22 February 2010
By Lyov
In folk
Gipsy Kings
On this, arguably the finest of the group’s efforts, the caliber of the musicianship is striking. Rhythmically athletic acoustic guitars, passionate singing, and stirring, syncopated handclaps coalesce to create a fresh, romantic, and eminently danceable sound. Modulations of mood abound, from joyous, percussive romps (“Bem, Bem, Maria”) through more sedate tunes evocative of intimate Spanish cafes (“Quiero Saber”), to plaintive melodies embellished with gorgeous flamenco motifs, such as “Tu Quieres Volver.” Also included are two of the band’s biggest hits, “Djobi Djoba” and the endlessly infectious “Bamboleo.” GIPSY KINGS is an excellent place to start exploring this inventive, wonderfully accessible music....
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flamenco, Gipsy Kings, guitar, latin, spanish, world
08 January 2010
By Lyov
In Pop
Buckle Up ‘n’ Chuggeluck
Everybody Cha Cha
Cecil Jonni Lauro, or short “CJL” are a group of three Brothers: Cecil Carlos Remmler (* December 12th, 1988), Jonni Raphael Remmler (* February 15th 1991) and Lauro Edoard Remmler (* September 19th, 1993) ....
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Buckle Up 'n' Chuggeluck, Cecil, dance, Everybody Cha Cha, Jonni, latin, Lauro, oldies, Pop, Vocal
21 December 2009
By Lyov
In Rap & Hip-Hop
Merry Go Round
From the moment the polished Merry Go Round kicks in, it’s DJ O.G. Styles dominating the proceedings with his squiggly sounding scratches, Spanish guitar loops, and tinkling piano samples, which overshadow rappers Ives and Kimo’s decent but undistinguished rhyming. The album’s other rising star is Michelle, a Latin siren who appears on three songs singing mostly in Spanish. There are no shortage of strictly West Coast, cruising-with-the-top-down-passing-a-fatty-type tunes like “Boulevard Star” and “Return of the Tres.” Thankfully, Delinquent Habits don’t overdo it with the pot references, which is about as tired a subject in Latin rap as shootin’ and killin’ folks is in mainstream rap. The Habits’ lyrics are also extremely laid-back and free of any reference to gangs and violence, except when they occasionally dis that whole scene. In fact, the majority of Merry Go Round sounds very phat indeed. Perhaps there is a radio programmer out there willing to take a chance and reach out to rap radio’s huge Latino audience, but, regardless, Delinquent Habits have fashioned the finest melding of hip-hop and Latin grooves to date....
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Delinquent Habits, Hip-Hop, latin, latin hip hop, Merry Go Round, rap
18 December 2009
By Lyov
In Jazz
Dream Your Dream
Laura Fygi (born August 27, 1955, in Amsterdam) is a Dutch singer.
Daughter to a Dutch father, a manager at Philips, and an Egyptian mother, a belly dancer by profession, Fygi lived with her parents in South America for the first eight years of her life.
Between 1987 and 1991, she was a member of popular Dutch girl-band, Centerfold. During performances, the trio dressed themselves in sexy lingerie. They had hits in the Netherlands and all over Europe, and were equally famous in Japan....
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Dream Your Dream, female vocalists, Jazz, latin, Laura Fygi, smooth jazz, vocal jazz
16 December 2009
By Lyov
In folk
Miss Perfumado
This 1992 recording, which is being released in the US for the first time, established this 57-year-old singer from the Portuguese West African island of Cabo Verde as an international star. Not quite a traditionalist, Cesaria Evora specializes in the Portuguese folk/cabaret ballad called Morna, a moderately paced, highly expressive song-form characterized by meandering minor-key melodies and lyrics which express suffering, hope, and, above all, the all-encompassing Portuguese concept of “saudade,” or nostalgia. As listeners on the Continent have already discovered, MISS PERFUMADO is a perfect introduction to this dignified artist. To be sure, not every song is slow to mid-tempo; there are some lively numbers, though Ms. Evora never loses her poise or even raises her appealingly musky voice. Credit also goes to guitarist/pianist Paulinho Vieira, who directs the sympathetic acoustic accompaniment, so evocative of the sea and warm nights of Evora’s beloved Cabo Verde....
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cape verde, Cesaria Evora, female vocalists, latin, Miss Perfumado, world, world music
23 November 2009
By Lyov
In Jazz, Lounge
Nectar
This album features the poignantly expressive, soulful vocals of Natalia Clever, who blends passion with restraint on an exciting set of down-tempo bossa-tronica numbers just made for slow-dancing. “Azul” has a snake-charmer of a melody, and listeners will melt when Clavier’s lovely alto opens up to almost full throttle on the chorus without lapsing into melodrama. “Ay de Mi,” by contrast is an infectious tango laden with accordions that apes tradition while somehow sounding fresh and au courant, a trick Clavier plays several times over the course of the record....
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ambient, female vocalists, Jazz, latin, Lounge, Natalia Clavier, Nectar
15 October 2009
By Lyov
In Jazz
Speak No Evil
Two realities are abundantly clear from listening to this Brazilian songstress legend’s latest mix of standards and originals — she swings magnificently with great jazz company (including her husband, percussion legend Airto Moreira) and she’s far more emotionally effective singing in her native Portuguese than in her heavily accented English. Her phrasing is solid on classics like “You Go To My Head” and the samba flavored “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” but her thick accent keeps the ears distracted somewhat from the message her heart seeks to convey. ...
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bossa nova, brazilian, female vocalists, Flora Purim, Jazz, latin, Speak No Evil
Khadja Nin
Forsh
Jason Mraz
Charles Aznavour
Nneka
