Music Banter - Vote for a FAIR album before August 31

Every two weeks the Folk And International Roots Album Club votes for an album that they will listen to and discuss in the coming weeks.
Anyone can vote in this poll, but if you vote, please follow through and be ready to discuss whichever album wins the poll.

We still have a big selection; eight nominations to choose from this time. As exactly half the nominations are from stp, I feel that he`s earned a special dispensation and should be entitled to vote for his one of his own albums if he wants. Is everyone ok with that ? Anyway, I hope you can all make a choice between the following musical gems :-

Quote:

Zion Roots by Abyssinia Infinite (2003)

http://conunaayuditademisamigos.file.../zionroots.jpg

From the oozing sax of the opener, Bati Bati, to the gentle pulsing loop of the closer, Ethiopia, Gigi`s seductive voice leads us through some beautifully-produced traditional East African music.

Quote:

Greenhouse by Leo Kottke (1972)

http://991.com/newGallery/Leo-Kottke...use-409649.jpg

OK, it`s been around a long time - in fact it`s been around since before Americana was a commonly used term - but this is still my favourite LK album. He covers a couple of Fahey compositions, but with this album it`s tempting to say that the student has outstripped the master; seven tracks of sparkling, unadorned acoustic guitar and four vocal tracks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland (Post 1206896)

I'll nominate "Neshamah" by Tim Sparks. It's a nice solo acoustic guitar album that explores several different types of traditional Jewish music with some jazzy themes.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-_Neshamah.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp (Post 1207794)

Toumani Diabaté - The Mandé Variations (2008)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Variations.jpg

Featuring Toumani Diabaté playing solo kora. This video has some background on the musician and on the kora.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joy_circumcision (Post 1213079)

Really excited about this club, and I'll probably work on hearing all the picks you guys have made over the next couple of weeks. To give back, I'd like to nominate a personal favorite:

http://www.freecodesource.com/album-...ian-Dances.jpg
Frantz Casseus: Haitian Dances (1954)
A lovely lovely departure through the supple Caribbean fingers of Casseus, Haitian Dances briefs the listener on some of the best folk works in Haiti's canon. The album feels like a soothing lullaby for a gone day and goes well with sunsets and hammocks or a smoke-filled lonely island bar evacuating its final patrons at three in the morning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp (Post 1213808)

Sir Richard Bishop - Polytheistic Fragments (2007)

http://cdn.pitchfork.com/albums/1050...e.837705ff.jpg

Quite an interesting mix here exploring various world influences and experimental outings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp (Post 1213886)

Group Bombino - Guitars From Agadez Vol. 2 (2009)

http://www.sublimefrequencies.com/images/sf046.jpg

A modern evolution of northern African music traditions.

Keep in mind these are live field recordings so the quality's not great but the energy is pretty kicking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp (Post 1215783)

Hamza El Din - Al Oud: Instrumental & Vocal Music of Nubia (1965)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZvnwXx2A47...mza+el+din.jpg

Bit of Oud music this time from an Egyptian born musician who apparently played with The Grateful Dead at one stage.

Thanks as always to everyone who makes the effort to share their enthusiasm for FAIR music here.
:)
Now let`s get voting ....