The death of a good friend in Wales keft me feeling stunned at the brevity of life. A bit of somber music is in order, and today’s slice is provided by the Norwegian neofolk band Wardruna.
Folk
[Music] Kara Üzüm Habbesi – Kardeş Türküler
Kardeş Türküler are a project I’d not come across before. They play a fusion of Anatolian, Thracian and Mesopotamian music, according to their bio. It’s a powerful fusion for sure.
[Music] Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir – Конь (Horse)
Moscow’s Sretensky Monastery Choir is considered to be arguably Russia’s best choir. One can hear why on this folk song presented here.
[Music] John Fahey – Jaya Shiva Shankarah
John Fahey’s 1975 masterpiece Old Fashioned Love is in dire need of a remastering and re-release. It features some of his best and most innovative guitar work.
[Music] Joseph Tawadros – The Hour of Separation (2010)
Joseph Tawadros is an Australian oud virtuoso of Coptic heritage. This album comes from 2010, and is an instrumental masterpiece.
[Music] Goro Yamaguchi – Mukaiji Reibo
After a very noisy year, it’ll be nice to end it on a pleasant note. Many thanks to Miguel for posting this piece for shakuhachi by Goro Yamaguchi.
[Music] Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood & The Rajastan Express – Junun
This pleasant surprise came from out of nowhere. Israeli composer and multi-instrumentalist Shye Ben Tzur collaborates here with Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and the marvelous Rajasthan Express for a fusion of three continents.
soundstreamsunday: “Waltz of the New Moon” by The Incredible String Band — Progarchy
Although there is the potential today for historically reconstructing The Incredible String Band as a folksy psychedelic sideshow, the core group of Mike Heron and Robin Williamson were among the most imaginative and deeply schooled of the musicians emerging out of Britain’s folk revival in the late 1960s. Succored by Joe Boyd and Elektra records, the band […]
via soundstreamsunday: “Waltz of the New Moon” by The Incredible String Band — Progarchy
[Music] Hedningarna – Räven
Hedningarna are a Swedish folk band which also had Finnish members not too terribly long ago. I came across their music while looking at a pile of promos sitting on the desk of a World Music buyer at the shop I had worked at, which were delivered to us by a local Rykodisc distributor. The quality of the sub-label representing the band, Northside Records, was phenomenal. There will surely be more of these folk bands posted here in the future.
[Music] Leonard Cohen – Closing Time
A fittingly appropriate song, as the wonderful Leonard Cohen left this mortal coil today. Rest in peace. You left a legacy that will stand the test of time, like Martin Codax or Josquin Des Prez.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 