Has World Music run out of countries?

[Des]

Are there countries or geographical regions still to discover in terms of their music or is everything more or less done and dusted?

Charlie mentioned Armenia as apparently only having one well-known musician. Chipping Sodbury is another obvious example except that it has no musicians, well-known or otherwise.

Perhaps when Burma throws off its oppressive government we may hear more music from there.

Any others examples?

PS Sorry it sounds like I've come over all culturally imperialistic. Didn't mean to.

[c hristian]

the rock bands of Antarctica and North Korea both have yet to have their records distributed by the majors.

also, I've heard precious few from Mauritania. (yes, I heard the one example you are about to give me.)

[Des]

also, I've heard precious few from Mauritania. (yes, I heard the one example you are about to give me.)

Would that be Dimi Mint Abba or Malouma ;)

[c hristian]

yes

[David Flower]

there are loads of countries aren't there? Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, Belize (apart from the Armenian AP), Namibia, Chad, Tunisia (1?), the Stans, Japan, South Pacific, Australasia, most of SE Asia, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Yemen, Poland (1) Sri Lanka... it's practically endless.

[c hristian]

and that's just on planet Earth!!

[Kirin]

Oman. I've been searching for music from Oman and can't find a thing. I don't know if there's much there to discover, but it would fill a waiting spot in my brain if I could hear something Omani for once.

Burma, yes, definitely. Laos. More music from South-East Asia generally. China. (I feel that we're still waiting for a really good, satisfying Chinese music compilation.) Micronesia. (Love the David Fanshawe recordings but more, please.) Malawi. Qatar. (Same situation as Oman.)

Stonetree Records' "From Bakabush" hit me like a revelation two years ago and made me think that Central America could use more discovering. If I were looking for a region to explore then I think I'd go there, searching for groups like Mr Peters Boom & Chime, something rackety and rough, full of vinegar and punchy energy.

[Des]

If I were looking for a region to explore then I think I'd go there, searching for groups like Mr Peters Boom & Chime, something rackety and rough, full of vinegar and punchy energy.

Wow - ever thought of writing for fRoots Kirin?

[Ian A.]

Are there countries or geographical regions still to discover in terms of their music?

Yes. Many. And even some countries where they've hardly even discovered their own.

The downside of trying too hard to find the next "exotic" hotspot is the butterfly collecting tendency, which was particularly prevalent among arts bookers in the US in the '90s (may still be, but I haven't been there for a long time). You could have a band from a country (let's say Madagascar…) pack a venue, take the place apart, sell cartloads of CDs, but never get booked back because "we've had a band from Madagascar."

Anyway, must go - postman staggering in with another sackload of CDs from Mali.

[Charlie]

Charlie mentioned Armenia as apparently only having one well-known musician.

I got it wrong, there are two, as pointed out in the replies to my playlist bulletin. I was referring to Djivan Gasparyan but forgot about Arto Tuncboyacyan

Chipping Sodbury is another obvious example except that it has no musicians, well-known or otherwise.

But Mike Vernon had his Blue Horizon studios in Chipping Norton, where many well known records were made, probably including 'Natural High' by Bloodstone

[Ian A.]

there are two, as pointed out in the replies to my playlist bulletin. I was referring to Djivan Gasparyan but forgot about Arto Tuncboyacyan

And Ara Dinkjan, his sometime musical partner and leader of Night Ark who've sold a lot of CDs. He also composed/produced Eleftheria's The Bodies & The Knives

Armenians on the rise: Tigran Aleksanyan

[Charlie]

Chipping Sodbury is another obvious example except that it has no musicians, well-known or otherwise.

For those who collect such things, a coincidence.

Having answered Des's comment by mentioning a studio in Chipping Norton, I went to deal with the latest requests to become my friends on MySpace, and discovered one from this singer from....Chipping Sodbury. Henry Clements says we used to play football together, but doesn't say where or when:

--------------------------------------
www.myspace.com/henryclements

I've been around for years - the last 20 or so in Chipping Sodbury, which no longer has a Folk Club so I travel regularly to Corsham, Devizes, Swindon, Bristol (the Nova Scotia), and occasionally further afield. I get to a few festivals every year -Dartmoor, Sidmouth, Chippenham, Banbury; last year Bideford as well. I write all my own songs and sing 'em when and where I can. I do the occasional guest spot (more in the past 6 months than ever before), and have even been asked back! I have a number of songs which have been taken up by other, infinitely more accomplished artists - notably Tom Bliss, Phil Hare, Tom McConville; and in 2006 I recorded 40 of my songs on 2 albums - "Beacon Fires" and "Shades of the Past" - with the help of Luke Mitchell (from Swindon Folksingers Club).

[Outerglobe Debbie Golt]

Regarding Korea - apparently Chris De Burgh (must be the colour red!) and someone else I can't remember, maybe Elton John have been recruited to help develop Korea's rock credibility! And give them a lighter commercial face so the contributor said.

It was on a late r4/world service programme last week!

So nul points assured.

[Des]

Wow that Henry Clements geezer - what a star! His overheads must be zilch. Apart fom the pullovers.

[uiwangmike]

Regarding Korea - apparently Chris De Burgh (must be the colour red!) and someone else I can't remember, maybe Elton John have been recruited to help develop Korea's rock credibility!

Maybe it was this guy.
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/entertainment/ne ... 8000c.html