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| This month we shine a little light on up-and-coming World Music label, Global Beat Records. Based in New York, Global Beat currently carries five ethnically and musically diverse acts. Below is a collection of short reviews covering the latest releases from all five groups on the Global Beat label. The recording quality of all the discs was fantastic and the liner notes and overall presentations were interesting and high-quality. It's nice to see that music relegated to the very back bins at most record stores doesn't have to look and sound like it belongs there! |
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| Artist: | "WAYQUAY" |
| Title: | "TRIBAL GRIND" |
| Rating: |  |
| Wayquay is a Native American songstress with a taste for rhythm and an acerbic lyrical philosophy that spans from politics to social inequities to stereotypes and discrimination. Her sound is something like a cross between New York performance artist Laurie Anderson and Neneh Cherry -- two names you might not associate together. It's a sound that grabs -- not always in a good way, but a sound that is interesting nonetheless. Blending spoken word and singing with club beats and sparse often musical accompaniment, Wayquay's oft serious, oft tongue-in-cheek lyrical style is what makes this offering pull slightly ahead of the masses. I have to wonder if the Native American samples and chants are a testament to the woman's ethnicity, or a gimmick to sell records -- this isn't really Native American music, and the ethnic touches sometimes get in the way and muddy things up more than they enhance the experience. Overall though, I like the style and she has an interesting way of getting her point across. Buy this for depth of lyrics, maybe for style, but not so much for musical content. |
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| Artist: | "TIAN" |
| Title: | "SHANGHAI DREAM" |
| Rating: |  |
| In some circles, Chinese-born Tian is being touted as a virtuoso. He has wowed audiences with his spirited and energetic piano concerts the world over and has made several memorable stops here in the States. He's been featured on "CBS Sunday Morning" and National Public Radio and he's even played Carnegie Hall -- something most musicians only dream about. "Shanghai Dream" is the first recording of Tian's own original compositions. This is a delightful album. Interesting from start to finish, this is more than just a fancy, stiff-collared collection of classical piano pieces. Instead, each track is brimming with wonderful pop melodies, at once delicate and complicated, but never boring. Though I'm not usually one to really appreciate extended piano pieces, I found myself immediately attracted to the light, refreshing music -- this wasn't stuffy or over-powering at all! "Shanghai Dream" would make a great backdrop for a romantic, candle-lit dinner. Also (as I've found out first-hand), Tian's classical pop melodies are a great stress buster -- especially when you have deadlines staring you in the face! If, like me, the thought of an hour-odd worth of Classical piano scares you, don't be put off by Tian's "Shanghai Dram". It's a slice of heaven! |
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| Artist: | "SYMBIOSE" |
| Title: | "SYMBIOSE" |
| Rating: |  |
If there is any such thing as generic World Music, "Symbiose" is something like what I would expect to fall into that category. Musical and cultural boundaries frequently cross, creating an interesting, if somewhat predictable set of ten songs. On the plus side, I enjoyed the funked-up beats and diverse instrumentation. Several songs, not the least of which being the first track, "I Need Love", could stand shoulder to shoulder with anything currently making the rotation on the club circuit. On the minus side, I couldn't help but notice the similarity between the vocals of Philo and Lolo and those of Youssou N'dour. I wouldn't go so far as to say that "Symbiose" is copying N'dour's style, because there's plenty of evidence to the contrary, but the similarity in several of the songs was somewhat disappointing since these two brothers have incredibly versatile voices and could have gone in a much more versatile direction. Of note on "Symbiose" are the tracks "Change" and "Made A Promise". "Change" is a low-key, but incredibly smooth and spirited ballad. "Made A Promise" is a soulful track featuring a brilliant vocal performance by Toni Antoinette Ridley. These tracks alone are worth the purchase price of the whole disc. "Symbiose" is Pop music with a strong World flavor, or is it World music with a strong Pop flavor? Whatever the answer, it's up to you -- I think you'll find this one enjoyable either way. |
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| Artist: | "THE COCONUTHEADS" |
| Title: | "THE COCONUTHEADS" |
| Rating: |  |
Maybe it's me, but I just can't seem to enjoy Caribbean music unless I'm in the tropics, sucking on a Pina Colada. It's not that this is bad music, to the contrary this Miami band led by Greg Istock and Valerie Wenz has found its musical niche. They've been around for over ten years and are currently one of the most sought after bands in South Florida. As far as the genre goes, "The Coconutheads" is one of the better sounding discs I've heard. It's just that the Caribbean sound is so damned predictable -- after a couple tracks my mind begins to wander and I lose interest. It all starts to sound the same and I'm still sitting here in an Arctic deep-freeze -- I can't even run outside and play in the sand, because the sand is under three feet of snow. So maybe you understand what I'm saying . . . how do you appreciate the Miami/Carib sound if a shirtless afternoon outside means a trip to the Emergency Room with a wicked case of frostbite? Buy this if you want to get up and dance to some well-played Caribbean sounds, but if you're anywhere on the the globe near where I am, make sure you stoke that wood stove first! |
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| Artist: | "TERRACOTTA" |
| Title: | "TERRACOTTA" |
| Rating: |  |
I had to save the best for last. This is an absolutely brilliant powerhouse of an album that nearly blew me off my feet with the first track and didn't let go until I, completely unsated after a complete go-through, had to press the repeat button and do it all over again! "Terracotta" is a collection of instrumental influences that leave almost no corner of the globe without representation. The compositions are interesting and dynamic, breathing life into the hybrid music and turning it into an entity in and of itself, pulsing with life. While the combination of synth, sitar, brass and strings may sound like a cacophony waiting to happen, let me assure you that "Terracotta" tames these wayward sounds and brings them together in a collection of tunes that borders on pure genius. The only thing missing from this set is a strong vocal presence, but for once in my life I have to say that vocals might do more to detract from the music than add to it. This disc is just that perfect! Don't take my word for it though, you have to hear this one for yourself! If you are looking for one CD that showcases REAL World Music, music with no boundaries -- culturally, musically or otherwise, then "Terracotta" is THE one disc you absolutely need to own! |
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