World Music

[Bob]

So, how much "World Music" do you listen to?

I guess I discovered this genre with Deep Forest.
I quickly found that not understanding what someone was actually singing did not spoil my enjoyment of the music (must have been the experience of growing up surrounded by Welsh speakers and not understanding a word).

I have since found my collection of World Music growing at every opportunity.

Here are some of my current favourites:-
Deep Forest
Baka Beyond
Trilok Gurtu
1 Giant Leap
Afro Celt Sound System (now just AfroCelts)
Dreamcatcher
Gotan Project (French/Argentinian)
Paul Mounsey (NahooToo)
Angelique Kidjo

Perhaps not World Music, a lot of the "folk" music I listen to also relies on a foreign tongue, that of Gaelic and certainly as a sung language one that can be musical just on its own. Having an uncle tour the world with a Welsh Male Voice Choir, has also probably helped!!

Music really does cross cultural boundaries, leaving language behind and just allowing the listener to enjoy the 'sound' of the voice, even when the words are not understood.

[eustacescrubb]

I dig AfroCelt Sound System as well. I also am partial to a lot of Scottish and Irish music - Dougie McClaen and the Cheiftains especially.

There's an African artist named Geoffrey Oryema I dig. And I enjoy Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn in small doses.

[iamic]

I can't understand what half the artists I listen to are saying, and they're singing in English! Mostly the punk stuff. One group I listen to is a Japanese post-punk band called Nine Days Wonder. They sing in English, but god only knows what they are saying. I don't really care though because I never really listen to lyrics all that much anyway - I just enjoy rocking out to the rifs, beats, melodies, harmonies, etc.

[Jackonicko]

Very little, I'm afraid.

Urban Species are a French bunch who are very good, and I have the odd Welsh band on the iPod, but otherwise most of it's from the civilised world ....... ;) (JOKE!)

[randydecker]

Check them out. Oh, and Runrig too.

[papa_t]

there's so much great music produced outside of north america and western europe. a lot of it is innovative, interesting and beautiful. not understanding the lyrics is not always a hindrance. i love salif keita, youssouf n'dour, nusrat fatih ali khan, ali faka touré etc without even knowing what language they are singing in sometimes. the emotion just comes across somehow.

if you want to hear something different try charlie gillett's programme on the bbc. great music played by a very experienced and knowledgable dj.

:)

[casa~la~rocka]

The Best of Bollywood- various artists

I love Bollywood- it's campy and exotic at the same time.

[bdb]

I always liked "Mi Tierra" by Gloria Estefan. Its always poo-pooed by Cuban music enthusiasts, but its great music (and once you hear it a few times, you'll notice it in a lot of movie soundtracks).

Love the Gotan Project! Madrid De Los Austrias is also similar.

Putumayo sells some compilations that vary from mediocre to very good. I like "Music of the Coffee Lands" and "Travel the World with Putumayo".

Césaria Évora is pretty old (if she's still alive), but she sang some amazing music. I was truely expecting not to like it.

And I guess it falls into the "World Music" category - I was really into Hawaiian music a few years ago. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is fantastic. And I love Hawaiian slack key guitar (and play it a bit).

I can't say I listen to this music all that much. I simply don't have time to listen to every thing I want. This is good music to listen to at work; since I can't understand the lyrics, they don't distract me. I often listen to quiet accordian music while working (e.g. Astor Piazzolla).

[toothpaste]

Ravi Shankar from India
Kitaro From Japan
Ali Farka Toure from Africa
Kodo from Japan.

[Sypher]

I like Afrobeat (Fela Kuti, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra) and also Baile Funk from Brazil. Then I have a little Russian folk music stuff, and I guess foreign hip hop (French mainly.. Saian Supa Crew, Akhenaton, IAM, Alliance Ethnik, MC Solaar,) and reggae/dub might kinda count.

Urban Species are a French bunch who are very good
They're British aren't they?

[toothpaste]

Booba came to mind (French hip hop).

[Indijunkey]

Lets keep this post going I have been dieing to find some more world beats. Music produced in a diffrent language than I speak is some of the most beautiful music I have found. Also I want to find great spanish music (Gotan project amazing!!) b/c I am becomeing more fluent in spanish and this is helping me to translating quicker. I am also looking for french music for the same reason. I love world music b/c simply put some amazing vocals and instrumental sounds can be found in this genre.

Post all of the world bands you have on your ipod thanks.

[toothpaste]

Edith Piaf ITMS Link (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=82055)

Women of Istanbul ITMS link (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=68841379&s=143441)

Women of Rembetica ITMS link (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=2709114&s=143441)

Check those out.

[ecluley]

Chartwell Dutiro.
Hes a Zimbabwean Mbira player (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbira) who is utterly amazing. Also look out for Spirit Talk Mbira, there great to. You may find some of his cds in Virgin or a big music store or order online from

double U double U double U = www

double U double U double U.dandemutande.org/Catalog/?cat=Music&subcat=Mbira%20&artist=DutiroChartwell

Or here:

double U double U double U.sternsmusic.com/discography/837

thats better coz you can get some samples of some of the stuff of "TaTenDa" (his new one) and the Live CD.

I have TaTenDa (i met him and he gave me a copy!) and I love it, its great.

If your wanting Scottish/Irish music try Tiller's Folly, Flogging Molly, The Pogues, Flook (no lyrics but some amazing Celtic music) Ardrosan (not sure how too spell it but there BRILLIANT, also not sure where to find them! There from Tennesee. Got bagpipes)

[geistwerks]

World music has always seemed to be to broad a term for me.

I mean, some small mall record stores always dumped reggae into the world section. When those used to exist.

Some music outside of the box:

O Yuki Conjugate: Electronically produced ethnic music. Very ethereal, borders on being ambient. I've been told by someone who's worked with Cirque Du Soleil that some of O Yuki's pieces would be perfect for their performances. I have no idea what that means.

Muslimgauze: The most controversial producer. Ever. Although you never heard of him. But he was. Middle eastern music with an unspoken political bite. Early works were edgy with very little "modern" production techniques. Later styles incoporated techno, dub, and glitch into the mix. His back catalog is extensive, and spotty. Consult AllMusic for help navigating the field. My personal favorite is "Veiled Sisters."

Dead Can Dance: You could never really pin them into an easy to categorize genre. If you were into 4AD, you just knew they were great.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Ha! Yeah. I don't expect most people to get this. I don't expect people to believe me when I say that of all music ever made, this guy had the most amazing voice. Seriously. Sorry, Aretha. You are runner-up, Ms. Franklin.

Woob: Heard of The Orb? Besides them, the ambient house movement was rocked by Woob. Loads of ethnic samples. Probably doesn't belong on this list, but what the heck.

Banco de Gaia: Everytime I hear someone mention Deep Forest I cringe. I hated them so much once upon a time. "How could people love Deep Forest but have never heard BdG?" When you listen to "Last Train to Lhasa," you can thank me later.

Augustus Pablo: Reggae that sounds like it's from the middle east? With a frickin' toy instrument? I love Pablo. He was one of the most brilliant minds in reggae.

Sheilia Chandra: This is what angels sound like. 'Nuff said.

Feli Kuti: You saw this coming. I know. He's the man! You know the list of "men's men" that Rush Limbaugh wanted to be on? I ain't checked that list out, but if Feli ain't number one, that list is bullcrap!

Kodo: Always cool.

Rhythm Devils: Because this is where many of us got our start in world music.

I'll shut up now. That's one messed up list.