Vote for a FAIR album before August 31

Lisnaholic · 08-22-2012, 09:45 PM

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)

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)

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

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp

Toumani Diabaté - The Mandé Variations (2008)

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by joy_circumcision

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:

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

Sir Richard Bishop - Polytheistic Fragments (2007)

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp

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

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

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

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 ....

Salami · 08-23-2012, 12:07 PM

I'm going to have to say my piece here because I'll be without internet when I'm on holiday. I often express distaste for the frequently encountered "man with an acoustic guitar" style of album, being no fan of acts such as Jack Johnson. However Tim Sparks was an anomaly to this I found wholeheartedly agreeable, particularly the Jewish harmonics which was a style I found therapeutic yet melancholy.

Salami out - have an absolutely fantastic remainder of the summer, Lisnaholic!

Plankton · 08-23-2012, 12:17 PM

Always been a Kottke fan ever since I heard Busted Bicycle. Greenhouse may not be his best work IMO, but it still shines with Leo's talent.

Lisnaholic · 08-23-2012, 09:51 PM

Thanks, Salami ! Hope you have a good vacation - I wonder where you`re going, to be free of the internet ?

Welcome to the FAIR club, Plankton ! Yes, Busted Bike is a good track; one of LK`s short, fast workouts - of which there are also a couple on Greenhouse. Which would you choose as LK`s best album ?
In any event, as the voting stands just now, Greenhouse is leading the poll because in the event of a draw, the win goes to the album that`s been longest on the lists.

Lisnaholic · 09-01-2012, 09:35 AM

Ok, the winner in this poll is the Frantz Casseus album, nominated by Joy Circumcision, so a discussion thread for his Haitian Dances will be opening up on Sept. 7. As the dj Alan Freeman used to say, " Be there, or be square! "

View Poll Results: Vote For A FAIR Album Before August 31
Abyssinia Infinite	0	0%
Leo Kottke	1	20.00%
Tim Sparks	1	20.00%
Tourmani Diabatè	0	0%
Frantz Casseus	2	40.00%
Sir Richard Bishop	1	20.00%
Group Bombino	0	0%
Hamza El Din	0	0%
Voters: 5. You may not vote on this poll

08-23-2012, 12:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	Always been a Kottke fan ever since I heard Busted Bicycle. Greenhouse may not be his best work IMO, but it still shines with Leo's talent. __________________ See location...

08-23-2012, 09:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Thanks, Salami ! Hope you have a good vacation - I wonder where you`re going, to be free of the internet ? Welcome to the FAIR club, Plankton ! Yes, Busted Bike is a good track; one of LK`s short, fast workouts - of which there are also a couple on Greenhouse. Which would you choose as LK`s best album ? In any event, as the voting stands just now, Greenhouse is leading the poll because in the event of a draw, the win goes to the album that`s been longest on the lists. __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

09-01-2012, 09:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	Ok, the winner in this poll is the Frantz Casseus album, nominated by Joy Circumcision, so a discussion thread for his Haitian Dances will be opening up on Sept. 7. As the dj Alan Freeman used to say, " Be there, or be square! " __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

08-23-2012, 12:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Salami Get in ma belly Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 1,385	I'm going to have to say my piece here because I'll be without internet when I'm on holiday. I often express distaste for the frequently encountered "man with an acoustic guitar" style of album, being no fan of acts such as Jack Johnson. However Tim Sparks was an anomaly to this I found wholeheartedly agreeable, particularly the Jewish harmonics which was a style I found therapeutic yet melancholy. Salami out - have an absolutely fantastic remainder of the summer, Lisnaholic!