World > Irish World > British > Welsh > Celtic > Scottish > D > I

Advantages: composition, vocals
Disadvantages: none

Anybody can recognize "The Girl From Ipanema", it's a classic. But where did it come from? Where did Bossa Nova spread its roots? Pianist Tom Jobim is credited for the composition of most of the classic Bossa Nova standards, but is was João Gilberto who took these standards, and interpreted on the guitar what we now identify as Bossa Nova. By harmonizing the chords on the guitar with the traditional Brazilian Samba rhythm, Gilberto evolved Jobims' ...
...virtuous, but what really captures me is his voice. He sings with a "blown" quality as if he is blowing air from his gut, which produces an intimate close-to-the-microphone sound. It's possible to hear his lips smacking dryly during the pronounciation of certain words, and he has an excellent vocal amplitude, using mostly low-pitched but well chosen notes. This album is fun to compare to his other work, as over the years his performances have become ... Read review

Advantages: Very spiritual atmosphere with perfect vocals, chorus and flute.
Disadvantages: Track 7 which feel odd to the others

...in flute solo. Incantation is voted as a best new age album of 1999 in New Age Voice Magazine. "Incantation is an exploration of my inner journey to a place of open-heartedness" Tim says. Tim has done a perfect job in his flute solo and vocals, almost all tracks with a harmonic chorus and female soprano vocals perfectly boost up a very spiritual atmosphere of the music. Some tracks add in a bit of oriental element. The highest climax of this album ...
...came to the early parts of the album and after that you may fall asleep to the rest! It should have another one or two climaxes follow up. Track to track 1 En Trance ~ 5/5 The album opening with a dramatic drum play and a strange female vocal, a nice start in a very energetic and soothing melody. Then follow by a segment of instrument play, thereafter a flute floating in the air. The flute, the percussion, the female vocal and the chorus playing ... Read review

Advantages: Pleasant pop music
Disadvantages: Some dodgy vocals, a few lacklustre numbers

I am sure I can't be the only person to wonder how that diminutive Frenchman Nicolas Sarkozy managed to hook one of the world's most beautiful women. There must be plenty of men - and perhaps women - who've dreamed of spending a cosy night in with the very gorgeous Italian actress, model and now French "First Lady", Carla Bruni. Of course, it's one thing to think about "doing it" with her; now we all know she's in the sack with HIM and frankly that's ...
...the covers. Carla Bruni may be Italian but this album is decidedly French. If you were a teenager who sniggered at the very mention of French pop music it's time to grow up and be a bit more open-minded. Even if you don't understand this album is worth a listen for the pleasing combination of simple tunes and Bruni's breathy vocals. She's not the world's greatest singer by any stretch of the imagination - she even strays from the tune here and there ... Read review

Advantages: Some catchy numbers, Hysni Zela's vocals
Disadvantages: Not all wedding music, not enough Hysni Zela, over-produced

...are not unknown in traditional Albanian music, there has never been the tradition of brass bands such as this. Although the band members are all serious and (very talented) musicians, they decided to form a brass band as a joke to create a tradition that never existed - brass bands travelling from town to town playing traditional music at weddings which is very common in the other Balkan countries of Southern Europe. Even if all that never existed ...
...styles and sounds that reflects Albanian culture and history. It was only in the latter part of the twentieth century that the doors of Albania were closed to the rest of the world. Before that Albania, like her Balkan neighbours, was a meeting point of east and west. For centuries Turkey - or more correctly the Ottoman Empire - was the dominant force in this part of Europe and there are obvious reminders of this in the songs on this CD. There are ... Read review

Advantages: masterpiece
Disadvantages: none

As soon as I heard the first song from this album, I immediately said to myself it is surely 'that fellow' (Djivan Gasparian) who plays the duduk so masterfully in the soundtrack of 'Gladiator'. I have listened to this soundtrack literally hundreds of times, the powerful music of that living genius Hans Zimmer. I heard the same poignant notes of suffering and courage. I immediately bought the album with total confidence, unheard. Well, in fact it ...
...it is all the same, for I discovered that Minassian was a student of Gasparian, and I find that the student has become the master. Words are inadequate for describing any music, since music has a direct electrical contact to the soul, whereas words are filtered and interpreted by the mind. Yet I will try to describe the indescribable. Hearing each song for the first time, our bruised and blistered soul seems to recognise an old refrain and flows ... Read review