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Motéma debut from NYC -based, Moroccan-born vocalist and co ... Read more

Motéma debut from NYC -based, Moroccan-born vocalist and composerMalika Zarra is rich in rhythm, melody, and culture. The sensual,multilingual, and supremely sophisticated Zarra weaves North African chaâbiand Berber/Gnawa polyrhythms together with New York-style groove jazz intoa luxurious sound that showcases her seductive voice and imaginative lyrics. CNN International featured Zarra on their African Voices program, callingher Morocco s Jazz Jewel. Previous self-released CD, The Ebony Road, sold over 2,000 units andgained international media attention. Minimize

Motéma debut from NYC -based, Moroccan-born vocalist and co ... Read more

Motéma debut from NYC -based, Moroccan-born vocalist and composerMalika Zarra is rich in rhythm, melody, and culture. The sensual,multilingual, and supremely sophisticated Zarra weaves North African chaâbiand Berber/Gnawa polyrhythms together with New York-style groove jazz intoa luxurious sound that showcases her seductive voice and imaginative lyrics. CNN International featured Zarra on their African Voices program, callingher Morocco s Jazz Jewel. Previous self-released CD, The Ebony Road, sold over 2,000 units andgained international media attention. Minimize

The Kabyles, an Algerian Berber people representing one of ... Read more

The Kabyles, an Algerian Berber people representing one of the oldest Northwestern African civilizations, hold poetry and music in high esteem. The music presented here is used in celebration of a marriage feast and the religious holiday Aid-Amezziane. The songs mourn poverty, misfortune and unrequited love, while always maintaining a sense of pride. Instrumentation includes the ajouag (shepherd's flute), cornemuse (similar to the bagpipes), ghaita (a double reed instrument similar to the oboe), t'bel (tambourine) and bendir (frame drum) as well as more recent additions to the instrumental assortment: the violin, guitar and banjo. Minimize

Orchestral and choral arrangements of rock songs have been ... Read more

Orchestral and choral arrangements of rock songs have been a curious subgenre ever since the mid-'60s when Andrew Loog Oldham arranged The Rolling Stones Songbook for syrupy strings, but The Kinks Choral Collection stands apart from the pack for the simple reason that it's not the project of some associate or admirer, but rather chief Kink Ray Davies. His very presence as arranger and lead vocal means The Kinks Choral Collection isn't nearly as stuffy and middlebrow as so many of these orchestral rock albums; he manages to inject some semblance of rock & roll by pushing the songs forward with guitar, and letting the rhythms swing instead of plod. This looseness is the first big surprise of the album. The second is its unrepentant but quite possibly accidental silliness, how many of the major guitar riffs are transposed for choir, an audacious idea in concept that's simply goofy in practice. These choral chants hamper the hardest rocking songs here -- "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of the Night," "Victo Minimize

It's no surprise that the city of Bristol should be a hotbe ... Read more

It's no surprise that the city of Bristol should be a hotbed of activity surrounding the U.K.'s most recent electronic music subgenre, the bass-heavy dubstep. After all, Bristol was also Ground Zero for trip-hop in the '90s, home to Massive Attack, Tricky, and Portishead. This two-CD set compiles many, if not most, of the notable tracks of the past few years, the majority of which combine pumping rhythms (slower than drum'n'bass, faster than hip-hop) with oozing low-end synths and minimal, if any, vocals. A lot of dubstep tries too hard to be scary, with sampled dialogue from horror movies and synths that aspire to be John Carpenter movie soundtracks, but most of what's included here is by artists including Pinch, Appleblim, and Peverelist, as well as Smith & Mighty, whose dancehall-derived work from an earlier generation greatly informs much of what's heard today. The latter's contribution, "B Line B Flo," is much more of a dancehall/drum'n'bass workout than the humming, throbbing instrumentals that make up Minimize

The Kabyles, an Algerian Berber people representing one of ... Read more

The Kabyles, an Algerian Berber people representing one of the oldest Northwestern African civilizations, hold poetry and music in high esteem. The music presented here is used in celebration of a marriage feast and the religious holiday Aid-Amezziane. The songs mourn poverty, misfortune and unrequited love, while always maintaining a sense of pride. Instrumentation includes the ajouag (shepherd's flute), cornemuse (similar to the bagpipes), ghaita (a double reed instrument similar to the oboe), t'bel (tambourine) and bendir (frame drum) as well as more recent additions to the instrumental assortment: the violin, guitar and banjo. Minimize

Arguably no subgenre is more clearly defined, almost to the ... Read more

Arguably no subgenre is more clearly defined, almost to the point of cliché, than surf rock, a virtual soundtrack to southern California beach culture that identifies itself within one or two notes of the reverb-soaked guitars of the Ventures and Dick Dale. But surf culture extends far beyond the California coast, and so too does surf music -- Harmless' superb Chairman of the Board: Surf Soundtracks '64 to '74 assembles highlights from the myriad independent surf films produced in the U.S. and Australia in the wake of director Bruce Brown's landmark The Endless Summer, capturing the music's evolution into heavier, more psychedelic sounds attuned to the mystical communion between man and wave. Fascinating, little-heard stuff far removed from "Pipeline" or "Walk, Don't Run" -- highlights include Farm's "Crumple Car," Ticket's "Dream Chant," and Tamam Shud's "Evolution." ~ Jason Ankeny Minimize

Techno isn't a genre that has birthed many classic albums, ... Read more

Techno isn't a genre that has birthed many classic albums, and the dub techno subgenre even less so, but one indisputable classic is Porter Ricks' debut Biokinetics. Originally issued on the legendary Basic Channel sub-label Chain Reaction in 1996 following a trio of 12"s, Biokinetics was the first of the label's album releases, and still stands as its crowning achievement. The duo was made up of dark ambient pioneer Thomas K"ner and sound engineer Andy Mellwig, and between them they re-framed the techno sound, imbuing the spacious ambience pioneered by label bosses Mark Ernestus and Moritz Von Oswald with a frosty, isolated experimental bent, and combining it with the sort of haunted minimalism of early Plastikman. What separated Biokinetics from other albums at the time was its unwavering narrative -- the exact sound has been interpreted countless times since, but the immersive qualities of this singular record have rarely been touched. Maybe it is down to the silvery underwater concept that ties each track together -- the bubbling pads, sub-aquatic basses and muffled kick drums. But as with any great album, it's hard to exactly put your finger on what makes it a classic. Simply put, Biokinetics is one of the most important records in the genre, and it is Type's pleasure to make it available to the world once again. Features new artwork. Minimize

Personnel: Erlend Hjelvik (vocals); Bjarte Lund Rolland, Ma ... Read more

Personnel: Erlend Hjelvik (vocals); Bjarte Lund Rolland, Maciek Ofstad, Vidar Landa (guitar); Kjetil H. Gjermundrod (drums).Audio Mixer: Kurt Ballou.Recording information: GodCity (02/2010-03/2010).Just when you think every possible rock & roll subgenre has already been mixed, matched, and spliced with every other available subgenre beyond any conceivable alternative, along comes a band like Kvelertak to set you straight. The Norwegian sextet's eponymous debut essentially weds punk rock to black metal, taking the straightforward power chords and infectious simplicity of the former and dashing its brains against the petrified forest symbolizing the latter's remorseless attack and harsh vocals (all of them spewing Norwegian lyrics, to boot). The resulting hybrid, as exemplified by thunderous ditties like "Mjod," "Fossegrim," "Offernatt," and "Sultans of Satan," simultaneously encourages listeners to pogo around the room (sh*t-eating grins permanently plastered on their faces) and slaughter a goat to Belial (in Minimize

Audio Mixers: Roberto Concina; Toni Economides.Recording in ... Read more

Audio Mixers: Roberto Concina; Toni Economides.Recording information: The Music Room, Ibiza, Spain; The Shell, London, UK.Arranger: Roberto Concina.Best known for his worldwide instrumental hit "Children," Italian dance producer Robert Miles was responsible for kick-starting the subgenre of dream-trance, a blissfully chilled-out fusion of Vangelis-style neo-classical music and progressive house beats, which helped him to bag a Brit Award and several Top Ten singles in the mid-'90s. Since his last commercial success, the Kathy Sledge-featuring "Freedom," 14 years ago, he's abandoned his celestial piano-based roots in favor of experimental trip-hop on 2001's Organik and ethnic jazz on 2004's Miles_Gurtu, a collaboration with Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu. Seven years on, he returns from the musical wilderness with his fifth studio album, Th1Rt3En, and another new sound that further distances himself from his Euro-dance beginnings. You certainly won't find any guest vocalists or infectious pop melodies on it Minimize

Techno isn't a genre that has birthed many classic albums, ... Read more

Techno isn't a genre that has birthed many classic albums, and the dub techno subgenre even less so, but one indisputable classic is Porter Ricks' debut Biokinetics. Originally issued on the legendary Basic Channel sub-label Chain Reaction in 1996 following a trio of 12"s, Biokinetics was the first of the label's album releases, and still stands as its crowning achievement. The duo was made up of dark ambient pioneer Thomas K"ner and sound engineer Andy Mellwig, and between them they re-framed the techno sound, imbuing the spacious ambience pioneered by label bosses Mark Ernestus and Moritz Von Oswald with a frosty, isolated experimental bent, and combining it with the sort of haunted minimalism of early Plastikman. What separated Biokinetics from other albums at the time was its unwavering narrative -- the exact sound has been interpreted countless times since, but the immersive qualities of this singular record have rarely been touched. Maybe it is down to the silvery underwater concept that ties each track together -- the bubbling pads, sub-aquatic basses and muffled kick drums. But as with any great album, it's hard to exactly put your finger on what makes it a classic. Simply put, Biokinetics is one of the most important records in the genre, and it is Type's pleasure to make it available to the world once again. Features new artwork. Minimize

Hassane Idbassaid was born in Tiznit, in the south of Moroc ... Read more

Hassane Idbassaid was born in Tiznit, in the south of Morocco in 1973. His childhood is influenced by Berber music and the sound of the traditional instruments. It s the history of a young man who made his own instrument when he was nine years old, and created his first band at eleven. At 18 years old, he is inspired by a lot of melodies, modern and old ones. Ibdassaid has listened to the music of the entire world, from India to Occident. He loves to mix up old instruments with the new ones. He plays with the greatest names of Berber music and he starts composing his own melodies taking inspiration from Hadj Belaïd, Ahmed Amentague and Saïd Achtouk, whom he pays tributes to in three albums. In 1985, he takes a flight to Paris to join his father. He discovers the lights of this big city, full of clubs, bars, musicians...and adopts this town in his heart. He meets Ammouri M Barek, a Mythic character of the Berber Music , who gives him inspiration. Together they will be touring in several european countries. Idbassaid has released fifteen albums so far, all produced and distributed in Morocco and worldwide (Japan, Europe, USA, and Canada). His new album Chahwa is influenced by Berber music but also modern sound, all titles are original and sung in tamazight (berber language) except one song in French, Paris . Minimize

There's no doubt that King Tubby was the dub master. He sta ... Read more

There's no doubt that King Tubby was the dub master. He started the whole subgenre, and while others took it to places he hadn't imagined, his own take was quite electrifying, most especially his early, most experimental work. Although it's never clarified in the sleeve notes, this seems to be somewhat later (given the fact that the music is played by the Aggrovators and Sly & Robbie), and while some tracks, such as "Do the Dub Skank," sparkle, a lot seem somewhat by-the-numbers, heavy on the echo but a little low on the creativity. For all that it's not his best inventive work, it's still perfectly listenable; it simply doesn't capture and demand attention the way his best work does, jumping out of the speakers the way it did when brand new. At some point someone will put together the definitive King Tubby anthology, and maybe a couple of these tracks will make the cut. Until then, gather what you can -- none of it's bad, just different grades of good. -All Music Guide Minimize

On her first album in more than five years, Peruvian singer ... Read more

On her first album in more than five years, Peruvian singer Eva Ayllón demonstrates her own versatility and that of the musical styles she favors, Afro-Peruvian music and música criolla (the creole music of Lima), carefully listing each rhythmic subgenre beside the titles of the tracks. So, the forceful opener, "El Muñeco de la Ciudad" (The City's Best Looking Guy) is a festejo; the sensuous call-and-response follow-up, "Me Sabe a Canela" (It Tastes Like Cinnamon) is a landó; and the third track, the folkish "El Surco" (An Open Furrow) is another festejo, even if a much calmer sort. Whatever the mood or the beat, the constants are rhythmically played acoustic guitars and Latin percussion, plus Ayllón's throaty, emotive vocals. She brings in elements from other, related cultures on occasion, turning more overtly African on "Quimba, Fá, Malambo, Ñeque," a celebration of the movement of music and culture from Africa to Peru, and using a horn section on "Animo y Aliento" (Encouragement and Spirit), which is accur Minimize

Producers: Julius Butty; Alexisonfire.Engineers: Kevin Diet ... Read more

Producers: Julius Butty; Alexisonfire.Engineers: Kevin Dietz; Rob Stefenson; Marco Brasette; Nick Blagona.Audio Mixer: Julius Butty.Hardcore punk, post-hardcore, hardcore metal... it's getting increasingly difficult to identify what group belongs to which subgenre circa the early 21st century--a case in point being the Ontario-based quintet Alexisonfire. On their fourth full-length overall, 2009's OLD CROWS/YOUNG CARDINALS, there is a bit of all three aforementioned styles, with a healthy dose of melody stirred into the sonic blender for good measure. This hodgepodge approach should bring Alexisonfire some U.S. rock radio airplay (they already scored their breakthrough hit back home on their previous album, 2006's CRISIS), especially such standout tracks as the leadoff single, "Young Cardinals," as well as the album-opening "Old Crows," "The Northern," and the surprisingly tranquil and sweetly sung album closer, "Burial." Minimize

Parisian DJ-cum-disco emissary Dimitri has championed the s ... Read more

Parisian DJ-cum-disco emissary Dimitri has championed the sleazy sounds of '70s lounge-influenced dance music from early on in his career. Mining the sweet, soulful, and sometimes campy sounds of the disco era circa 1976-1979 (a subgenre he refers to as "Cocktail Disco"), he has come up with his latest mix CD, appropriately titled Cocktail Disco. Seamlessly mixing a variety of rare and hard-to-find recordings from deep within his crates, Dimitri has matched his knack for tasteful programming with a mixing finesse that brings to mind some of the most influential DJs of the '70s (Larry Levan, David Mancuso). Brimming with incessant 4/4 beats, rich orchestrations, and a decidedly Latin vibe, Cocktail Disco is perfect dance music for jet-setting urban sophisticates. ~ Dave Shim Minimize

Personnel: Brian Patton, Tony White (guitar); Tommy Buckley ... Read more

Personnel: Brian Patton, Tony White (guitar); Tommy Buckley (drums).Recording information: Mana Studios, Tampa, FL (01/2005).With a sound that combines a myriad of metallic styles, it's been quite difficult to link Soilent Green to one specific subgenre -- one minute they're riffing and roaring away à la Pantera, the next they're offering up death metal tempos. So despite their sonic melting pot, it's widely agreed that the group has been a champion of extreme metal for some time, as evidenced by any of their brutal releases for Relapse. On their fifth release overall, 2005's Confrontation, the group are still out to slay the competition, and from front to back, few could keep pace with Soilent Green. But whereas two of the group's top influences, Slayer and the aforementioned Pantera, break things up musically from time to time, Soilent Green keep things cranked up to ten (for the most part). As a result, if you're not a die-hard fan of extreme metal, songs start blending into each other very quickly. A few Minimize