CD Review: Lobi Traore's 'Bwati Kono "In The Club"...Raw Electric Blues From Bamako'

Lobi Traore
Bwati Kono "In The Club"...Raw Electric Blues From Bamako
Kanaga System Krush

Lobi Traore gives us electric blues guitar music straight from Bamako, Mali on his last recording before his death. The album contains nine live tracks with lively, blues guitar music, which is gritty, raw, and organic. The music is jam-worthy and trance-inducing in parts, but Lobi's great guitar calisthenics wins us over. There are traditional instruments that accompany the electric guitar sounds, including djembe and balafon. The spacious beats and inventive delivery make Bwati Kono... one of the best West African recordings in recent memory. Lobi followed in the tradition of Vieux Farka Toure and Zani Diabate. This is not an acoustic guitar album. There are many long instrumentals in between the vocals, which aids in the incredible musicianship for all to enjoy. Lobi will be missed; but his music will live on. Enjoy it today! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Nickodemus' 'Moon People'

Nickodemus
Moon People
ESL Music

Brooklyn-based DJ/producer, Nickodemus combines global sounds with the latest in club compositions founded upon a heady foundation of urban grooves and dubtronica. His twelve compositions bridge seemingly disparate worlds of American, Arabic, and Latin music within a modern context with ethereal vocals. The funky, pulsations of "Moon People," feature The Real Live Show with Arabic connotations and urban grooves. The urban grooves and down-tempo delights are enough to surprise the electronic music fan, as well as the fusion fan, too. Nickodemus features the talents of Afrika Bambaataa, Kathrin deBoer, The Candela Allstars, Sammy Ayala, and Kissey Asplund. The soulful vocals, punchy percussion, and Afro-Caribbean/Latin foundations are first and foremost an aural delicacy for the ears. This is good enough for moon people as it is for Earth people. ~ Matthew Forss

Song Review: Miss Diamond DJ's "Voodoo Girl"

Miss Diamond DJ
"Voodoo Girl"

"Voodoo Girl" opens with a heavy, static-driven, but distant tone, that blends well with the electrified, male voice after a bass slide. A wash of colorful electronics signify the beginning of the pulsating dance beat that blends the club sound of Ace of Base with the trance-driven music of Madonna's early work. The laser-like, pulsations contain both male and female vocals that are interspersed with successions of dance beats with all the fancy blips, blurbs, and electronic embellishments that are part of any superstar DJ repertoire. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, Miss Diamond DJ raises the bar higher than the Alps with a balanced mix of club, house, trance, techno, and party elements. The end of the song contains an ambient wash of cascading sounds with a quick, but fluid conclusion. "Voodoo Girl" is not about being cheesy or too flashy. Instead, Miss Diamond DJ astounds listeners with her uncanny ability to create a simple tune and make it stand out. If you are seeking electronica with a dance element, then "Voodoo Girl" is for you. ~ Matthew Forss