Tom's letter from America

[Tom McPhillips]

As usual from me, a contribution that’s going to range over a number of things in no particular order so I’ll file this in General and hope I don’t get too far off topic…:-}

Charlie was asking about what we thought of the World 200X series packaging – I guess up to the point he asked I didn’t even consider it, so impatient am I to get my hands on it every year! It’s always fun to try to predict what he wants/manages to put on the disks. But once he opened the door I realized that I’d been quite enjoying the laid back illustration and the cosmopolitan “over thereâ€

[howard male]

Another wonderful Letter from America, Tom - great stuff! Wait until you here the latest S******** compilation - my favourite so far. But, like the one you mentioned, ruined by the sudden jarring appearance of some home-grown folky stuff with Altan (track 6 this time.)

Can't say I'm that keen on Lura - a little too pleasant and Starbucksy for my tastes, though I too was impressed by the DVD. I assumed it was just a promotional package sent out to writers, so I'm glad it's going into the shops too.

There was no point at which I was dazzled by the glare of a flash bulb at Darbucka, so unless I was studiously ignored in favour of all the high-fliers present, I don't think anyone took any photos unfortunately.

[Con Murphy]

I second Howard's comment, I really look forward to your missives, Tom. Keep 'em coming.
As for photos, I was tempted to bring my camera for a SoftheW 'group photo', etc, but that seemed a bit naff. Maybe next time, if people are agreeable (to a photo that is!).

[Tom McPhillips]

Can't say I'm that keen on Lura - a little too pleasant and Starbucksy for my tastes, though I too was impressed by the DVD. I assumed it was just a promotional package sent out to writers, so I'm glad it's going into the shops too.

I think I agree with you on Lura - somehow sampling her at the listening post - I thought I was going to like the CD more - I think it's another instance of the "Waldemar Bastos Effect" - a release that's very tailored to it's market - playing to the dispora, as well as picking up sales Lusaphonically...

It maybe the effect of the weak dollar or something entirely different, but it seems like over here there's a definite shortfall in what's geting released - For example there was a lot of stuff in that Songlines issue I mentioned that I would have been interested in getting - yet searches on Amazon and so on quickly revealed that almost none of the CD's reviewed looked like they were getting a US release any time soon...

I picked up on Lura, partly because of CG playing her, and seeing it around on Cape Verde sites, but it was one of very few new things on display at Virgin. Maybe Cliff at CDroots has an answer to the lack of releasement - perhaps I'm just imagining it... I wish itunes would let us buy at least some albums on non US sites - surely for many World releases just getting any sales is a good thing - I can understand more mainstream stuff trying to control it's market....(and local marketing for that matter).

no pictures? what a shame! I should have been there - I'd have brought my camera!

[howard male]

Have you thought about ordering from Amazon.com.uk Tom? I imagine they may have a few more world CDs of interest. I remember when I first ordered from Amazon I accidently ordered from the US site, and had no problems in getting the product sent to me.

[Tom McPhillips]

Have you thought about ordering from Amazon.com.uk Tom? I imagine they may have a few more world CDs of interest. I remember when I first ordered from Amazon I accidently ordered from the US site, and had no problems in getting the product sent to me.

aaahhh... well you put your finger right on the very problem! The mighty dollar currently weighs in at 1.83 to the pound... So if you pay 15.99 sterling for a CD my cost from Amazon UK is something like $35 including shipping!

An expensive CD here is $19.99 - in the first flush of release it's usually more like $14.99- so shelling out that much for single CD is very painful! So waiting for a "US" release is definitely worthwhile....

Of course for you ordering from the US is a bargain!

[Tom McPhillips]

I guess I'll just go on using this topic as the venue then... OK...

Of course as soon as Charlie mentioned me on the weekly playlist intro I immediately left the planet… Inevitable really… As might be gleaned by a sudden attack of MIA from the Forum I got busy, LA for the weekend, NY for the rest of the week.

But finding time to read Antonija’s amazing letter from Croatia, feeling guilt about how easy we’ve had it in the West, and feeling silly about complaining about the lack of releases in the US in comparison to the complete lack of releases there… not to mention the lack of everything else…

Croatia was figuring big last week as, encouraged by the review in Songlines I managed to get a copy of Amira’s CD – “Rosaâ€

[antonija]

Hey Tom,
Amira is actually from Bosnia and Hercegovina...one of Dragi's "work". Dragi Sestic, as you all probably know also produced Mostar Sevdah Reunion.
:-)

[antonija]

Tom, if you want to find out more about Croatian (ethno!)music I can send you one promo compilation we've made at the Ethno Section of the Croatian Musician's Union. It's called Magic from the Crossroads (P&C HGU 001/2004). The CD features 14 artists who base their work on traditional music of this region ( Lidija Bajuk, Dunja Knebl,Tamara Obrovac, Evacic, Mojmir Novakovic i Kries, etc.). Already two of them were featured in fRoots comp. CD (M.N.i Kries in December/January issue and Evacic now in August/September issue). Legen, Mojmir Novakovic's former band was also featured on many compilations, but the latest is BalkanBeats (EastBlok EBM003)

I am working on another promo compilation now (for CTB) which will be more oriented toward regions (Including both traditional and ethno-based music) - Croatia has 4 main regions as far as ethnomusicology are concerned (Alpska, Panonska, Dinarska, Jadranska), i.e. depending on the geographical position and cultural influences of the past. But, each of this region has numerous subregions (Croatia looks very small on the map, but bio and cultural diversity are stunning ).

Except for different geographical influences, the cultural diversity was probaly increased due to the fact that infrastructure, i.e communication between places has always been poor here ;-).

Personally, I am happy it was so - the result is preserved Nature (as much as it can be today) and if you travel from North to the South of Croatia or from West to the East, you can witness so different traditional customs (and costumes), instruments, way of signing in only several hours :-).

and the Islands...over 1000! (exactly 1185 but only about 50 of them are inhabited).

Uh, this post turned into dry fact tourist info, but wasn't intended.

I guess I just wanted to point out the diversity of musical expression (as far as those musicians who use elements of traditional culture are concerned).

a

[Tom McPhillips]

Hey Tom,
Amira is actually from Bosnia and Hercegovina...one of Dragi's "work". Dragi Sestic, as you all probably know also produced Mostar Sevdah Reunion.
:-)

Yeah, I know I'm stupid... I got into my car this morning, where I'd left the album - took a look at the liner notes again realized my mistake, and was hoping to put it all right in the office before anybody noticed... fine chance! The lesson is to have the album with me when I write about it!

Thanks for putting me right and thanks for the offer - I'll email you privately on that - it sounds very much like something I'd enjoy!

I'm always interested in seeing behind the music we listen to - if the modern version is based on a traditional form - one needs to at least have heard a little of it to know what you're hearing - the thread back through flamenco, tango, etc to early Spanish, Moorish and Berber influences is pretty evident in Radio Tarifa's and Ojos de Brujo's music and that's what makes that music really fascinating...

[Con Murphy]

I'm always interested in seeing behind the music we listen to - if the modern version is based on a traditional form - one needs to at least have heard a little of it to know what you're hearing - the thread back through flamenco, tango, etc to early Spanish, Moorish and Berber influences is pretty evident in Radio Tarifa's and Ojos de Brujo's music and that's what makes that music really fascinating...

There's a documentary on Ojos De Brujo's new DVD, Touring Bari, where they talk about that very thing. How they ally all the traditions with modern styles like hip-hop, funk and rock. As one of them says, flamenco is their cradle, but the latter styles are what motivate and excite them. It's the use of the "ethnic" sounds that sets them apart, though, and is where the 'rooted in a tradition' and/or 'music of a local colour' tags come into play for those of us outside of the traditions. That DVD has me thinking that they're probably my favourite band in the world right now, and possibly my favourite since The Clash.

Antonija, you might think your comments about your country are dry, but in my opinion they are pretty essential for truly appreciating the music we are listening to. It can be pretty hard to pick apart the subtle differences between various forms of Eastern European (let alone Croatian) music, so the more info the better as far as I'm concerned. And my wife has been plaguing me for some time now about visiting Croatia, so you'll be my first source for essential facts when I finally cave in!

[Tom McPhillips]

[i]It's the use of the "ethnic" sounds that sets them apart, though, and is where the 'rooted in a tradition' and/or 'music of a local colour' tags come into play for those of us outside of the traditions.

We got a job in the other day for an artist named Daddy Yankee who's Puerto Rican, who's basically Spanish hip-hop, or ragga maybe, I went to his website to get some idea of what he's up to, so as to come up with a look for his tour - I swear I'm hearing the influence of Ojos de Brujo somewhere in the mix!

[antonija]

Tom wrote:
"The lesson is to have the album with me when I write about it! "

Nah, I am worse, don't worry ;-). I have an odd habit of not remembering the titles of the songs or albums. I just remember the feelings I had while listening to it. in late 80's, I was a Joy Division, Bauhaus and U2 fan and knew most of their songs by heart, but if someone was to ask me which album I prefered of any of them I would freeze...:-)


Tom wrote:
"- I'll email you privately on that - it sounds very much like something I'd enjoy! "

Ok.

Con wrote:
"And my wife has been plaguing me for some time now about visiting Croatia, so you'll be my first source for essential facts when I finally cave in!"

At your service, any time :-)! You might want to come to catch our festival we organize on the coast in the Summer and hear some Croatian ethno along other from the World (you living in UK have already probably seen and heard of all those artists - but to most of Croatians they are enigma unless they are Cesaria or BVSC;-)).
a

[Ian A.]

my wife has been plaguing me for some time now about visiting Croatia, so you'll be my first source for essential facts when I finally cave in!

Hey, after the success of Jamie'n'Garth's Gillettophiles get-together at Darbucka, we could be heading for a far more splendid Mk2 - everybody hop on a plane and head for the Ethnoambient Festival near Split on August 12/13. So far you'll already find Antonija, me and Andrew Cronshaw there. More at http://www.ethnoambient.net/

[Con Murphy]

Hey, after the success of Jamie'n'Garth's Gillettophiles get-together at Darbucka, we could be heading for a far more splendid Mk2 - everybody hop on a plane and head for the Ethnoambient Festival near Split on August 12/13. So far you'll already find Antonija, me and Andrew Cronshaw there. More at http://www.ethnoambient.net/

That would be wonderful. However, I make a rare brief visit back to my own roots in Ireland that week. We are going to seek out some live music at some point though, so any suggestions for events in the Dublin/County Wicklow area from 13th-19th August most welcome...