World > by Label

Advantages: Awesome playing and musicianship. Easy listening.
Disadvantages: Perhaps not for the 'purist' folk music lover.

...this, their first CD, Roby Lakatos (violin) and his Ensemble (consisting of piano, guitar, cymbalon, double bass, and another violin) take their listeners on an exhilarating journey through a variety of gypsy-inspired musical styles. Their flair, charm and sensitive musicianship are apparent from the first note to the last. Described as the ‘nonconformist of the violin’, Roby Lakatos was born into a family of Hungarian gypsy violin traditions dating ...
...in every sense however, he has taken these traditions and moulded them to achieve his own unique musical voice. The incorporation of a guitar and piano into his gypsy ensemble for instance, are certainly not typical instruments of this genre. This CD, entitled simply ‘Lakatos’, consists of 13 tracks (see below for track listing). There is something for everyone here, with some tracks being traditional Hungarian folksongs, some Lakatos’ own compositions, ... Read review

Advantages: Good Music
Disadvantages: Needs improvement

An interesting album of cover tracks. The band are from France and have recently made it onto the scene in the last few years. Some songs are better than others. I would recommend this album as an easy listening record. It's something you can relax to in the evening. Tracks JOY DIVISION : Love will tear us apart (feat. Eloisia) DEPECHE MODE : Just can't get enough (feat. Eloisia) TUXEDOMOON : In a manner of speaking (feat. Camille) THE CLASH : ...
...not a) love song (feat. Melanie Pain) DEAD KENNEDYS : Too drunk to f**k (feat. Camille) THE SISTERS OF MERCY : Marian (feat. Alex) XTC : Making plans for Nigel (feat. Camille) THE CURE : A forest (feat. Marina) MODERN ENGLISH : I melt with you (feat. Silja) THE UNDERTONES : Teenage Kicks (feat. Melanie Pain) KILLING JOKE : Psyche (feat. Sir Alice) THE SPECIALS : Friday night, saturday morning (feat. Daniella D'Ambrosio) ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent Choice of Songs
Disadvantages: None

This CD is excellent. I have always been a fan of Male Voice choirs (not just because I'm welsh) because the overall harmony is gorgeous!! I saw this CD advertised recently on the TV and my parents bought it for me. I was not disappointed. There is an excellent selection on traditional welsh ballads with past pop hits etc. People often mistake Male Voice Choirs as just a 'Welsh Thing' that they won't nessarily enjoy, I think they would be pleasently ...
...20, not many of the younger generation appreciate music different to hip-pop, punk-rock or rap but as I was brought up surrounded by jazz, classical, brass etc, I have a much wider taste, thankfully. This is a CD that I play quite often and enjoy every time. The Tracks on this CD: 1) Sailing 2) Abide With Me 3) Jerusalem 4) Land Of My Fathers 5) Danny Boy 6) Unchained Melody 7) You Raise Me Up 8) Shenandoah 9) You'll Never Walk Alone 10) All Through ... Read review

Advantages: Some great recordings of rare tracks
Disadvantages: Misses some of Romica's best works

From 1864 and the abolition of slavery, many homeless gypsies settled on the outskirts of southern towns of Romania, these areas were called "mahalas" and it was where the songs "cantece de mahala" (songs of the suburbs) originated. People met in the local cafe or "carciuma" and a group of local musicians the "taraf" which usually consisted of violinist, double bass player, cobza, accordian and tambal and vocalist would entertain everyone else. This ...
...in 1926 in Bucharest and started singing in cafes by the age of 14 but it wasn't until 1964 that she actually recorded an album, The Gore Brothers (famous Romanian musicians - Aurel and Victor) who also grew up in the same mahala and were in fact cousins to Puceanu helped her become famous by organising gigs for her. She has a strange voice, sometimes incredibly high other times really low - quite similar to a black male blues artist. She was infact ... Read review

Advantages: Uplifting and joyful
Disadvantages: For a debut album, it's hard to fault

...based since 2003 and where Navega was recorded. On this delightfully poised debut album, the 23 year-old Mayra sings on all but one of the songs in a Cape Verdean Creole - a language derived from Portuguese. I didn't realise how different the language was until I looked at the strange text in which the lyrics are written. I had the unusual experience of being able to understand more her singing voice, but less able to decipher the written lyrics. ...
...CD booklet, though after some study I have come to the conclusion that the English translation is not a good one. Nevertheless, there is enough to give you a good sense of the feel and subject matter of each song. Musical InfluencesLargely due to her background, Mayra Andrade's music is a mixture of international influences, in which traditional Cape Verdean rhythms and song-forms are fused with Afro rhythms, Latin melodies, Brazilian samba ... Read review