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© REVIEWS songstress Yungchen Lhamo weave her M U Ss | C vocal strains. Middle Eastern percussion 4 5 A fuels this emotional musical journey, Reviewed by Richard Giles soothed by esoteric male and female vocals THE IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT that venture to India then to Africa. Sharifi by Idan Raichel invited Irish whistle player Séamus Egan, of CO imbanctn Music, USA, 2006 (47mins) the band Solas, to play melodies and Hassan «tri i ralia_. . Hakmoun to sing the lament on the other (00) 9690 75h UK Putumano, tal tel tracks. Stunning and intriguing album. 07759 600495; USA—Cumbancta, tel (802) 425 2118, www.cumbancha.con OM GUITAR F F by Stevin McNamara ocalist Idan Raichel has long been . Vieved with Israeli musical diversity, Sounds True, USA, 2008 (71 mins) “ao di : Distributors: Australia—Brumby Books celebrating different cultures through his ; . music. Idan invited 70 of his friends and and Music, tel (03) 9761 5535; USA— colleagues from Israel's music scene to par- Sounds True, tel 1800 333 9185, web- ticipate in recordings for two albums; the site http://www.soundstrue.com second was an immediate hit in 2002. This tevin McNamara was taught sitar by international Project compilation has tracks Ram Chakravarty and set about using the from these two albums plus English transla- musical style for this unusual album. Each tions of the songs and an enhanced CD of instrument (guitar, dholak, djembe, tabla, music videos. Most of Raichel's songs are tambouras and bells) is associated with one in Hebrew and a few are in Amharic (a of the chakras of the body. The original north-central Ethiopian Semitic language). recording was hours long, so each piece has An inspiring cross-cultural collaboration. been shortened for this compilation. The musical tempo is 63 beats per minute, which is synchronised with deep relaxation states. by various artist TO CONGO GOLD I found it a powerfully satisfying and World Music Network, UK, 2008 embracing album. Highly recommended. (74mins) Distributors: Aust—Destra, tel (07) by ported LINE) 3457 5000; UK—WMN, tel 020 7498 F y, tert WMN, UK, 2007 (42mins) 5252, http:/Avww.worldmusic.net Distributors: Aust—Destra, tel (07) umba came from the Congo in the late 3457 5000: UK—World Music 1930s as a reinvented music that mar- : : . : Network, tel 020 7498 5252, website ried traditional Congolese and other African htto:/www.worldmusic.net musical forms with those of the Caribbean ba. born in Somalia t Ethiopi and South America, which also came via aba, Dorn 1n somalia to an topian mother and an Italian father, moved to Africa. This new form became popular in Italy with her family t tribal Africa over the next few decades, and is aly with her Tamuly to escape tidal con- flicts. On Jidka, she sings in her native called soukous (meaning "to shake", after a Somali and moves closer to her roots. She popular dance). This collection contains dedicates her songs to young Somali women many rumba and soukous classics from the (especially those who fled the wars), sings 1940s through to the 1990s. Its easy, loping local lullabies, and makes a heartfelt plea for gaythms with swinging home and sou voral the transformation of her beleaguered cul- S$ S Jazz. . ture. A fine, frank-hearted CD. ONE by Jamshied Sharifi Ceres Records, USA, 2007 (50mins) Distributors: Australia—Fuse Music, tel (02) 9699 7555; USA—Ceres Records, http://www.ceresrecords.com amshied Sharifi's second solo album One blends cultures and performers, producing a mix of world rhythms and contemporary western sounds. On the album are Persian vocalist Sussan Deyhim of Tehran and north Indian vocalist Vishal Vaid, whose ancient technique of Ghazal singing creates the per- fect balance to Sharifi's hauntingly beautiful compositions. The opening track starts with layered instrumentation, helping Tibetan ROUGH GUIDE TO CONGO GOLD by various artists World Music Network, UK, 2008 (74mins) Distributors: Aust—Destra, tel (07) 3457 5000; UK—WMN, tel 020 7498 5252, http://www.worldmusic.net umba came from the Congo in the late 1930s as a reinvented music that mar- ried traditional Congolese and other African musical forms with those of the Caribbean and South America, which also came via Africa. This new form became popular in Africa over the next few decades, and is called soukous (meaning "to shake", after a popular dance). This collection contains many rumba and soukous classics from the 1940s through to the 1990s. Its easy, loping rhythms with swinging horns and soft vocal harmonies give a nod towards jazz. Cool! ONE by Jamshied Sharifi Ceres Records, USA, 2007 (50mins) Distributors: Australia—Fuse Music, tel (02) 9699 7555; USA—Ceres Records, http:/Awww.ceresrecords.com amshied Sharifi's second solo album One blends cultures and performers, producing a mix of world rhythms and contemporary western sounds. On the album are Persian vocalist Sussan Deyhim of Tehran and north Indian vocalist Vishal Vaid, whose ancient technique of Ghazal singing creates the per- fect balance to Sharifi's hauntingly beautiful compositions. The opening track starts with layered instrumentation, helping Tibetan JUNE — JULY 2008 NEXUS +77 www.nexusmagazine.com