Nope, we aren’t worshiping at the altar of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (mad respect to all Pastafarians) – we are tripping to the Federated States of Micronesia, a scatter-shot nation founded in 1979 by the (figurative) joining of four discrete island-states in the west Pacific.  It is a place of tropical dreamscapes, floating on the fringes of the global radar and quite worthy of an authentic exploration.

Check out Chuuk– the most highly populated state in FSM with a whopping 48,000 human inhabitants.  Encircled by 225 km of coral reefs, it is one of the largest lagoons in the world:

Chuuk Lagoon – Paradise Protected

As you might expect from such an idyllic setting, the music of FSM is laid-back and smooth-like.  Most modern sounds are influenced by reggae and synth-pop, usually in tandem.  I can’t quite figure out why Pacific Islanders are so fond of digital drums and auto-tuned vocals, but it sure makes for ultra positive island vibes.  For all I known, they may actually be allergic to minor keys.

Sidenode: each of the four states in FSM – Chuuk, Yap, Pohnpei, and Kosrae – has their own indigenous language, and the locals still identify more with their own islands’ culture than with the nation-state that unifies them… something to keep in mind if your search for ‘Federated States of Micronesia music’ ends in a cul-de-sac.

And hay, happy Year of the Horse! (courtesy of the swingin’ 60s)