Re: Watchya Listenin' To Lately?

1) Thievery Corporation - The Cosmic Game
Like most musical genres 95% of electronica is crap and 5% is
interesting. Thievery Corporation falls into electronica's 5%, with
The Cosmic Game their strongest effort to date. Features guest
appearances by Perry Farrell and David Byrne.

2) Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate - In the Heart of the Moon
These two african heavyweights got together earlier this year to record
one song, which went so well that they kept on going to record an
entire CD. No rehearsals, fully improvised, very good.

3) Fela Kuti - Shuffering and Shmiling/No Agreement
Great classic Fela.

4) Ethiopiques, Vol. 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale, 1969-1974
As you can see I've been on something of an African kick of late. This
is a compilation with most contributions by Ethiopean jazz
musician/arranger Mulatu Astatqe. Jammin' Ethiopian funk-soul-jazz
accented with Ethiopian roots music - works quite well.

5) Neil Young - Prairie Wind
I just got this one and haven't fully absorbed it yet, but my initial
impression is that it seems to be another great one from Neil. Damn
impressive - most songwriters from the era he started in stopped
creating new music of this quality decades ago.

6) Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane (the new one)
An incredible find. Works for me.

Ray

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