saw Mike in EFX. I would have payed max to get front row seats...
Saw Phantom with Colm Wilkonson as the lead, no contest, Mike
could of easily overpowered Colm's Phantom anyday...!!!

I have all of his CD's and this is my definite favorite. As usual, Michael sings like he feels each word and is singing just for you. He has a unique way with a song (maybe it's because he's also an actor). You would think that every singer would have this ability, but listening to him it really comes through.
Some people (who hear me playing this) probably think I'm nuts-- listening to ''O Holy Night'' in May, but his singing transports you right to Christmas Eve.
Also, as if more bonuses were needed, it's a great picture of him and an insightful write-up.

this cd contains the most inspiring songs sung by the most charismatic voice. he lifts through a world of his own, where everything seems to be the way you want. and as he says "each song has its own passion and its own feeling"

Well, in my humble opinion this is NEK's best album alongside with the other one called UNA PARTE DI ME (basically his newest one). Just for the record, as for the latter one, in my review I wrote that this album was out in two versions and the only thing that distinguishes them is only one word (look the review up and you shall have the difference - although both versions are incredible).

Now to this album, well, what can someone say except that it is incredible; from the song SEI SOLO TU (which also comes in another version with LAURA PAUSINI, not in this album) or the rest such as, LAURA NON C'E'. Either way, this album has a balanced mix from pop ballads to more `faster' pop songs. As for the singer, alongside with Eros, Laura Pausini and a few others, he belongs to the category of the most known Italian singers in the international scene (something you will also realize very soon when you listen to this album).

Highly recommended!!!

I think this CD has been in my 6-disc CD changer at least 90% of the 2+ years that I've owned it. Every time I take it out, it seems to somehow find its way back into the changer after a couple of weeks. I do own two other Nek CDs but this one is clearly the "Best of". Although it's hard to pick a favorite track off of this album, "In Te" is the one that probably gets me at the deepest level. Not only is the melody hauntingly emotional, the lyrics are even more powerful and understanding them can make one appreciate Nek as an artist even more. If you only buy one Nek CD, make it this one.

Nek (stage name of Filippo Neviani) is an ardent admirer of Sting, and his vocal style is certainly reminiscent of the British pop staple, but Nek's music stands on its own. I dig Nek and his very accessible music (some might say too accessible, but I ain't talkin' to you) is very entertaining, with that guilty-pleasure rousing element to it. I enjoy every song on "The Best of Nek". And his other albums are often chock-full of single-quality emotion-packed pop. Nek's vocal clarity and the catchiness of his songs lends itself well to the study of the Italian language. Take a risk on a Nek purchase, especially on "Best of... ". For those of you out there who are ever disappointed with the purchase of an Italian language CD, consider passing the CD on as a gift to a Spanish or French speaking friend (or those who speak other romance languages). They often enjoy Italian more than speakers of other languages, even if they don't completely understand the lyrics. Nek (like Laura Pausini, who recently stormed the Latin Grammy awards) also releases Spanish-language versions of his music (often available for purchase on amazon.com). I love the Italian language and much prefer his native-language versions.
PS: LE COSE DA DIFENDERE and Nek's latest release, UNA PARTE DI ME (2005) are, I believe, his two best albums to date. "COSE" has a crowd-pleasing duo (with Dante Thomas) of "Cielo e terra" and several other excellent songs that weren't included on "THE BEST OF... "

I love the Chieftains and I love this CD. I love it so much, I using a great many of the songs for the Prelude for my wedding.

The title of this album is rather deceptive: it's not a selection from the Chieftains' entire catalog of recordings, but instead from the 3 albums (7, 8, and 9) that they put out on the Columbia label in the late 70's. That said, it's a worthy addition to anyone's Irish music library: it showcases the band at the pivotal point when they underwent major personnel changes and began to expand into less traditional ventures such as film scores. I've owned the three albums in question for years (and bought this one because the old vinyl was wearing out); this selection includes most of my favorite tracks from those albums, and shows what a solid, spirited, high-quality band they were from the start. (But it's instructive to compare the flute solos in the "Chase Around the Windmill" set with those from the earlier albums: with all due respect to Michael Tubridey, I feel that the addition of Matt Molloy, with his thoughtful and beautifully phrased flute playing, gave the group much more depth.)

The retro style of Paddy Moloney's hair on the cover of this disc is a good metaphor for this CD, a remastered 1970s recording incorporating the best tracks from three of the Chieftains' early LPs. As far as traditional Irish music goes, it's not the purest of the pure, but it shows how this group gave a new twist to their country's music before venturing into the equally exciting realm of television and film music. If you're a fan of the Chieftains' later work, you'll definitely love this CD -- it's not really all that different, just less programmatic and commercialized.

There are some really incredible tracks here, like "O'Sullivan's March", an old 18th-century military tune arranged for the entire band -- the flutes in the middle section preserve the wonderful old fife-like quality of the original song. "Sea Image" and "Speic Seoigheach", composed by Paddy Moloney himself, point toward the group's later development as a band blending a traditional feel into their own original compositions. And the rest of the tracks show exactly why these marvelous Irishmen were nominated for a Grammy over twenty years ago.

Five stars easily!

I bought "Better World" by Nomads while in Greece and I just fell in love with it. Its Arabian desert rhythms, along with the African percussion is just great! With the Arabic, Spanish, French, and English lyrics, the songs preach the power of peace on earth and the uniting of cultures. I was in Athens when I saw the music video for 'Selibabi'. It's a great song. I never liked rap, but the couple verses in the album speak of greater things than the rap you hear here in America!

This group deserves to be on the radio...not enough people are exposed to this great music...Listen to the samples, you'll be hooked. "Yakalelo" is what got to buy this cd. I want more, can't wait for the follow-up cd.

This is simply the best I have heard for a long time when it comes to spanish / french dance music with Latina rhytymes. It has it all simply, the songs are mized in english, spanish, french.. and a couple of arabic words i think. It's REALLY good don't know how to describe it. simply buy it if you have heard selibabi or yakalelo and enjoyed them.

Suzanne's voice is absolutely divine. It is fresh, soulful, and contains a depth that exudes a bottomless well of warm clear water. Both her music and her vocal are reminiscent of a priestess calling to worship. Arrangments are impeccable, grounded yet ethereal.

I have had the privilege of hearing Suzanne live in an amazing atmosphere. Her music grows on me weekly, as it has with everyone that I have exposed to it. We look forward very eagerly to Suzanne's next effort.

This terrific CD is a marriage of a beautiful voice, amazing music and thoughtful lyrics. Although this CD can fall under the category of "devotional" music, it is so much more! Take a journey with Suzanne, and discover her rich gift. You may also learn more about yourself in the process.

.

[I have to begin this review with a statement of bias. Suzanne was my teacher for a number of years and I eagerly look forward to classes with her again, next month. Even so, I feel woefully inadequate for the task of reviewing Bhakti.]

I find that Loreena McKennitt & Sarah McLachlan have voices which remind me of Suzanne's. Haunting, sometimes intense, sometimes gentler than a butterfly's delicate kiss; Suzanne sings from the heart, opening a portal for Spirit enter the music. Bhakti creates sacred mindspace, setting mundane experience apart, creating an awareness of a deep yearning, an ancient longing that's been ignored for too long. I AM YOUR SOUL:

"There is a place you've been longing to find / there is a light you've been searching for / lay down right here / and open the door"

Suzanne brings together both exotic and the traditional. She weaves together a fabric spun from tablas, dumbek, udu, djembe and tar drums, flutes, guitars, violin, oud, sarod, and saz. Rock, folk, ballad & meditational--her music fuses the need to dance with the need to sit in silence. She goes beyond ambient, world-beat, new agey wannabes and grips something the listener usually keeps tucked away. It's not just the sounds, but her vocals challenge the modern, isolated, TV addicted ego. Whether it's the challenge of THE RIVER:

"oh you wanna strike out at the world for dragging you down / Listen to what I am saying I'm here to help you /

somebody's holding your hand / somebody's holding your heart"

or the introspective ROSALINDA:

"The sun's already gone it's already gone from me / touched by the hands of shame tongue tied / she curled around the pain and rolled / down her dreams"

Her lyrics take us to territory mapped by Rumi and Kabir; by Fromm and Rilke. Deeper than merely the personal, than simply the pious, she awakens the archetypal as in O HOLY ONE:

"Oh Holy One / take us in your arms /

rising like the moon / come to us soon / wander the night / bound by this new sight / open every door / like you've done before"

Or, peering into the Shadow in THE BEAST:

"All the angels are calling me / over a sunless sea / but the beast is feeding / oh my soul the beast is feeding."

Definitely not a white-light-bunny-fluff-chix CD. This is spiritual and psychological meat. If your teeth haven't broken through yet, stick with what you already know. Avoid Bhakti

until you're ready to feel a deep challenge! WAKE UP:

"Wake up. We gotta wake up. We've gotta wake up now." repeated over & over, with incredible harmony & rhythmic variation, acapella. Suzanne has the voice and presence to sing with herself, to hold the musical space, and to hold interest.

Songs like CARAVAN and RASA explore sonic landscapes where strange spices and curious costumes catch one's attention. THE RIVER and SWEETER THAN HONEY get down and rock like nobody's

business.

Many adjectives have been recycled to write this review. The occasional evocative verb calls attempts to convey my experience of Bhakti. But the acid test is in the listening. I perpetually ask of the music I acquire: "Can you dance to it?" If the body doesn't respond, all the descriptive prose in the world will serve only as a burial cloth.

Can *you* dance to it? I don't know. I'm a straight white man-- and I'm sitting here at my computer in the office, dancing in my chair. "Somebody's holding your hand . . ." Can I dance to it? You'd better believe it! Does it touch my soul? Absolutely!

This CD is awesome, all of the songs rule. You'll never get tired of listening to this CD with so many different good bands on it. This is one of the best CD's I own.

much did it again. this woud beat any mtv cd. al of these songs (exepit J) are hits just to prove u again much music beat mtv again. oh and by the I AM CANADIN

I have to say that I am not extremely impressed or dissapointed. Don't take this the wrong way. I only say I am not very impressed because this is just a continuing tradition for the big shiny tunes line. It has a great mix of songs. I especially like teenage dirtbag (wheatus). It is a sweet song. Everything else is great too, including the hit from limp bizkit. The bottom line is that this CD rocks!

There is a decent number of good songs on this CD set. But I personally think there are too many tangos and rumbas. More variety would make it better.

<br /> I bought this CD not too long ago, because I wanted to experience, a new sound and thougth that Flamenco would be a good sound for me..... I LOVE THIS CD!!!!<br /> the music is incredible, the sounds are just fenomenal, both cd's are filled with beautiful vibrant music, that take you to a whole new level, if you're looking to get into this kind of music I strongly recomend this cd. there's old Flamenco and new flamenco, I strongly recomend that you listen to both cd's, you will have favorite's in both. I have a few favorites but I would have to say that the second cd is the best one.<br />

I bought this album thinking that if it holds other cuts that are as good as the samples, then this is a "not to be missed" album. And there are many tunes on these disks equal to or even better than the samples. Don't miss the two by Jose Merce, Estrella Morente, or Arcangel--or you'll really be missing something. I must admit that I don't much care for some of the nuevo flamenco that appears on the second disk. I just can't agree with mixing in piano, violins, or horns. Fusion flamenco? No! I'll likely remove the too nuevo for me from my play list.