World Music CDs, LPs, Albums and Records

David Darling and the Wulu Bunun:Mudanin Kata; Noted ECM composer/cellist travels to the inner regions of Thailand and discovers a tribe of natives who spend all their daily activities in communal song, records them onto dat tape, brings the recordings back to the studio, and creates these sympathetic little symphonies to underlie the vocals. Equal parts National Geographic and Hal Wilner, this is a joyous celebration of life and song.

Peter Gabriel: Passion: Music For The Last Temptation Of Christ; From Morocco to Afghanistan, from Tangiers to Greece, there is something for everyone here, and it’s spread out all over this moving slice of middle eastern music. Gabriel samples and splices authentic regional sounds with synthesizers, additional percussion and contemporary sounds to create something totally unique and original, and still faithful to the sources within. Haunting and sensual.

King Sunny Ade:Juju Music; Originally released in America in 1982, this delicious slice of Nigerian pop is so delectable and infectious, it will make you get up and dance, even if , like me, you can’t. And what can you say about African music that features the pedal steel guitar as a major instrument? Totally happy and celebratory, this is equal parts mid-period Talking Heads and Brian Eno’s “My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts”

Bob Marley and the Wailers:Natty Dread; Granted, reggae music is so firmly planted in our cultured minds that We take these things for granted nowadays, but it’s always good to back and remember when, y’know? And,as far as I am concerned, this is Bob’s best offering, besides the seminal live “Babylon By Bus”. Forget “Legend”, people, this is the real deal, and pretty much his best work, from “Lively Up Yourself” to “No Woman No Cry” to “Dem Belly Full(But We Hungry)”. This is ground zero for the American invasion of rastah music. I and I, jah people!

Jon Hassell:Dream Theory In Malaya; Noted composer and trumpet player Hassell, in a move similar to and thirty years before David Darling, travels to the swamps of Malaya where the Senoi and Semelai tribes celebrate their communal lives with dreamtelling and dance. Their unusual and exotic water splash rhythmic technique is combined with synthesizers, electronically altered trumpet and numerous native percussion instruments to create something so unique, it might as Well be from another planet. Hypnotic.

Osibisa/Woyaya Remastered; This African “rock” band opened for Humble Pie and Edgar Winter one year at Winterland in San Francisco back in 1972 when their second album had just been released. I was blown away, and I suppose it was my first true experience of what is now considered “World Music”. I was 17 at the time and called them an “African Santana”, and looking back, I was right.And, like Santana, they Were responsible for bringing international flavors to the rock audiences of America. I mention both albums because they’re available on one cd as We speak, and are Well worth your time.

Various Artists-Lullaby For The Moon: Japanese Music for Koto and Shakuhachi; “The tree that bends with the wind does not break” Let go, and let the wind take you somewhere you have never been before. As calm and soothing as cherry blossoms on the surface of a flowing river, or as spiritually rejuvenating as chilled sake, incense, and sashimi on a bed of diced ginger, this is the tonic for the Western world.

Les Mystere Des Voix Bulgares: The Bulgarian’s Womens Choir; Start with microtonal vocal overtones, add a battery of women’s voices, add just the right amount of reverb, and hear what happens. Magic.