world music?

[nobody]

OK...first off, I kinda hate the term...I mean we all live somewhere in the world. What makes one kinda music "world music?" Anyway, that's what I see the stuff called mostly, so I'll use it. Been listening to the amazing 4 CD Trance Planet box set this morning...

<img src="http://us.f3.yahoofs.com/shopping/134886/amg1921302160_1617.jpg">

Anyone else heard this? It's a wide ranging collection of music from all over the world ranging from electronic infused Algerian almost trip hop flavored tunes to a male soprano from belarus singing Ave Maria to everythihg in between. The only constant is the meditative vibe of most all the songs. Heavy hitters like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan are represented but mostly its tons of artists I've never heard of. The box covers the first four volumes, but I believe the series on Triloka Records is up to six volumes now.

I occasionally listen to this sort of things and have some friends who play similarly eclectic things around town, but have little knowledge of this kinda stuff. Kinda intimidating to figure out a genre so vast. Anybody else have any favorite compilatins or albums to go around the world with?

[Davey]

Yeah, kind of hard to talk about such an all encompassing music genre. There are literally thousands of world music type compilations, and I've even made a couple myself based mostly in west Africa. I used to spend lots of time in Tower at the listening stations exploring different artists and musical regions. Speaking of Tower, one of the best comps I ever got was one they were pushing for only 99 cents back before the turn of the century. A few of the songs I aleady had covered, but I think I might've wound up purchasing something from everybody of that comp before I was done. Made a post about it back then that I just looked up over on another bb ....

10 Songs, 10 Artists, 10 Years, 99 cents!

Posted by ****** on December 22, 1999 at 10:43:19:

I was in Tower Records yesterday and picked up this great 10 year compilation disc from Real World Records for only 99 cents - that's correct, less than one US dollar! It has ten songs from ten artists, one from each of the years 1989 to 1998. Here are a few of the highlights for me.

The beautiful voice of Indian-born Sheila Chandra (UK) from her '92 'Weaving My Ancestors' Voices' album singing 'Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean'.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Pakistan) performing the title track from his outstanding Michael Brook produced 'Mustt Mustt' album released in '91.

Papa Wemba (Democratic Republic of Congo) singing 'Yolele' from the '95 release 'Emotion'.

Maryam Mursal (Somalia) singing 'Kufilaw' from her excellent '98 album 'The Journey'.

Paban Das Baul & Sam Mills (India/UK) performing 'Dil Ki Doya' from the '97 release 'Real Sugar'. This one is new to me and sounds very interesting.

The disc finishes with a simply stunning song by Geoffrey Oryema (Uganda) from the '90 album 'Exile' called 'Makambo'. This is another new one to me and was produced by Brian Eno with Oryema's soulful voice weaving a beautiful sounding story over a deep, lush soundscape. The album also includes a duet with Peter Gabriel and contributions from Eno. Next on my list to buy.

The CD is on one of the play stations in the World Music section at my Tower Records so I was able to preview some of these selections before spending all my hard earned 99 cents! If you have any interest in these types of music, this is one highly recommended disc.