Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Album Reviews: Balkan Beat Box, Ibrahim Ferrer, WZT Heart
Balkan Beat Box - Nu Med
Article by Julian Glucroft
On the cover of "Nu-Med" the latest album of Balkan Beat Box there is a picture of a pile of instruments stuck to one another. This image properly represents this outstanding demonstration of musical invention. Balkan Beat Box is a band from New York with origins in Israel, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. This album is a melting pot of sounds, influences, and instrumentation. Despite the diversity of the album, there seems to be one constant, which is the penetrating groove of each song forcing you to bob your head or stomp your feet. The saxophone has a vital role creating a gypsy/Balkan/klezmer feel. Many songs are instrumental and even when there are vocals; they act as instruments in their presence. Vocals vary from a hip-hop/reggaeton style on "Digital Monkey" to African chants on Joro Boro to Arab Singing on tracks like Habibi Min Zaman. Balkan Beat Box's second album is ear-grabbing and transcends all conceivable musical categories. Note: Balkan Beat Box performed at Spring Fest in 2005.
Ibrahim Ferrer - Mi
Sueno
Article by Julian Glucroft
If you loved Buena Vista Social club, then you will certainly be fond of Ibrahim Ferrer's new album, "Mi Sueno" (Nonesuch). Ferrer's voice is soft and sensual, as well as it is intense evoking a romantic suffering. The uniqueness and depth of his voice is at the forefront of every song. The pianist, Orlando Cachaito Lopez, leads most songs with Bossa-nova influenced rhythms and smooth-jazzy melodies. Most songs rely on a rudimentary combination of piano, bass, drums, and voice to create a soft and irresistible texture. The lyrics (translated in English) are profound and go beyond romantic clichés. Track 10 is a powerful ballad accompanied by the singer Omara Portuondo (also featured on Buena Vista Club albums). Overall, this a great a CD from a veteran of Cuban music who really has nothing left to prove.
WZT Heart - "Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones"
Article by Zev Rowlett
The WZT Heart's new LP "Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones" (improve electro psych-rock) starts off slowly with the very ambient tracks "Hassier" and "Lava Nile". The latter features the NBC news themesong, but didn't do much for me otherwise. But track 3, "Jeep Uzi", starts off a series of more intense tracks featuring heavier rhythms and creative use of cymbals over more typical ambient sound. Check out "Jeep Uzi" (3) for a more melodic piece or "Viszula" (6) for good bass and a great ambient experience. Slimpocket's new single, "Got Something to Say", puts a great selection of guitar and vocal melodies into the new local reggae scene. It's edgy and emotional while completely cool and laid back. Slimpocket is informed with a smart message. Please play this track! TX/RX puts emotional vocal melodies with bouncy basslines into solid hard rock on their LP "transmit/receive". Rhythmically intense and lyrically haunting, this new album will get listeners to check out the website wondering "who was that?" Try the opening tack "inside outside" for something edgy or the hidden bonus track 13 for a laid back feel.
Article by Julian Glucroft
On the cover of "Nu-Med" the latest album of Balkan Beat Box there is a picture of a pile of instruments stuck to one another. This image properly represents this outstanding demonstration of musical invention. Balkan Beat Box is a band from New York with origins in Israel, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. This album is a melting pot of sounds, influences, and instrumentation. Despite the diversity of the album, there seems to be one constant, which is the penetrating groove of each song forcing you to bob your head or stomp your feet. The saxophone has a vital role creating a gypsy/Balkan/klezmer feel. Many songs are instrumental and even when there are vocals; they act as instruments in their presence. Vocals vary from a hip-hop/reggaeton style on "Digital Monkey" to African chants on Joro Boro to Arab Singing on tracks like Habibi Min Zaman. Balkan Beat Box's second album is ear-grabbing and transcends all conceivable musical categories. Note: Balkan Beat Box performed at Spring Fest in 2005.
Ibrahim Ferrer - Mi
Sueno Article by Julian Glucroft
If you loved Buena Vista Social club, then you will certainly be fond of Ibrahim Ferrer's new album, "Mi Sueno" (Nonesuch). Ferrer's voice is soft and sensual, as well as it is intense evoking a romantic suffering. The uniqueness and depth of his voice is at the forefront of every song. The pianist, Orlando Cachaito Lopez, leads most songs with Bossa-nova influenced rhythms and smooth-jazzy melodies. Most songs rely on a rudimentary combination of piano, bass, drums, and voice to create a soft and irresistible texture. The lyrics (translated in English) are profound and go beyond romantic clichés. Track 10 is a powerful ballad accompanied by the singer Omara Portuondo (also featured on Buena Vista Club albums). Overall, this a great a CD from a veteran of Cuban music who really has nothing left to prove.
WZT Heart - "Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones"
Article by Zev RowlettThe WZT Heart's new LP "Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones" (improve electro psych-rock) starts off slowly with the very ambient tracks "Hassier" and "Lava Nile". The latter features the NBC news themesong, but didn't do much for me otherwise. But track 3, "Jeep Uzi", starts off a series of more intense tracks featuring heavier rhythms and creative use of cymbals over more typical ambient sound. Check out "Jeep Uzi" (3) for a more melodic piece or "Viszula" (6) for good bass and a great ambient experience. Slimpocket's new single, "Got Something to Say", puts a great selection of guitar and vocal melodies into the new local reggae scene. It's edgy and emotional while completely cool and laid back. Slimpocket is informed with a smart message. Please play this track! TX/RX puts emotional vocal melodies with bouncy basslines into solid hard rock on their LP "transmit/receive". Rhythmically intense and lyrically haunting, this new album will get listeners to check out the website wondering "who was that?" Try the opening tack "inside outside" for something edgy or the hidden bonus track 13 for a laid back feel.
