Review: It is always good to hear from Maya Ongaku especially when it comes to a new long player. This one excels at blending the ambient vibes of their previous album Approach to Anima with vibrant electronic dance styles. The result is a fresh fusion of hypnotic soundscapes and infectious rhythms with nice uplifting melodies, all complemented by delicate Japanese vocals. The album creates a shimmering, sincere atmosphere that draws on Eastern synth exotica that is both beguiling and irresistible. With its blend of lush textures and optimistic energy, Electronic Phantoms is a smart evolution in Maya Ongaku's ever-enchanting sound.
Review: Hailing from Italy, Opez are specialists in a particularly dusky, understated brand of instrumental melancholia that they style themselves as 'Latin Desert and Funeral Party Music'. Whilst some listeners may be reminded of the likes of Ry Cooder's 'Paris Texas' soundtrack and Calexico, the truth is that the inspiration for 'Dead Dance' comes mostly from this duo's heartland home. With '50s tinges resonating alongside a richly orchestrated yet entirely acoustic palette, 'Dead Dance' is twilight music replete with style and grace Regardless of this outfit's origins, fans of Los Lobos, Cowboy Junkies and Angelo Badalementi will find themselves every much at home here.
Review: Amghar: The Godfather Of Tuareg Music Vol 1 by Abdallah Oumbadougou is a superb trip into the heart of the ever fascinating sound of Tuareg music. Oumbadougou, revered as the godfather of this rich musical tradition, delivers a spellbinding collection of tracks that showcase his mastery of desert blues. Each composition is a testament to the deep cultural heritage and spiritual resonance of Tuareg music. They blend hypnotic rhythms, intricate guitar work and haunting vocals all with a melancholic and seductive feel from the soul-stirring chants of 'Afrikya' to the infectious energy of 'Tabsiq Dalet'. This album transports listeners to the vast landscapes of the Sahara, evoking a profound sense of wanderlust and timeless beauty as it does so.
Review: There are debut albums, and then there are debut albums that stop you dead, force you to take note, and proceed to unfold in the most startling directions. Welcome to the world of OXN, an Irish folk band, of sorts, featuring two members of Lankum and an awful lot of fresh ideas. Operatic, theatrical, cinematic, experimental trad, anyone? If that sounds even remotely intriguing the best news is yet to come - we've barely managed to hit the hammer even close to the nail's head with our description. It's weird, it's unsettling, born from pure emotion and just a few sprinkles of the same magic that has blessed the Emerald Isle with so many evocative and highly original musicians.
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