January 30, 2005
SambaSunda | The Sunda Music |Far Side Music | Indonesia
buy it
This is a surprising and exceptional release by the Indonesian collective SambaSunda. Though bookended by tracks that display obvious Latin influence, the rest of the album is a batik woven from the sounds of the Middle East, the Indonesian archipelago and perhaps (in the vocal of one track) a hint of Indian film music. I lack the expertise to tease out all the strands, but luckily the pleasures of music like this aren't intellectual, but rhythmic and melodic.
January 20, 2005
Miyazawa | Tokyo Story |Far Side Music | Japan
buy it
Tokyo Story is a new CD compiled from the solo career of the urbane and charismatic Japanese pop star Kazufumi Miyazawa, whose influences stretch from Okinawa to Rio.
January 17, 2005
News | Guitar Wolf Announce Next US Tour | Japan
Hard rockin' and hard tourin' Guitar Wolf will soon be back in the Statesnext month. No strangers to these shores, the Japanese band has a reputation for energetic shows that border on the chaotic. I'll try to catch the Chicago stop for a review. Guitar Wolf's tour dates are:
January 15, 2005
News | Music from Tsunami Areas |
Some reporters and radio programmers have expressed interest in finding music indigenous to tsunami-affected areas. I've compiled a list of releases mentioned by the experts on a couple of world music mailing lists. Some folks provided interesting details about the cultures and genres involved. I've included all of this information, unedited.
READ FULL ENTRY...January 07, 2005
News | Rough Guide CDs Benefit Tsunami Victims |
Here's a message from worldmusic.net:
In the month of January, with any online purchase of any of the following Rough Guides: the Rough Guide to the Music of Thailand, the Rough Guide to the Music of Indonesia, the Rough Guide to the Music of India and the Rough Guide to the Music of the Indian Ocean, World Music Network (UK) will donate £5.00 (about $9.00) from the sale to the Oxfam Tsunami Crisis Fund.
I believe this only refers to purchases made on their site. These are good collections, so this is a no-brainer if you don't already own them. You can get more information and buy the CDs here.
January 03, 2005
News | Thoughts on Giving to Tsunami Victims |
The joy of our Western holiday season has been diminished by the knowledge of the ongoing misery in Asia. This first entry of 2005 can't be about anything but helping the victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Giving money is a way to strengthen the bond between hemispheres, aiding those who suffer and empowering us who helplessly follow this tragedy from afar.
I'm donating to an Indonesian Muslim group, IMAAM, who in turn distribute funds to the Indonesian Red Crescent, MER-C and PKPU, groups currently on the ground working in Aceh and other localities.
My choice of this group was informed by several things: Idonesia suffered the brunt of this disaster and I have personally enjoyed the kindness of its people, so it made sense to me help there. It is my strong belief that the people of the region know best their own needs, so I wanted to donate to organizations run by "locals." Finally, while my own nation of residence, the U.S., is doing so much to exacerbate conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims, I want my donation to be a small gesture of goodwill to followers of Islam.
The fourth pillar of that religion is zakat or "charity," often expressed by year-end tithing at Ramadan, when Muslims are asked to contribute 2 1/2 percent of their annual income. I find this a very enlightened and helpful way to think about giving. What percentage of this month's income can I afford to contribute to help those in need?
Some Asian Embassies in the U.S.:
Indonesia: http://www.embassyofindonesia.org/
Thailand: http://www.thaiembdc.org/
Sri Lanka: http://www.slembassyusa.org/
India: http://www.indianembassy.org/