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& REVIEWS SEFARAD MUSIC by Sefarad i i i ABC & Lotus Foot Music, Australia, Reviewed by Richard Giles 2003 (64mins) AURORA Distributors: Australia—Lotus Foot by Michael Atherton and Music, tel (02) 4782 5524, website James Ashley Franklin http:/Awww. lotusfoot.com.au Celestial Harmonies, 2003 (63mins) lhe Hebrew word for Spain is "Sefarad". Distributors: Aust—Planet Distribution, It also means a people—the Jewish tel (02) 9356 4866; UK—Discord Dist., population of Spain, with a long history in tel (0)1892 863 888; USA—Celestial the country. Between the 9th and 12th Harmonies, tel (520) 326 4400, website centuries, Spain was under Arabic control http:/www.harmonies.com and the Jewish and Muslim worlds regarded elestial Harmonies has a superb cata- Andalusia as the intellectual jewel of their logue of specialist music dedicated to cultures. Christians, Jews and Arabs shared unusual world sounds. This album, Aurora, | Many aspects of music, art, science and is more a piece of research into the effects of Philosophy. This album by Kim Cunio and placing music into the sorts of spaces it's not Heather Lee (at times known as Oscar and normally found. It combines the Japanese Marigold), Imogen Granwal and Jonathan shakuhachi and koto with guitars, marimba, | Holawell blends Islamic dance, Jewish double bass and a "ruined" piano. music and mediaeval Spanish song and Experimenting with a "meditative intent" on Poetry in an exquisite collector's album. the instruments, Atherton and Franklin pro- duce a beautiful and relaxing exploration of | HECHO EN CUBA the inner life of sound. An engaging album. _ by Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén Gonzales and Compay Segundo SAHARA LOUNGE Central Station, Australia, 2004 (47mins) by various artists Distributors: Aust—MRA Ltd, tel (07) Putumayo, USA, 2004 (48mins) 3849 6020; website http://www. Distributors: Aust—MRA Lid, tel (07) centralstation.com.au; USA—Isba Music 3849 6020; UK—Pinnacle Imports, tel Entertainment 01689 870622; USA—Putumayo, lhe Cuban music revival of the last seven http://www.putumayo.com years has flung the magic of the tradi- [ recent years the music and instruments tional Cuban sound out into the streets via of the Middle East have been blended with _ the classic 1997 Buena Vista Social Club cutting-edge electronica, as on this new (NEXUS 5/02). Since then, that group's Putumayo release. Sahara Lounge presents maestros have made their mark on the world a dozen tracks by performers from Egypt, scene. Hecho en Cuba is a collection of Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey selected releases of several years of Cuban and the UAR. Though traditionalists may albums. This is a laidback journey through find the upbeat mixes too much, there's Cuba's musical traditions, featuring the best merit in combining Western and Eastern of Buena Vista and friends. Classic tracks producers to feature new music. Mixing include "Tula's Room" from the Buena Vista Algerian Rai, Berber and Sufi with dub, beat film, "Ay Candela" from Ibrahim Ferrer, and and hip hop gives some renowned sounds on __ "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" featuring a captivating album. Omara Portuondo. An album that's guaran- teed to get your hips moving. FLAMENCO ARABE se by Hossam Ramzy & Rafa El Tachuela ARC Music Prodns, UK, 2003 (72mins) Distributor: UK—ARC, tel +44 (0)1342 328567, http://www.arcmusic.co.uk Revered with four world-class musi- cians, this album comes as an exhilarat- ing feast of flamenco and Arabic rhythms, including Hossam Ramzy's excellent percus- sion. The guitarist, Rafa El Tachuela, has a distinguished record in flamenco music. His ensemble, La Pasién Flamenca, travels Europe, performing classical and modern dance styles. The most outstanding track, "Silk Route Suite", is in four parts with the Arab and Indian origins of flamenco illus- trated. Fascinating and captivating. SAHARA LOUNGE by various artists Putumayo, USA, 2004 (48mins) Distributors: Aust—MRA Ltd, tel (07) 3849 6020; UK—Pinnacle Imports, tel 01689 870622; USA—Putumayo, http://;www.putumayo.com [ recent years the music and instruments of the Middle East have been blended with cutting-edge electronica, as on this new Putumayo release. Sahara Lounge presents a dozen tracks by performers from Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey and the UAR. Though traditionalists may find the upbeat mixes too much, there's merit in combining Western and Eastern producers to feature new music. Mixing Algerian Rai, Berber and Sufi with dub, beat and hip hop gives some renowned sounds on a captivating album. APRIL — MAY 2004 NEXUS + 73 www.nexusmagazine.com