New releases by Mehdi Haddab and Sheikh Hamdi Benani, Himla, Margarida Guerreiro, Merope, Nahawa Doumbia and MISST
When Mehdi Haddab, a virtuoso on the electric ud and Malouf singer Sheikh Hamdi Benani met, there was enough inspiration to record the album Nuba Nova. They each brought their best musicians, and a beautiful album was born.
1. Damai Jara part 1, Hamdi Benani en Mehdi Haddab, Speedcaravan (08:36)
2. Jani Ma Jani, Hamdi Benani en Mehdi Haddab, Speedcaravan (05:17)
CD: Hamdi Benani en Mehdi Haddab, Speedcaravan, Nuba Nova, Buda (2021), Xango Music Distribution.
Singer and composer Adine Fliid is a new name in the Danish folk scene. Alongside cellist Oda Dyrnes and clarinettist Siri Iversen they form the trio Himla. Adine Fliid’s songs sound original on the eponymous debut album because of her new approach to Nordic songwriting.
1. Flog Og Fjaere, Himla, Adine Fliid (03:48)
2. Jeg savner et eller andet, Himla, Adine Fliid (03:51)
CD: Himla, Himla (2021), Go’Danish Folk Music
Portuguese Fado singer Margarida Guerreiro is not very well known in the Netherlands, yet she has been around for thirty years in the Fado world. The album Cortar A Direito was made in cooperation with musician Bruno Chaveiro. He is the brilliant Portuguese guitarist on this album. He also did the arrangements and the production.
1. Até Parece Mentira, Margarida Guerreiro, Fausto Bordalo Dias (01:46)
2. Fado do Despespero, Margarida Guerreiro, Fado Cuf (03:05)
3. Quanto, Quanto me queres? Margarida Guerreiro (02:35)
Cd. Margarida Guerreiro, Cortar A Direito, Musicpipas Arte (2020). Xango Music Distribution.
The trio Merope from Lithuania consists of vocalist Indre Jurgeviliciute, guitarist Bert Cools and Bansuri flautist Jean-Christophe Bonnafous. On their latest CD, Salos, they work closely with the Lithuanian choir Jauna Muzika (conducted by Vaclovas Augustinas).
8. Vilnia, Toli, Merope (04:34)
9. Leliumoy, Merope (04:32)
CD. Merope, Salos, Granvat (2020), Xango Music Distribution.
On her most recent album Kanawa (‘Don’t Go’), Nahawa Doumbia sings to her people not to leave Mali; it will not do the country’s future any good. Wassoulou singer Doumbia recorded eight songs for this album in Salif Keita’s studio in Bamako. She emphasises traditional instruments, such as the six-string n’goni, the multi-string smaller kamalengoni and the didadidunun drums as percussion.
10. Ndiagneko, Nahawa Doumbia (04:42)
11. Hine, Nahawa Doumbia (05:32)
Cd Nahawa Doumbia, Kanawa, Awesome Tapes from Africa (2021)
The Belgian group *MISST* (‘four misses and one mister’) became an acapella formation in 2017. The debut CD brings thirteen beautiful songs in Dutch, French, Gaelic, Portuguese, Occitan etc. in a unifying musical project. MISST consists of: Elly Aerden, Linde Van Puyenbroeck, Liesbet Van Reeth, Eva Moens and Jan Van Rossem.12. Sur L’eau, MISST.EU (03:47)13. Levame (05:10)CD: MISST, MISST.EU I-C-U-B4-T, CUP 8071, Music & Words
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