CMC | 88.1FM WYCE 4/2/09 11:05 AM WYCE Music Journal: Luminescent Orchestrii Neptune's Daughter March 16, 2009 Neptune's Daughter, by NYC's Luminescent Orchestrii, is an intriguing blend of traditional Romanian Gypsy folk songs, punk rock rhythm, bluesy vocals, and jazz improvisation. The Orchestrii, or small ensemble with orchestral intentions, is made up of a fiddler and guitarist from the NYC Theatre underground, a free-jazz bassist, and an old-time fiddler. The group toured extensively in Europe for a time, gaining much. Their music is not something you would expect to hear in modern America, but certainly welcome nonetheless. – Matt Kwiek Fula Flute Mansa America March 9, 2009 Sure, opening cut "Obama" (#1) feels like a bit of a novelty song after the 2008 election. But concentrate on the playing - especially Bailo Bah's and Sylvain Leroux's crazy good flute chops - instead of the foreign language words, and the track will win you over like everything else on the disc. This traditional-based Fulani music from the Fouta Djalon highlands of Guinea features complex balafon, kora, and flute solos that feel like the wellspring of American jazz, especially when paired with genuine jazz change-ups. But there's also a stateliness to the instrumentation that somehow seems classical. The two strains combine brilliantly on "Fouta Canada" (#5), thanks to a seamlessly integrated horn section. It's the Fulani flute that steals the show on "Lele"(#4) and "Boloba" (#6) via performances so physical, it's as if the flutist is trying to fit his entire body into the mouthpiece. The vocal interjections that punctuate these solos increase the crazy intensity of an already thrilling recording. - Bob Tarte Mishka Above the Bones March 9, 2009 Mishka's third album, Above the Bones, is a socially charged reggae album reminiscent of Bob Marley. Mishka appeals to his Bermudian heritage for a funky reggae feel, but cannot escape the folk and rock influences of his Canadian heritage. Above the Bones was an independent project produced by Mishka with the help of guitarist Darryl Thompson and the creative assistance of Matthew McConaughey. It's a free-spirited album, bringing new light to the reggae genre. – Intern Matt http://www.grcmc.org/radio/music.php?genre_letter=W Page 1 of 61 CMC | 88.1FM WYCE 4/2/09 11:05 AM Liz Carroll and John Doyle Double Play March 9, 2009 Two of the finest Celtic musicians, Liz Carroll and John Doyle have teamed up again to produce a beautiful collection of tunes. Carroll’s fiddling is as superb as ever, and Doyle’s guitar (and voice on three tracks) complement it nicely. If you enjoy Celtic music at all, this disc is for you. Of the three tracks with singing, my preference is “Down at the Wakehouse/The True Love of My Heart,” but you really can’t pick a bad track here. - Tim Smith LOS FABULOSOS CADILLACS LA LUZ DEL RITMO March 3, 2009 LOS FABULOSOS CADILLACS LA LUZ DEL RITMO Los Fabulosos Cadillacs has been described as “Argentina’s hippest musical export pumping Latin heat into punk, reggae and fun for a wild ride that demolishes borders.” I can’t agree more after a seven year absence LFC has provided us with this year’s ultimate party CD. Most tracks on this disc blend all the genres listed above into an infectious groove that would fill any dance floor with a lot of hot sweat drenched body’s. Most tracks are LFC originals with the exception of their masterful cover of the Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” If the Jammies or Grammy’s adds a category for best party CD of the year this disc should walk away with the award. Reviewed By: Gregg Saur Quick Links: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs Home Page Amazon MO' HORIZONS TEN YEARS OF January 27, 2009 MO HORIZONS TEN YEARS OF Mo’Horizons music has always been a little hard to describe, so I am going to try; Sexy, Seductive, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Dance, Funky, Electronica, Caribbean Beats, Original and fun music are just a few adjectives that describe Mo’ Horizons. Located in Lower Saxony Germany or as they call Boss Hanover, the duo of Ralf Droesemeyer and Mark Foh Weizer have release 4 terrific studio discs over the past 10 years. This disc would represent a terrific place to start for the unfamiliar listener as it captures some of the finest on these discs. The bonus remix disc is also well done and will be a must for all fans of this duo. This disc should find a permanent spot in your CD changer for a long time to come. Reviewed By: Gregg Saur Quick Links: All Music Guide Amazon http://www.grcmc.org/radio/music.php?genre_letter=W Page 2 of 61 CMC | 88.1FM WYCE 4/2/09 11:05 AM ROKIA TRAORE Tchamantche January 24, 2009 Singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Rokia Traore describes her music as "something contemporary with traditional instruments". This is Ms. Traore's fourth release. Her first one was released in 1998 and received the Radio France International Prize for African Discovery of the Year. This is a pretty album. It is comprised of Rokia's pleasing voice, a Gretsch guitar, the n'goni (a tiny West-African lute), classical harp, traditional percussion, and backing vocals. Human beat box, Sly Johnson, adds to the mix as well. I have to point out "Kounandi" as a nice piece featuring traditional harp and guitar keeping the beat for the lovely vocals. "Tounka" is nicely upbeat and features more of a pop sound with its kit drums. All these songs were written by Rokia, herself, except for the Gershwin piece, "The Man I Love", which was originally made popular by Billy Holiday. Reviewed by Rebecca Ruth. Quick Links: Rokia Traore's Website Nonesuch Records Website FEMI KUTI Day By Day January 1, 2009 Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Afrobeat founder and political activist, Fela Kuti, takes up his father's mantle with this mixture of Afrobeat and jazz, backed by the 17-member band Positive Force. Femi, like his late father, flirts with attracting the wrath of the Nigerian government as he decries corruption and encourages people to empower themselves. Some musicians face barriers that we can't imagine here. Femi mentions that he was particularly influenced by American jazz musicians in making this record, and that's most apparent in "They Will Run," "You Better Ask Yourself" and "Do You Know" (the latter is an instrumental after which he mentions many of the names of jazz greats). W-Africa 01/09 Michael J. Quick Links: Femi Kuti bio and music Femi's Myspace site LUCKY DUBE RETROSPECTIVE December 2, 2008 Inspired by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, South African Lucky Dube brought Reggae to the land of apartheid and used his recordings to speak endlessly about the need to end corruption, racism, Aids, poor education and black-on-black violence. Ironically, in 2007, at the age of 43, Dube fell victim to the http://www.grcmc.org/radio/music.php?genre_letter=W Page 3 of 61 CMC | 88.1FM WYCE 4/2/09 11:05 AM violence that he preached against during a random car-jacking. While that tragic event stilled an urgent voice of change, the world is left with the 22 albums he recorded in his too short life. This set collects some of the highlights from his career. Disc one is a standard music disc while disc two is a dvd concert recording. The first two tracks, "Baxolelemi" and "Abathakathi" on disc one are representative of the zulu party music (mbaganga) that fueled his career before he switched to English lyrics fueled by a Reggae beat. The balance of the set has much the same exuberance but is aimed at both your hips and your head. With a large band and back up choir in tow on most tracks the music hits has hard as the lyrics. Worthy of much spinnage! Smitty DELEON – DeLeon October 27, 2008 To classify DeLeon in any one category almost doesn’t seem fair. They’re not rock, pop, or world. Believe it or not, monikers like those aren’t vague enough to explain exactly what it is that DeLeon does. The result, built on a base of haunted 15th century Spanish shepherding music, is creepy, and deliciously weird. Along the vein of the Pogues and Gogol Bordello, DeLeon has taken an obscure sect of traditional European folk (this time Jewish, Spanish, and gypsy) and given it their own modern flavor, but instead of heavy punk infusion, there is an indie-ish hip-hop and dub presence that really sets them apart. It leaves the listener feeling cloudy and strange. The whole album plays like chocolate with chili pepper on a cold evening in the woods with no moon. It’s that kind of weird, and that kind of good. The lyrics bounce from Spanish to Hebrew to English incoherently at times, and as with most English translations, come out a little corny but the positively baleful and gorgeous voice of singer Daniel Saks more than compensates. This guy is their ace in the hole and has found the perfect nest amidst this mash-up of drum machines, electric guitars, and more traditional sounds. Good to play front to back so you can enjoy it’s intensity and almost painful (think the Smiths a little) joy, DeLeon has come up with a sound that stays with you long after the album is over.