Various Artists: Beginner’s Guide To World Music:

Elly Roberts reviews

Various Artists: Beginner’s Guide To World Music:
World Cup Limited Edition
Distributed by
Nascente Records

    Cover

  • Released: May 2006
  • Format: 3-disc Boxset
  • Rating: 10/10

With the FIFA World Cup fast approaching, out come the predictable musical ‘soundtracks’.

Away from the ubiquitous fast buck trend of forthcoming singles releases, andterrace anthems, comes the bona-fide crème-de-la-crème of world music.

It celebrates cultural diversity as well as highlighting shared musicalvisions and philosophies. Unless you’re a multi-linguist, you’re going tohave some comprehension problems, not that it actually matters – this is afeast for the ears anyway.

With a bumper 32 tracks straddling across a 3-CD boxset, making it awelcomed and refreshing release. The CD sampler of 11 tracks gives an insightinto the massive talent that doesn’t normally get an airing on such globaloccasions.

Legendary rootsman Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry joins Dutch-Brazilian trio Zuco 103,fronted by Lilian Viera on a lightweight reggae beauty.Ghana is represented by Captain Ya with a sassy Afro-funk dance orientatedIsaac Hayes sounding boogie. Ivory Coast star Dobet Gnahore, 23, now aMarseille resident shows her sublime vocals on the lightweight sways of Youne.


Multi-award winning 35 year old actor-singer-dancer Ayaovi ‘King’ Mensah,known as The Golden Voice of Togo, leads with a cultured vocal display on afloaty melody laden gem – Nana Benz. Italian folk legend Riccardo Tesibacked by his evergreen band Banditaliana is featured by his diatonic accordionsojourns on the uplifting Justin.

Berlin based 17 Hippies, who historically mix a blend of Cajun and Baroquemusic, stomp through a bright and breezy Hotel Cazane. Tunisian MC Rai,who specialised in native chaabi folk music in his early years, now embracesrai music, indigenous to neighbouring Algeria, fusing hip-hop and othermodern electronica.

A writer of more than 600 songs, wild gypsy abandonment follows with Serbianlegend Saban Bajramovic’s pulsatingly feisty Pena. Tango Negro Triobring some smouldering Argentinean tango via Paris based Juan Carlos Carceres’rusting ramblings, proving to be one of the major highlights.

Afro-Latin combo Cantoamerica, based in Costa Rica, and influenced by CubanSon, Salas and Calypso, delivers some sublime gentle Santana-like sways onCancion Del Oficio. Home-grown folk star Richard Thompson, formerly ofFairport Convention, adds his mercurial musicianship to self-penned gemOld Thames Sid from his 2005 release Front Parlour Ballads.

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The full list of tracks included are :

1. Love Is Queen Omega – (Feat. Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry) – Zuco 103 (Holland)
2. Yaba Funk – Captain Ya (Ghana)
3. Youne – Dobet Gnahore (Ivory Coast)
4. Nana Benz – King Mensah (Togo)
5. Justin – Riccardo Tesi & Banditaliana (Italy)
6. Hotel Cazane – 17 Hippies (Germany)
7. Rana Ca Va – MC Rai (Tunisia)
8. Pena – Saban Bajramovic (Serbia)
9. Viva El Candombe Negro – Tango Negro Trio (Argentina)
10. Cancion Del Oficio – Cantoamerica (Costa Rica)
11. Old Thames Side – Richard Thompson (England)

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