Probably been mentionened somewhere but my band suggestion is Heilung. They are a band from Denmark that plays music from the ironage and viking age. They use everything from running water, human bone, reconstructed swords and shields, to old shamen drums. Song texts come directly from runestones or sacred objects, amulettes, etc. Texts can even include poems about historical occurances which are sometimes translated. Combined, it leads to interesting and beautiful music.

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^ Nice!

The same Pete Seeger series that hosted Elizabeth Cotten also had the Mamou Cajun Band as guests, playing a livelier style of music. At first I thought the accordion was the best thing about the band, but when the violinist started singing, I changed my mind. I think my only criticism might be the triangle player, who never gives the music a different color by banging on something else instead. I suppose I shouldn't complain: after years spent perfecting the triangle, we shouldn't expect him to suddenly take up a completely different instrument like the cardboard box.

Les Filles de Illighadad (The Girls of Illighadad.) A trio of women musicians from rural Niger, fronted by a female Tuareg guitarist, playing tende music.

^ That's a great find, Psy-Fi! I love the sound of Desert Blues, and what makes this album special are the females singers, who make a welcome change from their sometimes harsh-sounding male counterparts.

^ Yeah. I like that type of music but all the groups that play it sound pretty much the same. A female group really stands out vocally.

And as long as I'm here...


Nigerian afro-pop legend Orlando Julius playing with The Heliocentrics from London, England.

^ Yes, it's kind of disappointing that Desert Blues groups (or their producers) don't seem to show much interest in exploring the outer limits of the genre, or mixing it up with, for example, psychedelia or jazz. :(

.... and on the theme of Out Of Nigeria And Into The West, here's a band who play very convincing AfroBeat, even though they are from New York, The Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra:-

I feel like this could benefit from being a little bit more raw, but apart from that, it's a great American(a) primitivism record worth scoping out. Some stunningly beautiful moments on this record.

Maurizio Abate - Standing Waters