Trilok Gurtu, Massical

India, 2009

I have to admit I don't know that much about Trilok Gurtu, except that he is, aside from a world class percussionist, a frequent collaborator of great musicians such as John McLaughlin or Jan Garbarek.
This was an album that got me right away. Sure, it has your usual jazz stuff too, but it is still a beautiful fusion effort. And what a gorgeous cover too.


Playlist:

1. Seven Notes To Heaven
2. Bridges
3. Mumbai Shuffle
4. Havatight
5. Dive In
6. Monk-E-Desh
7. Kuruksetra
8. Pathri
9. Etnosur
10. Massical


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Radaid, Self-titled

Mexico, 2002.

Radaid is a musical group from Guadalajara, Mexico, which brings together pre-Hispanic sounds, world music, psychedelic rock and contemporary electronic elements, using both modern and traditional instrumentation.

Playlist:

1. La Tokpa
2. Radarush!
3. So Sweet
4. I Contemplando II La Divina Soledad III En Tus Ojos
5. Hijos Del Sol
6. La Danza De Las Walquirias
7. La Gitana
8. Radaid I
9. Mahabharata

Link.

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Group Bombino, Guitars from Agadez, Vol. 2

Niger/USA, 2009

With North African guitarist Omara Mochtar, a.k.a. Bombino, currently on the run from repressive government forces in Niger, this debut album of his acoustic and electric playing in the Tuareg style remains the lone document of his mastery. And what an incandescent display! Between the handclaps of "Tenere" and "Imuhar," one can even make out camels grunting their approval on the acoustic first side. The second, recorded live, features raw, stomping grooves ("Boghassa") and a closer ("Eronafene Tihoussayene") that works toward a trance-inducing dervish of chords and rebel yells.

Playlist:

A1. Tenere

A2. Imuhar 

A3. Kamoutalia

A4. Amidinine

B1. Boghassa

B2. Imouhare 

B3. Issitchilane

B4. Kamu Telyat

B5. Eronafene Tihoussayene

Link.

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