World > African World > South African > Wrasse/Universal Music

Advantages: Beautiful a cappella, strong voices.
Disadvantages: Lanuage may be a bit of a barrier.

...male voices singing a cappella in Zulu, and sometimes in English. I know that it may be difficult to be tempted to buy an album that is largely sung in a language that defies understanding, because admittedly, not an awful lot of people in the UK speak or understand Zulu. But don't allow that to put you off. These gentlemen have the unique talent of being able to sing, and very beautifully too, completely unaccompanied by musical instruments, and ...
...Is there any point in actually supplying a list of titles in Zulu, since I cannot tell you what they mean, and I felt that perhaps it would just put you off the CD altogether. The main point of the way I wrote this op is that in spite of the language difference, I urge you just to simply LISTEN. That should convince you of the worthiness of this music.) ... Read review

Advantages: Musicality
Disadvantages: None

I completely agree on the review I read in deflamenco.com which, together with a recommandation from a good friend was the reason why I bought this record. The review is so well formulated that I will refer some of it: " El Pele has three very distinct characteristics which set him apart from all other cantaores: 1) he has a very unique voice, something like a fingerprint, which is highly recognizable; 2) he is capable of reaching notes well higher ...
...of melody, which he uses to broaden the possibilities within traditional flamenco." This is a great recording with great artist! If you like flamenco and you like both technic and tempo, accompanied by great emotion, this must be a true hit. Buy it before it is to late. It is very hard to get hold of. ... Read review

Advantages: Top quality Russian folk music
Disadvantages: Lyrics will be hard for non Russian speakers to understand

...quite psychedelic. This album - Voice Letter is their only to date and was released in September 2007. This is an excellent band that are not particularly known in Russia nor even Germany outside of certain circles but are superb musicians none the less and have created an album full of gentle timeless tracks. Musicians Irina Doubrovskaja - Keyboards, Accordion, Vocal Leonid Soybelman - Guitar Mikhail Zhukov - Percussion Sergey Vorontsov - Bass, ...
...Drums Translated Titles 1. Beside myself to you I came 2:33 2. Hey, Gangway! 3:58 3. The gold prospector 2:22 4. Still waters 3:44 5. Antediluvian 2:35 6. Bevelled glasses 1:54 7. And why? 2:30 8. Cranes 4:37 9. Upon the earth 1:48 10. Tsaritsino station 2:20 11. The mushroom hunter 4:41 12. Eh, Kalina 4:14 13. Went and drank 3:13 14. How here's how 4:02 Total playing time 44:33 ... Read review

Advantages: Unique vocals
Disadvantages: Repetitive

...a 2 part CD and Bile refers to the Czech word for white rather than the pukey substance - though that would work too! The romani violinist has the most insane of voices, it's a warble come hiccup of a sound yet remains not just interesting but also pleasant too. However the novelty of what is a very very unique voice soon wears off and the music created by the duo has more of a Czech/Polish folk sound than that of a roma one, so it's therefore more ... Read review

Advantages: Still rather unique
Disadvantages: Sounds quite similar to modern pop

...I had bought for resale. Aye by Angelique Kidjo is supposedly said to be her best album and it was released in 1994 on the Fontana Island label. I was pretty disappointed, it wasn't what I expected at all. I expected a modernised version of West African roots music but found that this artist from Benin had more in common to today's crap pop than pop at its best and there was not enough of the African sound for my liking. This I blame on the US and ...
...it was a bit ahead of its time as it has a lot in common with current pop. Her voice for whatever reason just didn't have the smooth sound that I had expected, this may have something to do with me not being a great fan of soprano voices. 1. Agolo 2. Adouma 3. Azan Nan Kpe 4. Tatchedogbe 5. Djan - Djan 6. Lon Lon Vadjor 7. Houngbati 8. Idje - Idje 9. Yemandja 10. Tombo ... Read review