CD Review: Seka Gong Taruna Mekar Orchestra feat. Wayne Vitale and I Made Arnawa

Seka Gong Taruna Mekar Orchestra feat. Wayne Vitale and I Made Arnawa
Makrokosma Bali
Vital Records

Initially a science-focus, Makrokosma Bali eventually centered on Balinese culture and philosophy over the four years of its development. The universal microcosm and macrocosm of human existence and humankind's orientation within the universe is showcased with the different sounds. The gamelan instrumentation is more pronounced and varied than the previously-reviewed album, also from Vital Records. The ensemble consists of twenty-five musicians. "Kerang Kering" is a vocal track with rhythmic chanting, speaking, and nature sounds without instrumental accompaniment. The five other tracks contain traditional tunes that are perfect for the Balinese student or aficionado of Indonesian gamelan music. This is a fine example of gamelan music produced in Bali with an American participating in the music-making process (Wayne Vitale). ~ Matthew Forss 

CD Review: Charmaine Clamor's 'My Harana: A Filipino Serenade'

Charmaine Clamor

My Harana: A Filipino Serenade

FreeHam Records

The heartfelt melodies and love songs known as harana were frequently performed by men through the 1950's to win affection for young women by playing a guitar outside the window of a potential female suitor. Now, Charmaine Clamor tackles these songs and highlights the musical culture of the Philippines in the process. Twelve songs are included in eight different languages and dialects, including English, Tagalog, Kapampangan, Ilocano, Ilonggo, Pangasinan, Bisaya, and Bicolano. The sultry vocals and passionate guitar, bandurria, laud, kutiyapi, bass, kulintang, and percussion provide an almost Latin American, flamenco, or even Hawaiian sound. Charmaine's addictive voice carries each song with simplistic pleasure. The songs are light and crisp with a lot of room to breath. If you like folk or jazz vocals in multiple languages, then you will love Charmaine. English lyrics are provided with native languages and dialects. Let her seduce you today! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Sound of Siam - Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz & Molam [1964-75]

Various Artists

The Sound of Siam - Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz & Molam [1964-1975]

Soundway Records

The vinyl sounds of Thailand in the 1960's and 70's signaled a rise in various styles popularized in the cities and rural areas. The music of luk krung contains a longer running time than luk thung, or country music, and it is more instrumental. Molam is indigenous to the northeastern part of Thailand and it involves faster vocals, a mouth organ (khaen), a lute (phin), and a bowed violin (sor). Despite the fairly rudimentary classification, The Sounds of Siam... incorporate psychedelic guitars, groovy bass-lines, and hints of Latin or African influences. Many of the tracks are catchy, including "Lam Tung Wai", "Lam Toey Chaweewan", "Mae Kha Som Tam", and the instrumental hit "Soul Lam Plearn". The male and female vocals are passionate, funky, and never boring. The funk-ladened "Sao Lam Plearn" is very attractive. At any rate, the folks at Soundway Records have captured the musical pinnacle of Siam's yesteryear. Numerous obscure bands never-before-released outside southeast Asia are prizes for anyone into the psychedelic, funk-driven, folk music of Thailand. A detailed 24-page booklet includes music background and band/song information. The Sounds of Siam... put the fun in funk! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Myanmar Meets The West

Khing Zin Shwe & Shwe Shwe Khaing

Voice Over The Bridge

EarthSync

Khing Zin Shwe and Shwe Shwe Khaing are both Myanmarese singers that have studied the classical and traditional songs of Myanmar's distant past. Using the Maha Gita, which is a classical work of songs praising kings as early as the thirteenth-century, the singers convey delicate moods and emotions with their angelic vocalizations. The addition of contemporary instrumentation 'updates' traditional music by immersing the listener in electronic washes of color with classical strings, piano, drums, flute, guitar, bass, and contrabass. The melding of East-meets-West is not an unfamiliar concept, though it is rare to find any music coming out of Myanmar today. Rarity aside, Voice Over The Bridge echoes the sounds of the East and the West with a sense of epic serenity. Listeners may also be interested in the film and music of the Laya Project (EarthSync, 2010), which features the music of Southeast Asia. Experience Myanmar for yourself! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Meet The Women of Lake Sebu

Various Artists
Philippines: Women Artists of Lake Sebu
Buda Records

One of the most exciting releases of 2008, Women Artists of Lake Sebu is a collection of talented women in the village of Dekolon from the southern part of Phillipines. The instrumental and vocal music on this album is the result of a poetic saga from the Tudbulul Epic, which gave birth to the Tboli nation. In fact, the collective of women singers call themselves Lemhadong, which is named from the location where Tudbulul organized a musical concert in the 1800's. The Tboli society inhabited the mountains around Lake Sebu at the south of the Mindanao Island in the Philippines. The Tboli society's close connection with nature is a primary impetus for musical creation and instrumentation. Many of the tracks include rooster calls, rain, water, birds, frogs, and insects. The instruments include wooden lutes, branches, sticks, leaf horns, reed-whistles, bamboo flutes, fiddles, jaw harps, gongs, and zithers. Only a handful of vocal songs are incorporated, which provide a unique aesthetic listening experience as the instruments and nature sounds envelop the aural landscape. Liner notes are included for each track in French and English. This is ideal for fans of lutes, Indonesian/Sasandu string music, and gong music, though everyone should include the Women Artists of Lake Sebu as part of their listening repertoire. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Music From Southern Laos

Molam Lao
Music From Southern Laos
Nimbus

The Molam Lao is a group of singers and instrumentalists practicing the unique singing style of lam music, which involves alternate singing of verses among men and women 'duels'. These vocal 'duels' are accompanied by khen (mouth organ), xylophone, drums, cymbals, lute, and stick. Some tracks are devoted to solo xylophone or khen to showcase individual musicianship and style. Often, the context of the vocal pieces tends to focus on geography, politics or relationships. There are strong assimilations from neighboring Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia. Anyone interested in traditional music or court music from Southeast Asia will enjoy Music From Southern Laos. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Soothing Sounds of Suarasama

Suarasama
Fajar Di Atas Awan
Drag City

Suarasama is a group based in Medan City, North Sumatra, Indonesia that is composed mostly of ethnomusicologists. Fajar Di Atas Awan ("Dawn Over The Clouds") was recorded by ethnomusicologist, Philip Yampolsky, in 1997. Notably, this is a re-issue of the 1998 recording. The group incorporates instrumentation from the Indian subcontinent and surrounding Southeast Asian regions. Overall, the recording includes a lighter collection of music that is good for contemplative listening, yoga, reflection, or immediate transport to a far-off land. Instruments used include the sruti box, framed drum, guitar, Persian duf, tabla, Sundanese kendang, and varied percussion. A mix of sporadic vocals, various instrumentation, and informative liner notes complete the ensemble. This release is also available on LP. ~ Matthew Forss