WORLD reviews Click on any ALBUM COVER to buy now
The Ukrainians Jayme Stone & Klezmatics
Diaspora
Mansa Sissoko
Tuml = Lebn:
Africa To Appalachia
Zirka Records
The Best of the First
038CD14 Jayme Stone
20 Years
JH
JS200
Piranha
HM
CDPR2233
The title Diaspora refers to the global
community of ethnic Ukrainians who maintain a
What do you get if you cross a Canadian banjo
HM
deep connection to the land of their ancestors.
player with a Malian kora player? Surprisingly
Themes of national identity within a local
There aren’t many bands, never mind world
enough, a pretty fine debut album. But then
community are never far from the surface
music bands, that have had the legendary
the banjo does have its roots in West Africa,
on this terrific new album by Peter Solowka
American actor/comedian Robin Williams say
and Jayme Stone has taken the wise decision
(member of eighties John Peel favourites The
he could ‘see God’ when he heard their music.
to let an African vibe dominate proceedings.
Wedding Present) and his fellow Ukrainians, a
How do you live up to a statement like that?
For example on the stately opener Bibi his
heady fusion of intense traditional and left-ist
Well, for over twenty years this New York band
banjo simply provides a gentle counterpoint to
rock sound.
have tried to do so simply by being consistently
Mansa’s more elaborate flourishes of kora and
innovative and technically excellent while
Diaspora sees Ukrainian folk music collide
his commanding griot vocals.
still conveying a profound sense of fun and
with British punk pop! Bringing breakneck
However, the spirit of North American
excitement.
rhythms and thrashing chords to Steve Tymruk’s
Appalachian music does occasionally come to
wonderfully traditional accordion playing and
This best of takes tracks from their nine albums
the surface, as do smidgens of Jazz and Country,
3-part ensemble vocal harmonies - the results
and is a timely reminder of just how proficient
but never to the extent where it becomes
are anything but conventional!
they are at throwing punk, gospel, jazz, Balkan
jarring, as can happen on some cross-cultural
and Arabic music into their basic bubbling stock
Though occasionally amusing, these are true
fusion projects. The 5-piece main band is
of Klesmer; the traditional music of the Jewish
folk songs; songs for the people; songs for
augmented by guest appearances from the now
Diaspora. This is epic, stirring stuff, and – if I
the down-trodden and it’s unquestionably
legendary ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate, and
dare say so – music to get thoroughly wrecked
touching. Western audiences often exhibit a fear
trumpet player David Travers Smith, who both
to, if only in the hope of triggering a revelatory
of foreign language music, but the power and
help to add textural variety to this consistently
metaphysical experience similar to the one Mr
passion of The Ukrainians breaks through this
involving collection of songs and instrumentals.
Williams had!
barrier. Diaspora is a relevant return from this
www.jaymestone.com/
unique group.
www.klezmatics.com
www.the-ukrainians.com
ROUNDUP reviews
Click on any ALBUM COVER to buy now
Binario Jon Lacey Juan Martín
Binario Lost In This Solo
Far Out Records
Beautiful World
Flamecovision
FAR0135
Winding River Records
FV12
JH
WRR009
TM
Brazilian five-piece Binario are sure to make
CP
a heck of a statement with their eponymous
Flamenco may well remain for many an
“I want to know her name; she walks past me
debut; packing off-the-wall grooves, electronic
acquired taste, but in 1985 Mel Simpson did
every day” entreats Jon Lacey on She Shines,
break-downs, psychedelic spirals, spacey
much to dispel the mystery, when he caught
the wonderfully stark guitar/voice opening song,
funk-outs and deep rock dirges – Binario are
Juan’s power and sonority with a Neumann
- plaintive, imposing and setting out the stall of
something else!
U86 mic he had bought from the Beatles’
longing and insecurity on this debut from the
Apple Studios. The result of this intimate and
Their wild sound invites comparisons to the off-
UK’s prospective new David Gray.
inspired recording session was the vinyl album
kilter jazz attack of John Zorn, the stretched out
Chunky, ringing acoustics allied to good
Solo, where tracks like llora La Seguiriya and
P-Funk of Parliament and even to experimental
melodies are Lacey’s stock-in-trade and he’s
Solea Eterna sparkle with fierce, awe - inspiring
rock moguls like Mike Patton, Merzbow and
uneasy in a society where anything of value has
energy, whilst Taconeos is an example of a
Primus.
the tinge of uncertainty about it. His concerns
musician in total unity with his instrument.
Remarkably, Binario carry the weight of decades
will strike a chord with the puzzled and
Hot on the heels of his recently recorded
of experimental music on their shoulders and
pummelled everywhere.
Serenade album with the Royal Philharmonic
without stumbling once. The album is clear,
A brooding and meditative unity of mood
Orchestra, this CD re-release is a timely
concise and accessible; soothing melodies
prevails. For sure, he can sketch wide-screen
reminder of the guitarist’s origins. Digitally
and lush tones accompany every foray into
emotions, - Stolen - his touching tribute to John
remastered, yet keeping the warmth of the
the potential abyss of the genre-hop; Binario
Lennon packs a powerful punch but it’s the day-
original analogue recording Simpson made, this
bridged the gap between ambition and noise
to-day trouncings and triumphs of our lives that
landmark record is a good entry point to Juan
and they came out with something that’s totally
Lost In This Beautiful World mirrors so well. Was
Martin’s world. Like a fine Rioja it has aged well.
unique and very beautiful.
any album more aptly titled?
www.flamencovision.com
Binario are a must for fans of music that pushes
www.jonlacey.co.uk
boundaries without sacrificing the pleasure of
the song.
www.myspace.com/binario
Win every CD featured in this issue enter our competition at www.properdistribution.com
Sign up for the Properganda newsletter for regular updates between issues.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37