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Our Favorite World Music Albums of 2006 |
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# |
Artist |
Album |
Label |
Music
Comments |
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1. |
Aurelio Martinez |
“Garifuna Soul” |
Stonetree |
Aurelio is a guitarist from Honduras and plays music
of the Garifuna culture. Acoustic, bluesy, funky,
charming all at once. Actually released in ‘05, but
since we didn’t get it ‘til ‘06, we’re including it.
Not to be missed. |
|
2. |
A R Rahman |
“Introducing A R Rahman” |
Times Square |
A showcase for one of Bollywood’s most important
composers. Great arrangements and vocals throughout.
Songs are taken from the movie soundtracks. |
|
3. |
Ska Cubano |
“Ay Caramba!” |
Cumbancha |
If Castro had not happened, if Jamaica and Cuba had communicated
over the last 45 years, maybe a musical style like
this would have developed. That’s what Beny Billy and
Natty Bo of Ska Cubano propose, and it’s too much fun. |
|
4. |
Gigi |
“Gold + Wax" |
Palm |
More of her mesmerizing voice
and Bill Laswell’s shimmering textures. Lovely. |
|
5. |
Chicago Afrobeat Project |
“Chicago Afrobeat Project” |
CAbP |
They (as the name implies) are from Chicago and
play Afrobeat. All instrumental. Strong music. |
|
6. |
Charanga Cakewalk |
“Chicano Zen” |
Triloka |
Multi-culti
feel-good grooves rooted in the southwest, with
seasonings of ska, cumbia, flamenco, meringue, etc.
Very tasty. |
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7. |
Various |
“Congotronics Vol. 2” |
Crammed |
From the
Kinshasa region, a follow-up to Congotronics 1. High
energy, literally buzzy, funky music made with
unlikely combinations of acoustic, electric, and
constructed-from-junk instruments. |
|
8. |
Novalima |
“Afro” |
Quango |
Traditional Afro-Peruvian music electronically
updated. Highly danceable. |
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9. |
Cheikh
Lo |
“Lamp Fall” |
World Circuit/Nonesuch |
Recorded partly in Mali, partly in Brazil, with a
great mix of musical styles. |
|
10. |
Various |
“Best of Studio One / More” |
Heartbeat |
The
Heartbeat label has been re-releasing some old reggae
and ska hits and misses for some time now. This year
they got serious with music from Clement Dodd’s Studio
One label. |
|
11. |
Balkan Beat Box |
“Balkan Beat Box” |
JDub |
Just when you thought you’d heard everything. . .
Funk-klezmer-gypsy-dance-middle eastern-punk. An
amazing live act, they’ll be back in the states in the
spring. “When you hear the chicken, Scrreeeeaaamm!” |
|
12. |
Toumani Diabate’s Symmetric Orchestra |
“Boulevard de l’Independence” |
World Circuit/Nonesuch |
Toumani takes traditional kora into a large-band
setting with a mix of old and young musicians. |
|
13. |
Nortec Collective |
“Tijuana Sessions, volume 3” |
Nacional |
Electronica from south of the border. Never mind the
annoying single – the rest of the cd has a great
groove. |
|
14. |
Sierra Leone Refugee AllStars |
“Living Like a Refugee” |
Anti |
These musicians met in a camp, and create
beautiful, joyous art out of tragedy. Traditional
acoustic music and reggae blend effortlessly on songs
like “Soda Soap” and “Weapon Conflict.” |
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15. |
Natacha Atlas |
“Mish Maoul” |
Mantra |
Largely a return to more traditional North African styles for
one of the biggest names in Arabic world music. |
|
16. |
Lenine |
“Lenine” |
6 Degrees |
An innovator that combines distinctly Brazilian sounds with elements of
rock, funk, and electronica with excellent songwriting
and a terrific voice, Lenine pruned down three
Brazilian CD’s for this compilation for American
release. |
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17. |
Ali Farka Toure |
“Savane” |
World Circuit/ Nonesuch |
The master’s final release before his death
in March. Deeply rooted in the spiritual music of
Mali, with the “desert blues” sound that made him
world famous. |
|
18. |
Rodrigo y Gabriela |
“Rodrigo y Gabriela” |
Ato |
One of the hottest new acts this year, this Mexican
guitar duo is now based in Ireland. An original
acoustic approach based in flamenco, but with lots of
rock-y influence. |
|
19. |
Lila Downs |
“La Cantina” |
Narada |
Lots of accordion
and her usual outstanding vocals on this cd of
traditional Mexican ranchero tunes with a modern
twist. |
|
20. |
Mamadou Diabate |
“Heritage” |
World Village |
Mamadou continues to amaze with the virtuosity,
beauty, and deep feeling of his playing. Just
gorgeous. |
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Runners-Up |
|
1. |
Tartit |
"Abacabok" |
Crammed |
Tuareg desert music from Niger |
|
2. |
Gotan Project |
"Lunatico" |
XL |
Modern tango from Argentina
|
|
3. |
Cesaria Evora |
"Rogamar" |
Lusafrica |
The queen of Cape Verde |
|
4. |
Asha Bhosle |
"Asha Reveals the Real RD" |
Times Square |
The empress of Bollywood sings her husband’s
compositions |
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5. |
Michael Franti and Spearhead |
“Yell Fire!” |
Anti |
politically-charged reggae + |
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6. |
Regis Gizavo/Louis Mhlanga/David Mariandon |
"Stories" |
Marabi |
accordion/guitar/percussion trio |
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7. |
Marisa Monte |
"Universo ao Meu Redor” |
Metro Blue |
rediscovered samba chestnuts |
|
8. |
Matisyahu |
Youth |
JDub |
Orthodox Jewish reggae singer |
