CD Review: Various Artists' 'Sembeh Ma Fa Fe: Roots Volume'

Various Artists
Sembeh Ma Fa Fe: Roots Volume
Stronghold Sound

The San Francisco-based label, Stronghold Sound, continues to pump out some great African tunes on Sembeh Ma Fa Fe: Roots Volume. The new album continues in the tradition of Guinean folk rhythms in a contemporary context. The sixteen-track album contains music by Guinea's great, including Blondi, Saran, Bosta, Aisha, Alassane, MyBaby, Cissoko, Captain Planet, J-Boogie, Dub Snakkr, and Balandougou Kan. The contemporary music is Afro-pop-based with killer percussion moments, rippling guitars, and crooning vocals. Fans of Stronghold Sound already know about this album. Anyone with an interest in Guinean music, West African music, and African music in general, will find it very fascinating and ear-friendly. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: MWE's 'Second Wind'

MWE
Second Wind
Self-Release

Hailing from San Francisco, MWE brings together Balkan brass and Turkish rhythms with heady, instrumental arrangements for a lively good time. Paul Bertin on alto sax, Gregory Jenkins on clarinet, Calvin Lai on zurna, Morgan Nilsen on clarinet, Sean Tergis on davul, darbuka, daf and riqq, Marco Peris on tupan, and special vocal guest, Eva Salina Primack, round out the ensemble. The rhythmic and punchy opener, "Ashkhabad," is pure Balkan brass with a side of Turkish folk and Middle Eastern deliciousness. Eva provides vocals on one tune, "Kara Gozlu Cingenem," which sounds like a traditional Turkish tune. "Tea High" resounds with the loud, clear tones of the zurna, which is quickly accompanied by rhythmic percussion. The buzzing and swishy tones are very punctual and slightly classical. "Agresia" incorporates a variety of skittish tunes, Balkan brass, and Turkish percussion that cannot be ignored. Fans of Balkan brass, Turkish music, world fusion, and instrumental music will love its beautiful charm. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Real Vocal String Quartet's 'Four Little Sisters'

Real Vocal String Quartet
Four Little Sisters
Flower Note Records

The San Francisco-area quartet finds music and beauty in jazz, pop, string, and classic traditions. RVSQ is Irene Sazer on violin and vocals, Alisa Rose on violin and vocals, Dina Maccabee on viola and vocals, and Jessica Ivry on cello and vocals. "Machine" is a Regina Spektor song with delicate vocals and writhing string melodies. "Homage To Oumou" is a plucked string tribute and vocal medley in honor of Oumou Sangare--a female diva from Mali, Africa. Though, the string arrangements represent Scandinavian traditions. There are prancing tunes of Brazilian charm ("Copo Vazio"), Cajun folk music ("Allons a Lafayette"), and a David Byrne cover ("Knotty Pine"). The diverse material on the album is easily captured on the strings and vocal melodies without leading to boredom. String fans unite with the pleasant instrumental and vocal magic of the Real Vocal String Quartet. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Diego's Umbrella's 'Proper Cowboy'

Diego's Umbrella
Proper Cowboy
Ninth Street Opus

San Francisco-based gypsy rock masters, Diego's Umbrella, is a riot live and on their new recording, Proper Cowboy. With a title nod to spaghetti Westerns, there is something wild and unabashed in Diego's music. The musically-rich "Thrash Mexican Budapest" is a lively gypsy thrash/rock anthem that is catchy, entertaining, and clearly the best track on the album. The heady, dance-friendly "Bulletproof Shine" screams of gypsy street ska with some urban beats. "Amsterdam Pt. 1" contains haunting fiddle, militaristic drumming, and cinematic symphonies of aural color. "Amsterdam Pt. 2" is not an instrumental tune like its predecessor. Instead, this song is more of a rock anthem with English vocals and a contemporary edge. Fans of klezmer, gypsy rock, and fun party music should check out Diego's Umbrella. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: The Secret Is Out! - J Boogie's Dubtronic Science Releases 'Undercover'

J Boogie's Dubtronic Science
Undercover
Om Records

The San Francisco-based, J Boogie's Dubtronic Science, plays with samples and live instruments on his latest excursion through electronica and dub-centric music with an African and funky side. The twelve tracks are steeped in dance, soul, Latin, and Afro-rhythms that are littered with killer horns, basslines, and special effects. The vocals are not that bad either and represent a relatively modern approach to vocal music. The vocals are intertwined between groove-focused vibes that feature the work of The Mamaz, Chrys-Anthony, Lateef The Truthspeaker, The Pimps Of Joytime, Deuce Eclipse, Jazz Mafia, Afrolicious, Gina Rene, Rich Armstrong, Raashan Ahmad, and Caipo. The rhythmic tunes represent Latin and African elements that are hip, fresh, and always addictive. Fans of dubtronic music, nu jazz, hip hop, cumbia, Afro-funk, rap, and modern music from South America and West Africa will love Undercover. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Veretski's Pass' 'The Klezmer Shul Live'

Veretski Pass
The Klezmer Shul Live
Golden Horn Records

The California-based, Veretski Pass, is an instrumental group that reinterprets centers of musicmaking--shuls--which were synagogues that were originally created as gathering places for craftspeople, tailors, stonecutters, and musicians. Utilizing styles and melodies from various lands of Jewish inhabitants, Veretski Pass uses classical, avant-garde, and free jazz genres from Czech Republic, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, and Poland. The instrumental nature of the music is vibrant, reflective, and calming throughout. The twenty-three different compositions are divided into four different poetic groups movements or groupings: Without Beginning, A Sign Upon Your Head, Remembrance, and The Wonder of Being. Cookie Segelstein plays violin, Joshua Horowitz plays button accordion and piano, and Stuart Brotman plays bass cello and the rarely heard tilinca--an end-blown flute from the border of Romania and Ukraine. Anyone with an interest in Klezmer classical music will love it. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Bang Data's 'La Sopa'

Bang Data
La Sopa
Rockolito Music

San Francisco-based, Bang Data, brings us a writhing mix of heady electronic cumbia, beatbox, ska, samba, bossa nova, and dance music. Their new album, La Sopa, which means 'The Soup,' connotes the worldly influences in the music. Of course, Latin, rock, hip hop influences are also present. However, the Latin cumbia music is most prominent throughout the album. There are many instruments that produce the wondrous sound, including bass, guitar, zampona, charango, congas, timbales, cajon, turntables, synths, and vocals. Even Peru's Eva Ayllon lends her vocals on "Toro Mata." Over one dozen musicians play in Bang Data. A slurry of alternative, Latin rhythms and influences mark the unique sound of Bang Data. At any rate, the fourteen tracks are rhythmic, pulsating, and sizzling. Great for fans of Latin, cumbia, and urban dance tunes from the San Francisco-bay area. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Bayonics' 'Mission Statement'

Bayonics
Mission Statement
Self-Release

The classic, funk-driven melodies of a ten-piece band, Bayonics, is based in San Francisco. Mission Statement is a culmination of various genres, including funk, fusion, hip-hop, reggae, jazz, down-tempo, and Latin-infused music. The contemporary rhythms and vocals contain a plethora of influences that all boil down to good clean funky music with no side effects--except for the constant desire to move one's feet and body upon hearing the music of Mission Statement. The eleven tracks reflect a different musical progression rarely observed in the Bay area, because many new groups tend to stick to urban, dance grooves with some world music elements. Instead, Bayonics pave the way for Latin-infused concoctions of danceable grooves and beats with no signs of slowing down. Mission Statement is the new soundtrack to the Bay area's city limits. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Bondi Blaster's 'Lo' Juimo!'

Bondi Blaster
Lo' Juimo!
Stronghold Sound

The music of Argentina is showcased on an inventive and decidedly modern release by San Francisco-based, Bondi Blaster. Bondi Blaster is DJ Juan Data, who experiments with down-beat samples, electronic cumbia, and acrobatic vocals that hint at folk, spoken word, and rap. The album's title is inspired by a classic Colombian cumbia album, Nos Fuimos!, by Corraleros del Majagual. The result is a party-like atmosphere that is void of sleepy, folk tunes. Instead, Bondi Blaster knows how to entice a danceable spirit and youthful exuberance in the listener with foot-stomping and hip-shaking rhythms and melodies. A handful of original compositions, remixes, and instrumentals provide a heterogeneous mix of dance, down-tempo, trance, urban, and nu-cumbia influences with a few pan-pipes that are sure to create a lively and joyful raucous. Anyone interested in South American cumbia, hip-hop, rap, dance, electronica, and funky, good music will find satisfaction in Bondi Blaster's latest hit, Lo' Juimo! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: The Musical Art Quintet's 'Nuevo Chamber'

The Musical Art Quintet
Nuevo Chamber
Classical Revolution Records

Formed in San Francisco, California in 2008, The Musical Art Quintet coined a new term for the music they were producing: "nuevo chamber". This music attempts to encompass the various world music influences and styles now infusing classical traditions. For instance, Nuevo Chamber incorporates tunes devoted to, or inspired by, Argentinian tango, the great Fela Kuti, Malagasy guitar, South American percussion, and classical waltzes. The mostly instrumental album contains twelve tracks without the accompaniment of drumkit or electric guitar. In fact, this is primarily a string album with some notable accompaniment on conga, bongo, maraca, guiro, and keyboards. The only vocals are contained on "Life Is Beautiful" and "Ombligao en Argentina," which are a little different in sound than the rest of the album. Still, Nuevo Chamber is a new sound with a new name, and The Musical Art Quintet leads the way! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Ethiopia's Meklit Hadero

Meklit Hadero

On A Day Like This...

Porto Franco Records

San Francisco-resident and Ethiopian-native, Meklit (pron. muh-kleet) Hadero, is a groovy, sultry, and poetic vocalist that transcends traditional genre borders. The entire album is poignant, laid-back, and inspirational. Meklit composes eight original songs on this album. One cover song, "Feeling Good", by Anthony Newley and Bricusse is included. The only other cover song is a traditional Ethiopian song, and the only song sung in Amharic, celebrates the rural life. It is originally written by Ethiopia's legendary musician, Mahmoud Ahmed. Meklit's voice and acoustic guitar playing are joined by upright bass, oboe, clarinet, sax, piano, viola, ney flute, cello, and other assorted instruments. The music is perfect for lounging and takes on an almost Brazilian/samba sound in parts. A Sade-like vocalist, Meklit creates a new form of music that borrows classic big band elements, R&B, jazz, folk, and easy listening influences. On A Day Like This... is highly recommended any day of the year. ~ Matthew Forss