CD Review: Various Artists' 'Somali Party Southall'

Various Artists
Somali Party Southall
Keda

The UK-based Somali Party Southall release features the music of Abdulkarim Raas, Raj Kumar Lagoo, Nimco Degan, Mehboob Meghjee, Kuljit Bhamra, Al-Karim, Mohinder Kaur Bhamra, and Siciid Hussein. The UK-based musicians represent a Somali and Punjabi collective of musical styles ranging from jazz, pop, bhangra, and Bollywood playfulness. The instruments are varied and prevalent throughout the album. For instance, the bongos, tabla, dhol, oud, keyboards, violins, dholak, guitar, sax, clarinet, and flute play a large role in the instrumental arrangements. The vibrant beat and exciting vocals on "Ya Salam Ya Salam" is especially intriguing, because it contains a bit of bhangra, Bollywood, and East African influences. Nimco Degan stars as the lead singer on "Qalbigayga Lulayee." The final dance track is "Dholdrums," which features bhangra greatness on various drums and percussion without vocals. This is perfect for fans of UK bhangra or Punjabi music. Get your party started today with Somali Party Southall. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Chemako's Self-Titled Release from Italy

Chemako
Chemako
Ultra Sound Records

The gritty folk-rock stylings of Italy's Chemako is surprisingly similar in tone and arrangement to America's Southern folk, rock, and blues music. Moreover, the vocals are in English and the instrumentation is largely based in the Deep South. The slide guitar, piano, banjo, dobro, acoustic guitar, mandoguitar, drums, harp, ukulele, sax, and flugelhorn round out the instrumental repertoire. A few of the songs contain female lead singers, including "Maintenance Free," "Let It Burn Wild," "Save The Moon," "The Ocean Song," "Tears For Breakfast," and "George Harrison's cover, "All Things Must Pass." The Sarah MacLachlan-esque "The Ocean Song" contains a little Shawn Colvin-esque vocals and guitar playing with bass, drums, and flugelhorn. The music is bluesy, Western, and Southern rock with a folk twist. The music is unlike anything heard, because it does not sound 'Italian.' At any rate, listeners enthralled by folk rock and blues will love Chemako. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Shahrzad Sepanlou's 'Yek Rooz'

Shahrzad Sepanlou
Yek Rooz (One Day)
Self-Release

Born in Tehran, Iran and based in California, Shahrzad Sepanlou is a talented musician and vocalist that incorporates piano, percussion, bass, bouzouki, sax, and keyboards on her latest release, Yek Rooz. The jazzy, contemporary music is sung in Persian, but the instrumentation is top-notch throughout. There are hints of classical, jazz, and pop sounds indicative of Azerbaijan and Armenia, too. The Central Asian songstress is joined by Faramarz Aslani on "Maa." The musical arrangements of "Komakam Kon" are particularly enthralling, because the piano, emotive vocals, and ambulating percussion are classy and nostalgic with a modern twist. The music is not overly-showy, but the dance beat of "Che Konam" and electric guitar on "Ghazal Foroush" reflects a more youthful ambiance. Yek Rooz has everything for the discriminating listener--soft melodies, sensual vocals, dance beats, and reflective instrumental sections. Fans of Persian popular music should check out Yek Rooz today! ~ 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: Caroline Herring's 'Camilla'

Caroline Herring
Camilla
Signature Sounds

The Southern folk/blues/pop style of Mississippi-native and Georgia resident, Caroline Herring, is nostalgic, historical, and thought-provoking. The folk repertoire consists of acoustic guitar and vocals by Caroline, as well as Steven Sheehan on acoustic guitar, Fats Kaplin on pedal steel, fiddle, and banjo, Bryan Owings on drums and chains, and Bryn Davies on upright bass. The serene fiddle and sweet vocals on "Black Mountain Lullaby" are especially inviting. Though, the banjo really gets a workout on "Fireflies." The vocals are reminiscent of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Heidi Talbot, and Karine Polwart. The vocal "Traveling Shoes" is void of any instrumentation.  The album art represents an artistic presence of simplistic domesticity and equality issues commonplace in the 1960s. At any rate, the scintillating folk guitar and instrumentation is full of good things. Fans of the aforementioned artists will add Caroline Herring's new release to their collection without any reservations. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Mamadou and Vanessa's 'Faso Mali'

Mamadou and Vanessa
Faso Mali
Self-Release

Malian blues are captured on the latest release from the Malian-native and California-based, Mamadou Sidibe, and his wife, Vanessa. The fifteen track release contains richly-textured songs loaded with great instruments indicative of Mali's Wassoulou region, including kamale ngoni, keregne, kousouba, balafon, calabash, djembe, guitar, accordion, and bass. To give listeners an idea of what the songs are about, one need not look any further than the track two: "Ali Farka." Though, the music is not steeped in electric guitar throughout, but it does contain the bluesy lines that made him popular with the world. Vanessa's playful "Beautiful Thing" is an an English song with folksy accordion and Mamadou's Malian vocals. Many of the songs contain bright melodies and heady rhythms that are both traditional and contemporary. In short, this is the best recording of Malian music this side of Timbuktu...literally. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Hijos de Agueybana's 'Agua del Sol'

Hijos de Agueybana
Agua del Sol
Tumi Music

Puerto Rico's Hijos de Agueybana play bomba music on their latest offering, Agua del Sol. Bomba music is a richly-textured drum and dance music form born out of a group of Africans forced to work sugar plantations. The barrel drums and vocal choruses make the music stand out with tons of rhythm and magical musical textures. The group is led by Otoqui Reyes and consists of eight musicians. THe largely traditional nature of the vocals, drumming, and assorted percussion make Agua del Sol soar high with African ambiance. The thirteen tracks are rich with vibrant vocals and drumming, which resemble West African traditions in a contemporary form. The only sense of modernity is captured in the opening song, "Saludo al Sol," which includes an electronic pan flute sound that plays throughout the mostly instrumental piece. Anyone interested in the traditional music of Puerto Rico should find Hijos de Agueybana in their repertoire. ~ Matthew Forss