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Jerry Leake: Cubist (Capsule Reviews)

In his notes, Jerry Leake suggests that he would like to treat music as the Cubists treated painting: “simultaneously opening the object”—in this case “sound and time”—“in all its sides in relation to the observer.” To this end he will use ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  9 Mar 2010

Le Vent du Nord: La Part du Feu (Reviews)

There are different ways of introducing local folk music into a wider arena. You can emphasise the energy of it, appealing to the audience’s taste for movement—the Kočani Orkestar, various Romanian bands. You can emphasise eccentricity and ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  1 Mar 2010

Le Vent du Nord: La Part du Feu (Review)

There are different ways of introducing local folk music into a wider arena. You can emphasise the energy of it, appealing to the audience’s taste for movement—the Kočani Orkestar, various Romanian bands. You can emphasise eccentricity and ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  1 Mar 2010

SambaDá: Gente! (Capsule Reviews)

SambaDá is tight without being too controlled. This is what every good band needs to be, but it’s a particular advantage when you’re playing this kind of Afro-Brazilian Popular because the music has to sound bright, fast, rowdy, yet beautiful. It’s ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  26 Feb 2010

Related Topics: Jorge Ben Jor (musician)

Razia: Zebu Nation (Capsule Reviews)

Why is Malagasy music not more popular in the English-speaking world? The guitar work, seen live, is awe-inspiring, and the music is nimble and rapid. Perhaps it’s the pace, or perhaps people hear this complicated tumble of notes coming towards them ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  24 Feb 2010

Red Baraat: Chaal Baby (Capsule Reviews)

A combination of bhangra and marching band—“dhol ‘n’ brass” is its phrase—Red Baraat is based in the United States. This, its first album, is a mix of mainly instrumental tunes, at least two of which might be familiar even to listeners who have only a ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  23 Feb 2010

Related Topics: Daler Mehndi,  Asha Bhosle

Fredrik: Trilogi (Capsule Reviews)

Fredrik, an outgrowth of the Swedish group the LK, released its first album in 2008. Trilogi seems a little softer, a little less song-reliant, and a little more trusting of the listener’s willingness to absorb an atmosphere that is something like the ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  19 Feb 2010

Various Artists: The Matinée Grand Prix (Capsule Reviews)

This Californian label doesn’t make a huge noise, but its ear for indie pop is sound, and its compilations are rewarding. The Matinée Grand Prix is mostly gently paced, although there’s some bad-girl faster-pussycat noise from England’s Tender Trap and ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  15 Feb 2010

Various Artists: Africa Boogaloo: The Latinization of West Africa (Reviews)

The last two African retrospectives from Honest Jon’s came with the personable alto oesophagal crackle of old records, so my ears were prepared to hear the same on this one. No, no, Africa Boogaloo opens sounding deep, stomachy, rich, with cozy brass ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  29 Jan 2010

Related Topics: Manu Dibango (musician)

Yura Yura Teikoku: Hollow Me/Beautiful (Review)

Japan is such a neat and beautiful country that it shouldn’t be surprising people there sometimes want to unbeautify things, take them apart, kick the idea of neatness around, shake up the world, annoy the neighbours—so the existence of Japanese noise ...

From DEANNE SOLE, PopMatters,  28 Jan 2010

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