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Listen and then buy the DVD

Advantages: Amazing voice and energy
Disadvantages: None

Fans of Mariza have been waiting for a live concert CD, and this one comes from what seemingly was a wonderful night in Belem. 'Barco Negro' and 'Quando me sinto so' appear on the DVD but are omitted from the CD. However, with 16 tracks who's complaining. The recording is excellent with great presence in the voice. She sings her way through various songs of hers and traditional ones too, highlighting her amazing voice and talent. When i bought this ...

shindymindy 14.06.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Concerto Em Lisboa - Mariza

Good for clubbers.

Advantages: There are 2 CDs, each with a different ambience.
Disadvantages: Not very traditional.

When I bought this CD, I was expecting traditional sounds with a drum and bass backbeat possibly, as the thing that draws me to arabic music is the vocals, and the range of sounds that amazingly eminate from one persons mouth. They have two CDs No. 1 : The Casbah, faster remixes suited to dancing. and No. 2 : The Majlis, this is when you sit, chill and smoke some hookah, whilst listening to the slower jams. Unfortunately, they have not only remixed ...
...the vocals. Some of the songs can be a tad too long, clocking up to 7/8 minutes, which doesn't seem too bad, that's if you like said song in the first place. But, don't get me wrong, I still enjoy listening to it, but as soon as I come across a good revamped modernised arabic CD with original vocals, this one is going to be gathering some dust. ...

mavimelek 13.05.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Arabian Nights Vol.1 (Club & Chillout Classics) - Various Artists

I know I review odd albums…but someone's got to!

Advantages: African Western Fusion
Disadvantages: Production sounds a bit 80's

...I was introduced to when in South Africa. Perhaps there is something about being in that amazing country, but driving through gorgeous scenery, with fabulous people with the sun blazing down hearing the lyrics "I'm searching for the spirit of the Great Heart, Under African sky" struck a chord. I admit if you've never been to Africa, or South Africa, this might not do the same! Johnny Clegg was actually born in Rochdale, Lancashire, he lived in Israel ...
...to SA. Having lived in a black society, attending a black school, and having black friends the culture shock of moving back to apartheid South Africa and attending a white middle-class boarding school obviously had a huge impact on his life, his career and his music. At 14, Johnny began playing guitar and through this he met Mntonganazo Mzila, a Zulu cleaner, who played street music near Johnny's home in Johannesburg. For two years Johnny learned ...

Lalsey 19.05.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of In My African Dream (The Best Of Johnny Clegg & Savuka) - Johnny Clegg & Savuka

Introducing... Warsaw Village Band ~ 'Uprooting'

Advantages: Exciting; unique; passionate; challenging
Disadvantages: Well, it's in Polish, so some may find that a disadvantage...

In recent years, the little-known Warsaw Village Band have risen from obscurity to earn some much deserved recognition, playing several high-profile festivals including Glastonbury 09, and even clinching the Best Newcomer award at the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards in 2004. 'Uprooting' is a fine example of the band's capability, and also of their potential to grow and continue. Comprising six young musicians from Poland's capital, the band blend ...
...passionate and hypnotising set of tracks which should be essential listening for any music fan. I had the honour of first hearing the band when they performed at Musicport Festival 2008, a very surreal experience indeed as they were supporting Rolf Harris! Their set consisted of many of the tracks from 'Uprooting'. The performance put on by the band was both aurally and visually stunning, in part due to their incorporation in their music of many ...

littlewiggle 25.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Uprooting - Warsaw Village Band

'JOANNA...A Hymn of Devotion

Advantages: incredibly underrated music very well produced and presented
Disadvantages: none

...Devotion’ James Young's Joanna was made on the battered upright piano in his house - an instrument most pianists would reject without a moment's hesitation. Bad pianos - in pubs, bars, clubs, cafes and the parental home - are the bane of musicians and music teachers: the sustain pedal doesn't work; the felts are worn; mezzopiano is indistinguishable from fortissimo. And that's before you get on to the problem of keeping it in tune. Players develop ...
...wisdom on its head. Joanna is a hymn of devotion that both dignifies and delights in his old piano's imperfections. As Billy Jenkins wrote in Notes on Crap Pianos: "Years of warp and deterioration have ripened each mechanical artefact into its own unique sound. Do not attempt music scored for a good piano." Young describes his piano as "a ready-made that needed to be celebrated for its intrinsic peculiarities". There are antecedents: Virginia Astley's ...

JLWguardian 28.10.2009 · Read full review

Review of Joanna - James Young