The New Year brings some new music to the World Music Show. However, technically, these songs are leftovers from last year--but they’re new to me and they’re getting their airing for the first time on the show, so I’m sticking with that explanation.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll hear.
Pedropiedra - Amar en Silencio
Pedropiedra is a film composer and a music producer who incorporates a whole range of styles, including rock, reggae (and the offshoot reggaeton), Latin indie rock and more. And his influences range from the Beatles to Michael Jackson to Soda Stereo. On his new album “ALO!” he mixes all of that stuff together and creates something wonderful.
Natalia Lafourcade - Mi Tierra Veracruzana (En Manos de Los Macorinos)
Lafourcade is a Mexican singer and songwriter who delves into pop and folk music and frankly, has the most wonderful soprano voice I’ve heard in a long time. She first started out in a pop group called Twist, but quickly left to pursue a solo career, partly because the band had to often lip sync during performances. “Mi Tierra Veracruzana” is just a beautifully crafted song that meld her voice with light touches of her guitar playing.
Groupe RTD - Raga Kaan Ka'Eegtow (You Are the One I Love)
Groupe RTD is a contemporary combo from the tiny West African country of Djibouti. They’re actually the house band whose main job is to play for Radiodiffusion-Télévision Djibouti, the country’s nationalized media source. The founder of the New York based record label Ostinato Records traveled to the country looking for new music and found this 9-piece group, who switch between three amazing singers. The band’s got groove and created the album “The Dancing Devils of Djibouti,” to blow off steam from their daily gig. On “Raga Kaan Ka'Eegtow (You Are the One I Love)” the band highlight’s the emotionally extravagant Bollywood-goes-Arabic vocals of singer Asma Omar.
Railway Suicide Train – JL Mountain
This band hails from Hangzhou which is the capital of China’s Zhejiang province. This song, “JL Mountain,” is off their album Continent and it’s just a really lush track that has an almost jam-band quality to me, sort of like Grateful Dead or Phish.
Lido Pimienta - Eso Que Tu Haces
Lido Pimienta is from Columbia and her style and sound will just draw you in an fold its arms around you and not let you go. Sweeping vocals with mood swings along with peaks and valleys that just demand you pay attention.
These are just a few of the songs you’ll hear on this week’s show. Mixed throughout will be tracks from Alex Cuba, Shabba Ranks, Complicated Animals, Ali & Vieux Farka Toure, Cornershop and a small tribute to the late Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango.
The World Music Show airs Saturday nights from 6 - 7pm on VPM Music via this website or locally in Richmond, Va on 93.1 or 107.3FM. Follow Ian Stewart on social media--on Twitter @VPM_IanStewart or on Facebook at The World Music Show on VPM.
