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1 Al Jawala Live (Enja ENJ-9604 2). Thumping drums and percussion propel every track into drama and inevitable audience appreciation, as a hefty rhythm section domi- nates two saxophones in collisions of ambient ska, Balkan brass and modern urban dance. Despite the occasional intrusion of perfunc - tory vocals, this is a satisfying souvenir of a thrilling live band.
www.jawala.de
2Shaun Hutch Introducing… EP (Own label, no cat no). Taster-EP showcasing his quiet confidence and personable and accom- plished delivery on two well-presented trad- arrs of local origin, two fine originals cele- brating the great outdoors and a commend- ably deft, modest guitar instrumental.
www.shaunhutchmusic.com
2Haddo Borderlands (Lulubug LULUBUG002). Not content with his harmoni- ca virtuosity, Will Pound now exercises excel- lent melodeon chops in harmonious consort with viola-/fiddle-playing partner Nicky on Haddo’s second collection of tunes, invariably given fun treatments (love the Glen-Miller- morris!), with two Scottish songs now also tossed into the mix.
www.haddofolk.com
@ Brasy Live (Soliton SL 228-2). Somewhat curious live-in-a-studio set from award-win- ning Polish shanty crew. The five-piece is blessed with excellent voices and a sturdy presence. But the thrashing guitars backing several of the numbers do them no favours – and what on earth are Irish Lullaby and Loch Lommond (sic) doing here? Distribution: Soli- ton.
www.brasy.pl
2Belshazzar’s Feast Belshazzar’s Feast Live! – The Whiting’s On The Wall (Unearthed EARTHOL004). In celebration of two decades of Fishy Feasting, the two Pauls serve up an hour’s worth of harmonious live hilarity and serious musicianship, communi- cating with enthusiasm and wicked intelli- gence.
www.belshazzarsfeast.com
@ Jimi McRae Last King Of Pictland (JM 003). A million skirling bagpipes, thrash drums, sledgehammer bass, even monkish chanting, as well as a dear old theremin. Bonkers OTT arrangements. Ideal Glasgow Saturday night fighting music. Martyn Ben- nett must be turning in his grave.
www.jimithepiper.co.uk
1 Góbé Góbé (Playground, no cat no). Mentored by Muzsikás, honed in Budapest’s most prestigious conservatoires, inspired by táncház and a confusion of borders, this is ambitious and hypnotically ruminative urban folk music.
www.gobezenekar.hu
ItsAcoustica
2 ItsAcoustica ItsAcoustica (Organic Soup OSRAC05). Andy and Cath Higgins from Tyne- side’s acoustic scene in a bright and well-sung set of new material (and a couple of rootsy covers) that shows a distinct flair for creative arrangement and considerable skill as multi- instrumentalists.
www.itsacoustica.com
1 Boston Blackie & Otis ‘Big Smokey’ Smothers ABC Blues (Wolf CD 120.847). The tempos rarely rise above walking pace but there’s a good groove to the music of these two Chicago blues guitarists. Thirteen tracks, seven from Big Smokey dating from ’84 and ’91 and six from Blackie recorded in ’92 demonstrate how the blues don’t have to be hammered to be effective.
www.wolf.com
2 Michael Woods East Coast Fret (Own Label MWCD003). All-instrumental album from NE-UK fingerstyle guitarist with an hon- est, unpretentiously virtuoso approach that’s enjoyable and entertaining while substantial in technique and invention. Canny disc title carries as many layers of meaning as Michael’s inspirations (classic bluesy ragtime to Chap- man, Kottke and folk-baroque). Very classy indeed, and highly recommended.
www.michaelwoodsmusic.com
2Catfish Keith Honey Hole (Fish Tail FTRCD014). Catfish has been at the top of his game for a long time now and this CD shows he’s as good as ever. Choice cuts of country blues, a gospel song, a hula number (sung in the vernacular), and reefer song all impecca- bly played in his individual manner on his great sounding acoustic guitars. A sweet treat.
www.catfishkeith.com
1 Various Artists The Rough Guide To Latin Rare Groove Vol. 1 (World Music Net- work RGNET 1309CD). Vinylista resurrection of the quirky, unexpected and little known, testimony to the boundless vitality of forgot- ten bands from Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and the transoceanic Latin sonic trajectory. Spanglish Fly bonus CD offers NY boogaloo revivalist ensemble’s originals and remixes.
www.worldmusic.net
2Bubamara Brass Band Balkanteka (Sketis Music SKMR-104). Loud and percep- tive tales from Moscow-based Balkan brass aficionados, with sumptuous arrangements by Aleksandar around the emotive, elegant vocals of Nataliya Zherenkova. Adrenalin, vir- tuosity, celebration, silliness and Marko Markovic guest contributions in all the right places.
www.bubamarabrass.ru
2Mestre Cupijó E Seu Ritmo Siriá (Ana- log Africa AACD 076). A throaty Mestre Cupi- jó studio compilation, the brassy, reedy ruffi- an dance-carnival music known as Siriá, allu- sions to frevo, percussive renegade quilombo sounds forged in the escaped slave outposts of Pará State, northern Brazil, ragged Amazo- nian roots jazz.
analogafrica.blogspot.com
1 Bloco Explosão Plus Friends & Band (Twonineteen LCO2285). ‘Afro-samba’ mashup, Brazil meets Berlin, 30 percussion- ists, guest trio of Bahia Afro-Bloc Mestres, dash of brass and R&B, a Pata Pata cover, no shortage of enthusiasm, like most artistry a matter of taste, here signifying too much of nothing.
blocoexplosao.de
1 Weltenklang The First 20 Years – A Musical Journey (Own label, no cat no). Compiled by Austrian concert promoter Diet- mar ‘Hasi’ Haslinger, this not-commercially- available five-CD boxed set chiefly licenses tracks from clients, past and present. File somewhere between promo and vanity pro- ject.
www.weltenklang.at
2Robert Sarazin Blake Robt Sarazin Blake (Same Room SSR 015). Beautifully- crafted autobiographical songs from tireless American troubadour whose style is cut from the same calico cloth as Messrs Earle and Prine. Anaïs Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer cameo.
www.robertsarazinblake.com
1 Jimmy Witherspoon Hard Working Man (Properbox 179). 100 tracks (on four CDs) dating 1945 to 1962 is a whole lot of Jimmy Witherspoon. As great a blues singer as he was, Witherspoon never really varied his vocal style. Some great performances here, and some superb backing, but after a while it proves just too much of a good thing.
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