CD Review: Srikalogy's 'New Paradigm'

Srikalogy
New Paradigm
Black Swan Sounds

Srikalogy is a New York-based DJ, MC, producer, and percussionist with a connection to the West Indies, Caribbean, and a NYC Ashram. These life experiences were perfect for poetic storytelling through carefully-selected beats in the world music, electronica, and hip hop worlds. There is a South Asian vein that extends to kirtan or yoga-based stylings. The trumpet, mrdanga, keyboard, guitar, kalimba, and didgeridoo sets the tone for the urban and contemporary beats. Srikalogy's vocals are hip-hop based and a great delivery vehicle for his message. The electronic drones, punchy percussion, Enigma-like compositions are something worth listening to. Anyone with an interest in urban yoga music will love the compositions on New Paradigm. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Bombay Dub Orchestra's 'Tales From The Grand Bazaar'

Bombay Dub Orchestra
Tales From The Grand Bazaar
Six Degrees

The Bombay Dub Orchestra is project of composers Garry Hughes and Andrew T. Mackay. The nine track release contains a plethora of instruments, including sitar, sarangi, bansuri, qanun, baglama, oud, strings, synth, keys, table, santoor, sarod, French horn, guitars, cello, kalimba, harpsichord, and others. The music ambulates along with many instruments shining and glimmering with sparkling tones, filmic undertones, and traditional elements. The music is contemporary with floating vocals used at times. The music is very dreamy and instrumental with a strong Indian presence, but filmic ambiance, too. The music is slightly electronic with some dance elements, but this is primarily a groovy album with atmospheric washes, cultural instruments, and a sonic beat. Fans of Six Degrees albums will love it and anyone with a passion for Indian fusion. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Samite's 'Trust'

Samite
Trust
Musicians For World Harmony

Ugandan-born and US-based, Samite brings an acoustic style to East African music that is instrumental, upbeat, and brimming with sparkling notes of contemporary beauty. On Trust, which is the soundtrack for a documentary film--Addiction Incorporated--Samite paints images of acoustic beauty with twinkling kalimba, airy flute, folksy accordion, jazzy trumpet, and other assorted winds, strings, and percussion. The mostly instrumental work contains not only acoustic guitar and some electric guitar, but penny whitles, piccolo, cello, and trombone. The upbeat, rumba and highlife style of the instrumental music is very enjoyable overall. Fans of African jazz, mbira, folk, highlife, contemporary African music, and instrumental fusion will love Samite's latest release. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Solo Kinobe

Kinobe

Leaving The Song Behind

Kinobe Publishing

Uganda's Kinobe is a virtuoso on the kora, kalimba, and harp. The music is crystalline pure and never dull. Kinobe's playing abilities are confirmed with each passing minute and scores of chords. The instrumental music "Ddungu" slides right into the kalimba-led "Omwana Omulungi" with Kinobe's vocals. As a vocalist, Kinobe shows signs of Baaba Maal or Youssou N'Dour. The ten songs are mostly traditional in scope with no signs of modernism anywhere to be found. The harp-led "Lusejjera" is a vocal song about locust infestations. Other songs touch on flutists, fishing, praises for kings, desert skies, hunters, children, and fish. "Mu Ddungu" is the only song replicated on Kinobe's other album, Awamu N'emikwano. Fans of Ugandan music will love it. Also, anyone with a passion for the kalimba, kora, or harp should be satisfied. Do not leave Kinobe behind. ~ Matthew Forss