The French Saxophone

Advantages: mind boggling
Disadvantages: won't tell you what to think say or do if that is what you want

...Tourist is it seems, to me, underground and or experimental in its sound. With this album you can be a sound hearer hearing new songs played and heard for the first like you are one of the hippest people around. I would be happy if lots of us on Ciao got together and bought this album. Or we could download it off the internet either by paying for it as we have been told to on the news or steal it as we are expected to do by the thought police. Every track on Tourist is good they are sung in English although it is a French album. In order they are Rose Rouge which in English means red rose. It has vocals, trumpet and drums. Montego Bay Spleen is in a dub style with drumming, guitar and organ but no vocals. So Flute is a manic flute. Land Of is a Blues organ and piano drums and saxophone. Latin Note is a piano xylophone and shaker... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Highly Skilled. Refined. Beautiful.
Disadvantages: None

...Anouar Brahem's 4th album. Anouar Brahem is the world's finest musician. In 1991, Barzakh submerged us into the deepest exotism imaginable and confirmed both Brahem's geographical roots as well as his Occidental influences. In 1992, Conte de L'incroyable Amour plunged us into a world of profound meditation and expansion upon the already vast landscapes of Barzakh. In 1995, Khomsa inculcated a strong French folklore and a unique freejazz form into the equation. An incredible piece of work. And finally, in 1998, Brahem released Thimar. Back in 1995, he had played alongside Richard Galliano, François Couturier, Jean Marc Larché, Béchir Selmi, Palle Danielsson and Jon Christensen. This time, In Thimar, Brahem plays alongside 2 new artists: Double-bassist Dave Holland and Soprano-Saxophonist and Bass-Clarinettist John Surman. Thimar... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Superb artist that merits attention.
Disadvantages: French language may put some people off trying his music.

...I have been listening to French music for the past ten years, and in doing so have seen new singers come and go, have compared styles, and none has impressed me as much as that produced in the new album of Raphael. Having heard the lead song of the album entitled "Caravane", I wanted to know more about the artist, but also about the other songs, and whose influence had rubbed off on this young and relatively unheard of singer. Raphael Haroche is a little of an enigma in the French music business, and has a style that I would describe as almost gypsy in its' seeming freedom of expression and melody, and at the tender age of 29, is an accomplished musician, with a wealth of instrumental experience behind him, playing piano, saxophone and guitar. His earlier influences by singers such as Bowie, Dylan, Jacques Brel, and Noir Desir don... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful