Category Archives: CD Reviews

CD recommendation: Comoros Island’s Nawal’s new CD is out – a hypnotic prayer for peace!

Artist: Nawal
Title: Embrace The Spirit
Label: JADE/WARNER MUSIC
Genre: Comoros Island “sufi” folk music

Recommended by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Nawal comes from the Comoros Islands, in the Indian Ocean between Mozambique and Madagascar. Now based in Paris she is recognized as a key figure from her native islands. Between traditional and contemporary, Nawal’s compositions are an acoustic roots-based fusion, inspired by the light of her Sufi heritage founded on love, respect and peace. When live in concert, Nawal’ powerful voice and message is able to touch her audience’s hearts.

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EP review: Tarana – utilizing Indian and East-Asian rhythms as the foundation for a new creative musical experience

Artist: Tarana
Title: After The Disquiet EP
Label: self-release
Release date: October 4, 2011
Genre: elctronica

Review by Jim Hoey

Drummer, improviser, and experimenter Ravish Momin is the guiding force behind Tarana, and on his latest EP, After The Disquiet, his jazz, world, Indian, and electronica roots are mixed with violinist Trina Basu’s plaintive strains and pulsing lines. This collaboration leads into melodic territory and beyond for over 35 minutes, with both instrumentalists leading and building off of eachother in fluid improvisations in real time. Continue reading →

CD recommendation: Jose Conde and his nu Latin groove!

Artist: José Cónde
Title: José Cónde
Label: PiPiKi Records
Release date: September 6, 2011
CD release party: at 92nd Street Y Tribeca on September 9, 2011
Genre: singer-song writer/latin groove

José Cónde lives his lyrics. He gets grooves from the names of trees. He leaves melody lines on his own answering machine. He can turn a playful refrain to his dog into a dance anthem. His songs are odes to hot dresses, Brazilian muses, discombobulated elephants, and life-giving springs.

Cónde brings a new focus and maturity to this whimsical world on Jose Conde. He turns highly personal songs into new global grooves and reflective, dynamic ballads. As a songwriter and bandleader, Cónde developed a striking instinct for merging his Miami upbringing, Cuban roots, and the sizzle of New York’s Latin underground. But the new self-titled album is distinguished by a universality; catchy melodies and danceable rhythms likely to draw listeners of all stripes.
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