Sometimes, western attempts to blend Middle Eastern styles with Jazz can be a bit suspect. Especially if, as is the case here, the album title contains the word ‘Oriental’… Aping traditional sounds and styles needs to be respectful – and importantly, it needs to work! In this case, I feel that both criteria are satisfied…
23/10/2020: “Corre Riba, Corre Baxo” by Abel Lima
For some reason, Cape Verde hits well above its weight musically. It could be due to the diverse history and population of the islands, but…
22/10/2019: “Tarraxo Everyday” by DJ Marfox
DJ Marfox is the undisputed pioneer of a particular style of music emanating from Lisbon. Often called the “ghetto sound of Lisbon”, the music is…
21/10/2019: “Where I’m Coming From” by Lila Ike
Lila Ike is one of Jamaica’s up and coming big voices. With a dusky, soulful sound, she sings over roots music and modernised trap flavoured…
20/10/2019: “Heaven & Hell” by Raekwon featuring Ghostface Killah
This is one of the finest hip hop songs ever penned. The lyrics and flow are on point, and the production is awe inspiringly brilliant….
19/10/2019: “Wildflower” by Hank Crawford
The original version of this was a soulful 1972 smooth jam by Skylark. It’s a nice enough tune, if a little lacking in energy. There…
18/10/2019: “As We Enter” by Mikey Dread
Why is this song so heavy? You can only assume that it is intentional; that the waves of bass which crash out of the speakers…
17/10/2019: “All Good” by Illa J
This song is from an album which uses instrumentals which were produced by Illa J’s older brother. The album is 2008’s Yancey Boys, and Illa J’s…
16/10/2019: “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits
This song was banned at one point from receiving airplay on Canadian radio stations, due to its homophobic language. However, the song was written based…
15/10/2019: “Jackie Blue” by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
The intense folk vibes coming off of this provide a counterpoint to the Electric Light Orchestra-esque catchiness. As the name suggests, the band are from…