Music

Leave a comment Posted on Music, Southern Africa

From A to Zimbabwe

At last it has come full sphere – after more than 6 years of traveling around the planet we have now explored the music from every nation on Earth (if you want proof, click the Past Episodes tab and scroll waaaay down). It has been an amazing feast for the ears, every week bringing new surprises, and I must say that I’m a bit sad that there are no more nations to discover on this here planet (maybe hiding somewhere in a cave where the google doesn’t see?).

But as each nation is a world in itself, there is still so much to learn. Heck, a lot of new music can happen to a country in 6 years! So get ready for round 2, the sophomore journey around the world. It may end up being a bit different this time, but no less magical I reckon.

matemaipromo1

The Matemai Mbira Group have the biggest darn mbiras in Harare

First! Our maiden voyage to Zimbabwe, uncovering mbiras of many shapes and flavours, zimdancehall, new wave, reggae, hip hop, classic zimrock, and punk…

Leave a comment Posted on Asia, Music, South Asia

Sounds like 17,000 islands

travel advice Indonesia-Raja-Ampat-Papua

Trip to the music of Indonesia, where traditions like the otherworldly Gamelan orchestra blend with modern sounds to manifest waves you never dreamed of!

Yes there are 17,000 islands in Indonesia, and some believe that the lost city of Atlantis is hidden somewhere beneath the Indonesian sea. What a fun idea! Did they play Gamelan? Did they have electric guitars? Maybe this band would have been tops of the Atlantean pops:

From the first hour, a world of new music:

Leave a comment Posted on Asia, Carribean, East Asia, Music, North America

The Sound of Dragon across Time and Space

SoDE

If you are curious about blending two very distinct musical worlds, there has probably never been a better place and time than Vancouver and Now. As the city hosts large populations with European and Asian heritage, it seems inevitable that these cultures should mix and create something new and distinctly Canadian. As someone who has lived in the city for nearly 18 years, a city known for its openness and spirit of innovation, it surprises me how little musical cross-pollination seems to be happening. Enter the Sound of Dragon.

Armanini Lan National Concert Hall Taipei 2011

Mark Armanini and Lan Tung in Taipei

With one foot in the folk traditions of China and the other in the wild improvisational aesthetic of jazz, the Sound of Dragon Ensemble is blazing a brave new standard for what Canadian music can be. The first hour of this week’s program presents an intriguing conversation with SODE composers Lan Tun, John Oliver, and Mark Armanini, longtime residents of Vancouver and scholars of sonic alchemy. Catch their spring concert this thursday!

Leave a comment Posted on Europe, Music, North America

French-Canadian Folklore hits the Club

Mélisande Electrotrad performing live with guest artists Yaëlle Azoulay, Greg Krypto Selinger, and Yves Lambert

Mélisande [électrotrad] = Mouth harp, flute, bangers!

At last, something to bring together the folk heads and the candy ravers. One of the most ambitious projects to come out of Québec in quite some time, Mélisande [électrotrad] have concocted a booty-shaking fusion of Québecois folk music and electronic jams. Sounds like something that might upset the purists, but Mélisande have gone to great lengths to preserve the authenticity of the source material, even traveling to the U.S. Library of Congress to dig up ancient recordings. This program features an interview with Mélisande, discussing their tour and brand new album, les Millésimes.

¡También, vamos a España!