World Music Albums of the Year - 2016

[johncorrigan]

It's a tradition up there. When we lived near a canal system there was a similar tourist-abusing tradition known as 'gongoozling'
I was surprised to find there is a definition on Wikipedia.

'A gongoozler is a person who enjoys watching activity on the canals of the United Kingdom. The term is also used more generally to describe those who harbour an interest in canals and canal life, but do not actively participate.'
Way too polite. It was only 'gongoozling' when it involved someone who had just hired a narrowboat, their first encounter with a lock gate, and a bunch of people sitting in a certain canal side pub which just happened to be exactly on the level where that first glorious collision took place. How we laughed.

I assume you played no part in the goozling of the gons, GT, but tut-tutted from the side. Seems like there should be terms for such things. I attended the funeral of an old friend of the family last week. Eddie was a popular guy of generous spirit. After the church service we headed to the crematorium, and Eddie's coffin was given a guard of honour into the cremmy by numerous members of his bowling club in attendance. The Priest did the brief service and the coffin slid from sight at which point the President of the club offered a eulogy to this fine guy. He opened with: 'I have known Eddie for twenty-seven years since he first joined the bowling club. He has been an active and valued member of the club during all that time. But in all that time I never once saw Eddie lift a bowl.' Cue much laughter...only there for the banter, as we say! I'm sure there should be names for such things but can't imagine one better than gongoozling.

[Lat-Literal]

Interesting posts all - thank you.

On matters of tradition, I happened to tune into a discussion today on whether blackened faces should be phased out in morris dancing, whether any such phasing out would lead to there being more green faces in morris dancing, and if so would that be a problem for Christians because the one with the green face generally indicates he is a pagan. I had spotted the Vieux Kante disc and am happy to make it Nomination 28. I loved the Furrow Collective's video - the best of all the videos - and am pondering it on musical grounds.

Currently:

1. Baaba Maal - The Traveller
2. Kate Tempest - Let Them Eat Chaos
3. Calypso Rose - Far From Home
4. Elza Soares - A Mulher Do Fim Do Mundo
5. Various Artists - Songs of Separation
6. The Gloaming - 2
7. Shirley Collins - Lodestar
8. Djelimady Tounkara - Djely Blues
9. Papa Wemba - Forever de Generation En Generation

10. Washington Phillips - Washington Phillips & His Manzarene Dreams
11. Ólafur Arnalds - Island Songs
12. Cigdem Aslan - A Thousand Cranes
13. Rokia Traore - Ne So
14. Kristi Stassinopoulou and Stathis Kalyviotis - NYN
15. Bombino - Azel
16. Thrace featuring Jean-Guihen Queyras - Sunday Morning Sessions
17. Ana Moura - Moura
18. Imarhan - Imarhan
19. John Prine - For Better, or Worse
20. Chaim Tannenbaum - Chaim Tannenbaum

21. Lee Scratch Perry - Must Be Free
22. Aziza Brahim - Abbar el Hamada
23. Afro Celt Sound System - The Source
24. Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra - Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra (AHEO)
25. Roberto Fonseca (featuring Eliades Ochoa) - ABUC
26. The Frightnrs - Nothing More to Say
27. Lee Scratch Perry and Mad Professor - Live at Maritime Hall (1997)
28. Vieux Kante - The Young Man's Harp

[Lat-Literal]

Agustin Lira and Alma - Songs of Struggle and Hope

Alma (Soul/Spirit) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XjgDtY3PSM

Guillermo Velázquez y los Leones de la Sierra de Xichú - Serrano de Corazón

Highlander at Heart etc - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k01EqNoqhbs

Ecos de Borinquen - El Alma de Puerto Rico: A Jíbaro Tradition

Trailer with songs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDebhq2c7q8

[johncorrigan]

Guillermo Velázquez y los Leones de la Sierra de Xichú - Serrano de Corazón

Highlander at Heart etc - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k01EqNoqhbs

I totally loved this track, Lat, and the vid too...although the song seemed to change direction in the last minute or so...before that I thought, 'Right, Trump, see how you do against these thorny Mexicans'. Wonderful stuff. Liked the other two, especially the Puerto Rican Quattro (sp?)...thanks!

A record I've heard two or three tracks from last year (think Colesy played a couple) re-appeared in my head today - Cillian Vallely's first solo record of uillean pipe tunes 'The Raven's Rock' sounded fantastic but I can't find any tracks on YT or spotty...and there was a track on Songlines too, now that I think. It just sounds so terrific. I had a wee listen on a certain website that sells books and stuff and is sometimes accused of tax dodging and based in South America by the sound of the name; and it left me wanting more, so that's where I'm going.
Anyway here he is from a couple of years back with Kevin Crawford.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmyRp16TYrk

...and another with others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E39mRYES8M

[Lat-Literal]

I totally loved this track, Lat, and the vid too...although the song seemed to change direction in the last minute or so...before that I thought, 'Right, Trump, see how you do against these thorny Mexicans'. Wonderful stuff. Liked the other two, especially the Puerto Rican Quattro (sp?)...thanks!

A record I've heard two or three tracks from last year (think Colesy played a couple) re-appeared in my head today - Cillian Vallely's first solo record of uillean pipe tunes 'The Raven's Rock' sounded fantastic but I can't find any tracks on YT or spotty...and there was a track on Songlines too, now that I think. It just sounds so terrific. I had a wee listen on a certain website that sells books and stuff and is sometimes accused of tax dodging and based in South America by the sound of the name; and it left me wanting more, so that's where I'm going.
Anyway here he is from a couple of years back with Kevin Crawford.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmyRp16TYrk

...and another with others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E39mRYES8M

Many thanks JC. That one is going to be Nomination 29 so we are nearly there. Re your links which I like, I have scanned the web for Scottish and Irish 2016 releases and didn't find many. For the record, I've also been searching re Newfoundland, Scandinavia, Sardinia, the kora, the hardanger fiddle, hurdy-gurdy, zydeco and more with limited success.

One from Home:

1. Baaba Maal - The Traveller
2. Kate Tempest - Let Them Eat Chaos
3. Calypso Rose - Far From Home
4. Elza Soares - A Mulher Do Fim Do Mundo
5. Various Artists - Songs of Separation
6. The Gloaming - 2
7. Shirley Collins - Lodestar
8. Djelimady Tounkara - Djely Blues
9. Papa Wemba - Forever de Generation En Generation

10. Washington Phillips - Washington Phillips & His Manzarene Dreams
11. Ólafur Arnalds - Island Songs
12. Cigdem Aslan - A Thousand Cranes
13. Rokia Traore - Ne So
14. Kristi Stassinopoulou and Stathis Kalyviotis - NYN
15. Bombino - Azel
16. Thrace featuring Jean-Guihen Queyras - Sunday Morning Sessions
17. Ana Moura - Moura
18. Imarhan - Imarhan
19. John Prine - For Better, or Worse
20. Chaim Tannenbaum - Chaim Tannenbaum

21. Lee Scratch Perry - Must Be Free
22. Aziza Brahim - Abbar el Hamada
23. Afro Celt Sound System - The Source
24. Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra - Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra (AHEO)
25. Roberto Fonseca (featuring Eliades Ochoa) - ABUC
26. The Frightnrs - Nothing More to Say
27. Lee Scratch Perry and Mad Professor - Live at Maritime Hall (1997)
28. Vieux Kante - The Young Man's Harp
29. Guillermo Velázquez y los Leones de la Sierra de Xichú - Serrano de Corazón

[Lat-Literal]

Takashi Hirayasu - Yuu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz6OQwvm2Pc

Kaia Kater - Nine Pin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmfGOYg3rPA

Janiva Magness - Love Wins Again - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eijfc3wxoUI

Harold Lopez-Nussa - El Viaje - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B2R1TmutBA

....I will leave it there.

That's me lot!

[Lat-Literal]

One of the things I discovered during my trek was that votes can only be cast in polls like the froots poll for records that have been formally reviewed. I think I am right in saying that froots didn't review one Okinawan disc in 2016. While it was not a strong year for music from that region, there were three or four notable releases. So : If I were choosing a 30th on the basis of preference, it might well have been for Agustin Lira and Alma's "Songs of Struggle and Hope". But, I have tentatively chosen the Takashi Hirayasu disc not least to broaden representation on our list. As I have indicated before, I have seen him live - with Bob Brozman. He is a significant figure and it is his first solo release for nearly two decades. It also appears that he may effectively be having to self-publish. There hasn't been any of the usual promotion expected of key record labels. Here is the detailed review:

https://powerofokinawa.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/takashi-hirayasu-yuu/

Final List

(unless you want to make changes)

Best 30 CDs of 2016 in our Category from the R3 World Music Forum

Not in order of preference:

1. Baaba Maal - The Traveller
2. Kate Tempest - Let Them Eat Chaos
3. Calypso Rose - Far From Home
4. Elza Soares - A Mulher Do Fim Do Mundo
5. Various Artists - Songs of Separation
6. The Gloaming - 2
7. Shirley Collins - Lodestar
8. Djelimady Tounkara - Djely Blues
9. Papa Wemba - Forever de Generation En Generation

10. Washington Phillips - Washington Phillips & His Manzarene Dreams
11. Ólafur Arnalds - Island Songs
12. Cigdem Aslan - A Thousand Cranes
13. Rokia Traore - Ne So
14. Kristi Stassinopoulou and Stathis Kalyviotis - NYN
15. Bombino - Azel
16. Thrace featuring Jean-Guihen Queyras - Sunday Morning Sessions
17. Ana Moura - Moura
18. Imarhan - Imarhan
19. John Prine - For Better, or Worse
20. Chaim Tannenbaum - Chaim Tannenbaum

21. Lee Scratch Perry - Must Be Free
22. Aziza Brahim - Abbar el Hamada
23. Afro Celt Sound System - The Source
24. Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra - Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra (AHEO)
25. Roberto Fonseca (featuring Eliades Ochoa) - ABUC
26. The Frightnrs - Nothing More to Say
27. Lee Scratch Perry and Mad Professor - Live at Maritime Hall (1997)
28. Vieux Kante - The Young Man's Harp
29. Guillermo Velázquez y los Leones de la Sierra de Xichú - Serrano de Corazón
30. Takashi Hirayasu - Yuu : Traditional Songs from the Ryukyu Islands

[Globaltruth]

That v. good Lat - thanks for this.
Obviously we're going to need a Spotify playlist.
And here it is, 4/15th of the way there already!!!

https://open.spotify.com/user/trautigan/playlist/2F2KsuKt7UEOWn5y7D5kUL

[Lat-Literal]

That v. good Lat - thanks for this.
Obviously we're going to need a Spotify playlist.
And here it is, 4/15th of the way there already!!!

https://open.spotify.com/user/trauti...7UEOWn5y7D5kUL

Thanks GT.

That's great.

I think I have to go into the Spotify system using a different route but I will get there!

[Globaltruth]

Thanks GT.

That's great.

I think I have to go into the Spotify system using a different route but I will get there!

Think I've got 27 of them in there now.
Currently enjoying Roberto Fonseca.

[Lat-Literal]

Think I've got 27 of them in there now.
Currently enjoying Roberto Fonseca.

That's fantastic - thank you ever so much, GT. I am now "following" the new list. That Spotify has 27 of them is quite extraordinary. Think I recall a brief discussion on the forum (JC and me?) last year about how we hadn't especially rated Roberto Fonseca in the past and were pleasantly surprised he was going back to basics with his latest to good effect.

[Globaltruth]

That's fantastic - thank you ever so much, GT. I am now "following" the new list. That Spotify has 27 of them is quite extraordinary. Think I recall a brief discussion on the forum (JC and me?) last year about how we hadn't especially rated Roberto Fonseca in the past and were pleasantly surprised he was going back to basics with his latest to good effect.

Glad you like it Lat - it's a reminder that the complete album should be worthy of attention. Must admit I'm a bit distracted by FIP auteurs du monde. Shiny new thing syndrome... anyway welcome back to Spot.