The Library CD Shelf
It's Time
Alma Afrobeat Ensemble
www.almaafrobeat.com
Slow Walk Music
www.slowwalkmusic.com
It's Time is the third music CD from Alma Afrobeat Ensemble. Half of the al
bum consists of remixes by DJs given complete creative freedom (their only
guideline was that the remixes "shouldn't sound like the originals") while
the other half is live studio Afrobeat with very little overdubbing. All so
ngs stir the desire to dance, a universal Afrobeat quality that spans conti
nents. It's Time is a thoroughly vivacious experience, highly recommended!
The tracks are "It's Time" (6:49), "Live and Let's Live" (8:13), "Shakedown
" (8:32), "Lost" (8:35), "Siempre Presente" (4:22), "DWB Breakdown" (5:30),
"Ain't It Time" (3:48), "Lost in Dub" (6:08), and "Room Enough for Us" (6:
52).
Aupres du Poele
Ten Strings and a Goat Skin
tenstringsandagoatskin.com
$14.06 US / $20.00 CDN (physical CD) maplemusic.com
$7.99 download itunes.com
Aupres du Poele ("around the woodstove") is the latest music CD from Canadi
an acoustic trio Ten Strings and a Goat Skin. The songs draw on a variety o
f sources, especially old-school Franco-Canadian, Breton, Irish, and Scotti
sh music. Modern elements such pump organ add a touch of cutting-edge funk
to those exuberant, trans-cultural indie songs! The tracks are "The Ukraini
an Expedition" (4:44), "Aupres du Poele" (3:18), "Igen" (6:27), "When First
I Came to Caledonia" (4:28), "Shoot the Moon" (4:33), "Maluron Lurette "4:
29), "The Town" (4:45), "Lament for Buckles" (4:5), "Maudit Anglais" (4:49)
, "Coal Not Dole" (3:12), and "Duhk Duhk Goat" (7:28). Also highly recommen
ded for connoisseurs of fresh and original music is "The Three Voices" ($15
.00 CD/$9.99 download) by Victor Prieto, a transformation of Celtic-Galicia
n dance tunes brought to life with Prieto's memorable accordion play and a
grand performance of bass, drums, piano, saxophone, and more.
Beyond Karma
Gyuto Monks of Tibet
Featuring Kim Cunio & Heather Lee
$16.98 amazon.com
Beyond Karma is a music CD of sacred sounds from a variety of different cul
tures. Australian sacred music duo Kim Cunio and Heather Lee join The Gyuto
Monks of Tibet in this celebration of religious diversity and sacred tradi
tions. The tremendous resonance of the Gyuto Monks' harmonic chant is an ex
perience to cherish and remember; it not only music, but also tantric pract
ice. Highly recommended, especially for international and spiritual music c
ollections. Also a choice pick for listeners eager to broaden their musical
horizons is the Spanish-language album "Selva" ("Jungle", $TBA) by Peruvia
n guitarist Ciro Hurtado.
In the Midst of Stars
Majestica
majesticamusic.com
Heart Dance Records
www.heartdancerecords.com
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com
In the Midst of Stars is a beautiful music album by talented duo Majestica
- bassist and multi-instrumentalist Cass Anawaty, and award-winning multi-f
lutist Sherry Finzer. The two have created an extraordinary medley of ambie
nt tracks, reflecting inspiration from the natural world as well as a celeb
ration of human ingenuity. A "must" for connoisseurs of fine instrumental m
usic, In the Midst of Stars is especially for recommended meditation or rel
axation. The tracks are "In the Midst of Stars" (4:31), "Carousel" (4:01),
"In Bloom" (5:31), "Close of Day" (5:01), "Lone Mountain" (5:10), "View fro
m the Summit" (4:13), "How Does it Feel" (5:07), and "Aurora Australis" (10
:31). 44 min 8 sec.
Extra-Deluxe-Supreme
Hazmat Modine
Barbes Records
barbesrecords.com
$10.99 CD / $7.99 MP3 amazon.com
Extra-Deluxe-Supreme is the third studio album by the band Hazmat Modine, a
group known for their signature tuba and harmonica as well as horn section
, guitars, accordion, and much more. Extra-Deluxe Supreme draws upon a medl
ey of American musical traditions including Gospel, rhythm and blues, count
ry, and early jazz. At once both a celebration of and an imaginative spin u
pon quintessentially American music, Extra-Deluxe Supreme is a joy to exper
ience. The tracks are "Another Day" (4:22), "Plans" (5:10), "Your Sister" (
5:35), "Up & Rise" (5:25), "Arcadia (Coffee, Salt & Laces) (5:33), "Moving
Stones" (3:58), "Whiskey Bird" (6:03), "All of My Days" (4:50), "End of Swe
et Dreams" (5:00), and "Most of All" (4:40).
You Ain't Never Been to Texas
Johnny Lee
www.johnnyleemusic.com
c/o Webster Public Relations (publicity)
PO Box 23015, Nashville, TN 37202
www.websterpr.com
$11.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
You Ain't Never Been to Texas is a bona fide country music album, featuring
the guitar play and stirring vocals of Johnny Lee. Love, loss, courage, pr
ide, and celebration of the Lone Star State are recurring themes in this "m
ust-have" for country music fans! Highly recommended. The tracks are 'Lones
ome Love List", "What's Forever For", "Who's Left, Who's Right", "Deep Wate
r", "Never Been to Texas", "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me", "Good Lov
in' Woman Bad", "Wish I Could Love That Way Again", "2 Steps from the Blues
", "Who Did You Love", "Bullets First", and "Worth Watching".
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