It’s for albums like this that I have such a love of Bandcamp. This release originally came out in 1997, and was a collection of pieces of Soliman Gamil’s other records for the Touch Label. Though they would have made lovely soundtrack music, it’s more an exploration of and experimentation with Egyptian classical music. A well-done reissue by Mike Harding and Touch.
New Releases
[Literature] James Joyce – The complete recordings (1924-29)
It’s only about twelve minutes worth of audio recordings, but Sub Rosa Records has published two pieces of James Joyce reciting some of his works from between 1924-1929.
[Music] Various Artists – Ibimeni : Garifuna traditional music from Guatemala
Sub Rosa released a compilation of Garifuna music recorded and produced by Juan Carlos Barrios (aka Radio Zumbido). It’s a wonderfully horn-and-lullaby laden compilation of wonderful music straddling between the Guatemalan border, Honduras, parts of Nicaragua and Belize, where African and indigenous cultures collide. Yet another stellar compilation.
[Music] Momo Wandel Soumah – Matchowé
Momo Wandel Soumah was a saxophonist and vocalist from Guinea who did a stunning job mixing jazz (especially that of the Charlie Parker and John Coltrane variety) with ethnic music from his region of the world. This session was recorded in 1991.
He passed away in 2003, but left this album as his legacy.
[Music] Canturbe – Flotteur
This disc was a wonderful find! Canturbe were an Argentian progressive rock band working out of Buenos Aires. Their sound is classic prog, but with touches of metal, folkloric music and even tango on one track. Argentine reissue specialists Viajero Inmovil have released another stunner.
[Music] Mohammed M’Rabet & Paul Bowles – The Storyteller & the Fisherman
My first introduction to the world of Paul Bowles, as well as the Sub Rosa record label, was through this disc. The combination of stories read by Bowles himself, as well as the artwork and ambiance by storyteller Mohammed M’Rabet, made it wonderful bedtime listening, allowing me to transport my mind to what a hazy, stoned Tangier must have been like in the 1950s and 60s. This aged very nicely.
[Music] Pluge & Spigl – Dfnc EP
There isn’t a lot of techno I like, but if it’s cold, rhythmic and focused like the works of Pluge & Spigl, I’ll be happy to indulge in it.
[Music] Kyriakos Sfetsas – Greek Fusion Orchestra Vol.1
Kyriakos Sfetsas is originally from Lefkadia an island in Greece, and started this particular band in the mid-1970s in order to expand the boundaries of what Greek traditional music is. Apparently, there is a lot more music of his which has yet to be released. This is as fine an intro to his works as one could hope for.
Much love to Teranga Beat, the Senegalese label which will release this masterpiece on May 25, 2018.
[Music] Alexandre Navarro – Imaginations
Checking out the tags at the bottom of his Bandcamp page, I noticed that Alexandre Navarro’s latest release, Imaginations, is listed as post-rock. Absolutely, positively not!
This has more of a feeling brought out in albums by classic artists like Harmonia, a touch of Popol Vuh and maybe even the Russian soundtrack composer Edward Artemiev. This is mellow, has a wonderful 70’s vibe and makes for a nice way indulge in headphone listening.
[Music] Manja Ristić – The Nightfall
Manja Ristić is a Serbo-Croatian violinist and experimental music composer whose works have left me captivated. This latest release, The Nightfall, collects for compositions inspired by the seasons. From her Bandcamp site:
In haiku poetry, “Kigo” is a seasonal reference, a word or group of words which locates the poem in a season of the year, the seasonal association helping the reader imagine the atmosphere and settings of the poem more vividly. Kigo evokes memories and feelings which vary depending on the readers themselves: their active role is crucial in haiku poetry as different cultural and historical backgrounds may lead to a different interpretation of the poem.
The release was made available by London-based label Naviar Records yesterday.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 