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= REVIEWS Here's an album that takes some classify- A U D | oO ing. Rachid does not want his work to be Reviewed by Richard Giles Known as world music, but at the same time is arrangements and sounds seem to be THE MUSIC OF THE GRAND CANYON sampled from all over the French, Iberian by Nicholas Gunn and Arab-Mediterranean regions. Songs like Produced by Nicholas Gunn for Real the sunny "Valencia" mix with the luted Music (1995), Sausalito, CA, USA "Baadini", the aggressive "Boire", hip-hop Catalogue no. RM1422 (53mins) "Zaama", tongue-in-cheek "Tabla Motown" Price: AUD$18.95, USD$10.00 (cass.); and the techno "Non Non Non". It's won- AUD$28.95, USD$16.00 (CD) derfully innovative material. Great dance Available: Australia—New World music with some incisive social comment. Productions, ph (07) 3367 0788; USA— Well recommended. Real Music, ph (415) 3311 8275. The keyboard master is back again with a THE HALF TAIL third album. His previous two, Afternoon in by Wolfstone Sedona, and The Sacred Fire, were very Produced by Chris Harley for Green successful and among my favourites of the Linnet Records (1996), Danbury, USA year when released. To capture the feel of Cat. no. GLCD 1172 (43mins) , the Grand Canyon is some grand feat, and oe . Nicholas Gunn has done it! When I first Angee. UsDeI5 00 OD) (cass.); Visited the place, there were simply no Available: ‘Aust—Movieplay Australia, words to express the stunning experience of the Canyon's vastness, and I feel that same ph (02) 9905 0199, fax (02) 9905 6372; power on Gunn's album. Three particularly USA—Green Linnet Records, ph 1-800 special tracks are "Entering Twin Falls", 468 6644, fax (203) 778 4443. . "Flight Over North Rim", and the title track, These guys mix wild Celtic reels and jigs "Grand Canyon". Well recommended. with a rocky band beat. Songs range through the sentimental quiet soul of Celtic AFRO-DESIA to the swinging pipes and whistles of vigor- by Steven Halpern & Suru ous Irish/Scottish flings. All the music was Produced by Steven Halpern for Inner recorded in Scotland but released by Green Peace Music (1996), USA Linnet, a US record company devoted to Cat. no. SRXD 9004 (69mins) promoting the best of traditional Celtic Price: AUD$19.95, USD$9.98 (cass.); music. Put this album on when you feel like AUD$29.95, USD$14.98 (CD) lifting your feet, having a good time, and Available: Aust—MRA Entertainment, ph swaying to the sweet sounds of the Celts. (07) 3849 6020; USA—Inner Peace Music, ph (415) 485 5321, 1-800 909 MICKEY HART'S MYSTERY BOX 0707. a . Produced by Mickey Hart for Rykodisc Steve Halpern is widely known for his (1996), Salem, MA, USA relaxation/ambient music, with a career Cat. no. CD31597 (54mins) spanning 20 years. Deciding to take a shift Price: AUD$19.95, USD$9.00 (cass.); to some high-energy music and return to his AUD$29 95 USD$1 5.00 (CD) ” roots in rhythm/soul, he recorded an album Available: ‘Aust—Festival Records, ph with Suru Ekeh, the (late) master Nigerian (02) 9660 4022; USAR . ; ; —Rykodisc, ph drummer. It's great to hear Halpern move (508) 744 7678. with a combination of percussion and West African/jazz. The most exciting track, "Afro-Desia", is first up, followed by won- derful drum/rhythm pieces, some louder and others more gentle. Joyful drumming. Mickey Hart (ex-Grateful Dead) is one of the greats of drum music, as well as author of Drumming at the Edge of Magic and Planet Drum. He's assembled a fine bunch of musicians with Zakir Hussain on percus- OLE, OLE sion, Habib Faye on guitar, Jeff Stirling on by Rachid Taha keyboards, and English vocal group The Produced by Steve Hillage for FKO Music Mint Juleps. Here, he's tried something (1995), France completely different from previous produc- Cat. no. CD529.481-2 (56mins) tions (Planet Drum, the album, won a musi- Price: AUD$19.95 (cass.), AUD$29.95 cal Grammy in 1991). Hot vocals and (CD) instrumental boppy dance music are mixed Available: Aust—lsland/Mango Records, _ with world rhythms. Not everything on the ph (02) 9207 0500; Europe—FKO Music, album makes it, but there are still some France, ph +33 1 43 70 55 27; superb tracks on his Mystery Box. Metronome, Germany. Recommended. AUDIO Reviewed by Richard Giles THE MUSIC OF THE GRAND CANYON by Nicholas Gunn Produced by Nicholas Gunn for Real Music (1995), Sausalito, CA, USA Catalogue no. RM1422 (53mins) Price: AUD$18.95, USD$10.00 (cass.); AUD$28.95, USD$16.00 (CD) Available: Australia—New World Productions, ph (07) 3367 0788; USA— Real Music, ph (415) 3311 8275. The keyboard master is back again with a third album. His previous two, Afternoon in Sedona, and The Sacred Fire, were very successful and among my favourites of the year when released. To capture the feel of the Grand Canyon is some grand feat, and Nicholas Gunn has done it! When I first visited the place, there were simply no words to express the stunning experience of the Canyon's vastness, and I feel that same power on Gunn's album. Three particularly special tracks are "Entering Twin Falls", "Flight Over North Rim", and the title track, "Grand Canyon". Well recommended. AFRO-DESIA by Steven Halpern & Suru Produced by Steven Halpern for Inner Peace Music (1996), USA Cat. no. SRXD 9004 (69mins) Price: AUD$19.95, USD$9.98 (cass.); AUD$29.95, USD$14.98 (CD) Available: Aust—MRA Entertainment, ph (07) 3849 6020; USA—Inner Peace Music, ph (415) 485 5321, 1-800 909 0707. Steve Halpern is widely known for his relaxation/ambient music, with a career spanning 20 years. Deciding to take a shift to some high-energy music and return to his roots in rhythm/soul, he recorded an album with Suru Ekeh, the (late) master Nigerian drummer. It's great to hear Halpern move with a combination of percussion and West African/jazz. The most exciting track, "Afro-Desia", is first up, followed by won- derful drum/rhythm pieces, some louder and others more gentle. Joyful drumming. OLE, OLE by Rachid Taha Produced by Steve Hillage for FKO Music (1995), France Cat. no. CD529.481-2 (56mins) rae AUD$19.95 (cass.), AUD$29.95 (CD) Available: Aust—Island/Mango Records, ph (02) 9207 0500; Europe—FKO Music, France, ph +33 1 43 70 55 27; Metronome, Germany. NEXUS - 79 DECEMBER 1996 - JANUARY 1997