Wednesday, September 30, 2015

She'll Betray You: Los de Abajo and "Sr. Judas"



Today's random song is from Mexico. Los de Abajo was founded in 1992 in Mexico City as a Latin ska group. Over time, their musical influences have become more inclusive of rock, reggae, salsa, Son Jarocho, banda sinoalense and cumbia. Liber Terán is their main vocalist and writes most of the songs. After releasing their first album independently, they were signed to David Byrne's Luaka Bop label and released their international debut, the eponymous Los de Abajo. Their followup album, Cybertropic Chilango Power, earned them a BBC Radio 3 World Music Award for the Americas. They have released eight albums and are noted supporters of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation and have even featured Zapatista leader Commandanta Esther on one of their songs. Sr. Judas is from their 2002 CD Cybertropic Chilango Power.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Daddy's Girl: The Afro Celt Sound System and "Inion/Daughter"



Today's song is from a world group mixing African and Celtic sounds. Inion/Daughter is by The Afro Celt Sound System, which fuses modern electronic dance rhythms with traditional Irish and West African songs. The Afro Celt Sound System were formed by British producer Simon Emmerson and Afro-pop star Baaba Maal in 1991. Since then they've been proclaimed a world music supergroup, and have collaborated with Peter Gabriel, Sinead O'Connor, Robert Plant, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Ayub Ogada and many other pop and world stars. Inion/Daughter can be found on their 1996 release Volume 1: Sound Magic.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Anatolian Violin: Murat Sakaryalı and "The Seaside of Your Dreams"



Today's random song comes from Turkish violinist Murat Sakaryalı. I cannot find much information on him, at least information that I wouldn't have to run through Google Translate and give you a bad translation of, so I won't. I'll just let his music speak for itself. You can find this song, The Seaside of Your Dreams, on the 2007 compilation album Turca Lounge, Vol. 1.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Royalty: Cesaria Evora and "Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha"



Today's random song is by "The Barefoot Diva" Cesaria Evora, also known as "The Queen of Morna." Placed in an orphanage in her native Cape Verde at the age of ten after her father died and her mother couldn't care for her, she was persuaded by a friend to sing in a sailor's tavern at age 16. In the 1960s she began performing for Portuguese cruise ships. In 1985 she was invited to Lisbon by Cape Verdean singer Bana where she was discovered by producer Jose da Silva. He invited her to record in Paris. It was only in 1988 that she began to achieve international success. She died in 2011 after of respiratory failure and hypertension. This song, Cabo Verde Manda Mantenha, can be found on her 1999 album Café Atlantico and on the compilation album Putumayo Presents: Cape Verde. (1999)

Saturday, September 26, 2015

FlamIndia: Anoushka Shankar and "Kanya"



The daughter of an Indian legend brings us the random tune for today. Anoushka Shankar is the daughter of Ravi Shankar, famed Indian sitar player and companion to The Beatles. She is also the half sister of performer Norah Jones. Anoushka Shankar is a famed sitar player in her own right. She began training to play sitar under her father at age seven, and by age ten she was accompanying him on tanpura in his performances. She gave her first public performance on sitar at 13, accompanied by tabla player Zakir Hussain. At fifteen, she assisted in the production of Ravi Shankar's landmark Chants of India, and producer George Harrison put her in charge of notation and conducting the accompanying musicians. She signed her first record deal at 16, and released her first album, Anoushka, in 1998. After her second album, she took time off from recording to concentrate on building a career outside of her father's ensemble. In 2007, she collaborated with Karsh Kale on an album mixing classical Indian sitar with electronica. Since then, she has had a prolific and very creative period as an artist and performer. This song from her Grammy nominated album Traveller (2012) is called Kanya. The album as a whole is an exploration of the shared history of flamenco and Indian classical music.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Feeling Their Way Through Music: Amadou and Mariam with "M'Bifé (Balafon)"



Today, we have a random tune by blind Malian duo Amadou & Mariam. Vocalist Mariam Doumbia lost her sight at age 5 due to untreated measles, while guitarist and vocalist Amadou Bagayoko lost his sight at age 15. They met at Mali's Institute for the Young Blind and discovered that they had similar interests in music. Their music has developed from early sparse recordings consisting of guitar and vocals to a mix of traditional Malian sounds combined with rock guitars, Syrian violins, Cuban trumpets, Egyptian ney, Indian tablas and Dogon percussion. This style has been dubbed "Afro-blues." This song, M'Bifé (Balafon), appears on their 2005 CD Dimanche à Bamako (Sunday in Bamako), which was produced by world and Latin music star Manu Chao.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Sealing the Deal: Heather Dale and "The Maiden and the Selkie"



Heather Dale brings us our random tune today - a love story involving seals that can shed their skin and become human. Heather Dale is a Canadian Celtic music and songwriter who mostly performs her own compositions. Her songs are inspired by folklore and mythology, and some fantasy literature, and she draws on musical styles such as Celtic folk, folk rock, new age and world music. She is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronisms, where she began her performing career, and where she is known as Mistress Marian of Heatherdale, and she has received the Society's highest award for achievement in the arts. She is particularly fond of Arthurian tales and legends, which has inspired many of her songs. She is also an outspoken advocate of independent Canadian musicians, and has never signed a contract with a major record label. This song, The Maiden and the Selkie, can be found on her 2010 album The Green Knight.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Tragedy of the Commons: Kate Rusby and "The Village Green Preservation Society"



Today's song, Village Green Preservation Society, is a cover of a Kinks song by English singer-songwriter Kate Rusby. Described as a "superstar" of English acoustic musicians, and often called "the Nightingale of Barnsley" (after her home town), Kate Rusby was born into a musical family and learned to play guitar, fiddle and piano. She became the lead vocalist of the all-female Celtic band The Poozies before she broke through in her own right in 1995 on a collaborative album with fellow Barnsley native folk-songer Kathryn Roberts. She recorded her first solo album, Hourglass, in 1997. She was married in 2001 to Scottish musician and former Battlefield Band member John McCusker. She has since divorced and married Northern Irish musician Damien O'Kane, with whom she has two daughters and a dog named Doris who is often a part of Rusby's stage banter. The Village Green Preservation Society can be found as a bonus track on Rusby's 2010 album titled Awkward Annie.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

She's No Priscilla: Khaira Arby and "Khaira"



Today's song is by Khaira Arby, often called the Queen of Desert Rock and also the Nightingale of the North. An artist from the northern deserts of Mali, she is a cousin to the great Ali Farka Touré. She uses a varied assortment of instrumentation, such as electric guitar, calabash, traditional violin, acoustic guitar and drumming, and she sings in languages such as Sonrai, Arabic and Tamashek. She is the only singer in her family. She started singing when she was eleven years old. Before working with her own band, she performed with the Troupe du Cercle de Tomboctou and later the Troupe Regionale de Gao. This song, Khaira, is from her 2013 release Timbuktu Tarab.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Labyrinthine: R. Carlos Nakai and "Resonance: Into the Maze"



Today's song is by Khaira Arby, often called the Queen of Desert Rock and also the Nightingale of the North. An artist from the northern deserts of Mali, she is a cousin to the great Ali Farka Touré. She uses a varied assortment of instrumentation, such as electric guitar, calabash, traditional violin, acoustic guitar and drumming, and she sings in languages such as Sonrai, Arabic and Tamashek. She is the only singer in her family. She started singing when she was eleven years old. Before working with her own band, she performed with the Troupe du Cercle de Tomboctou and later the Troupe Regionale de Gao. This song, Khaira, is from her 2013 release Timbuktu Tarab.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Square Dancing: Paolo Conte and "Quadrille"



The random tune for today, Quadrille, is by Paolo Conte. Conte was born in Asti in the Piedmont region of Italy, and he began his music career as a vibraphone player traveling in local and touring bands. He started writing songs early on in his career with his brother Giorgio but eventually began writing on his own. His star rose in the 60s and 70s as he was the main creative songwriter behind hits of other well-known Italian artists. His solo career commenced in 1974. His songs are known for being evocative of colorful and dreamy Italian and Mediterranean sounds. His music is often jazzy, reminiscent of South America and French singers, and filled with a wistful melancholy. His music has also been used in many movies. Quadrille can be found on his 1998 compilation album The Best of Paolo Conte.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Usually When I Have to Go: Adjágas and "Hás It!"



Adjágas, from Norway, bring the random tune for today...Hás It! The band is made up of joikers Lawra Somby and Sara Marielle Gaup along with other musicians (joiks are highly spiritual song with no rhyming or structure that are common in the Sami cultures of northern Scandinavia). "Adjágas" itself is a Sami word for the state between waking and sleeping. Hás It! can be found on their album Mánu Rávdnji, released in 2009.

Friday, September 18, 2015

I Know: Zi Punt and "Who Knows"



Who Knows, by Zi Punt, is our random tune for today. Zi Punt is a Turkish group made up of Oguz Kaplangi, Chi K. and Orange who mash up electro and rock. Oguz Kaplangi produces Zi Punt as well as other groups and gives concerts in Turkey and abroad. Chi K is originally from Turkey but she spent five years in New York City singing at Bard College. Orange is the stage name of Istanbul-based, New Zealand born musician and video artist Reuben de Lautour. He studied music at Princeton and DJ'd in New York and New Jersey before moving to Istanbul. He is on the faculty of the Istanbul Technical University. Who Knows can be found on the 2007 compilation Istanbul Calling Vol. 2.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

This One Seals It: The Secret of Roan Inish and "Selke Song"



Today's random song is from the soundtrack to the film The Secret of Roan Inish, which centers on the tale of selkies - seals that can shed their skin to become human in appearance. The music for the film was written by Mason Daring, an American composer and musician who is largely known for his scores to films by John Sayles. Selke Song can be found on The Secret of Roan Inish soundtrack (1995).

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Swaying Swedish: The Perishers and "Sway"



Today we have a slow rock tune by The Perishers, a Swedish indie-rock band formed in 1997. The band got a big break in 2005 when they were hand picked by Sarah McLachlan to open for her on her Afterglow tour. They have also been highlighted on soundtracks to American television shows such as The O.C., One Tree Hill, Greek and Veronica Mars. This song, Sway, is from their 2005 EP by the same name.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Doing the Dance: George Acosta and "Someone"



George Acosta brings the dance to the random tune today. A Cuban DJ and producer who was raised in Miami, he has been described a force in the genre of dance music. He began as a DJ spinning tunes at high school dances, house parties and the like but then a trip to Germany changed his perspective. He started working in dance music and produced Planet Soul, which had a major hit called Set You Free. He gradually began changing his focus into progressive house music in the 2000's. He continues to produce and create, and has started his own label called AcoMusic. This song, Someone, can be found on his album of the same name.

Monday, September 14, 2015

For City and Father: Yungchen Lhamo and "Lhasa"



Today's random tune is by Yungchen Lhamo, a Tibetan exile in New York City. Lhamo's name translates to "Goddess of Song," and was given to her by a lama after her birth in Lhasa. Fleeing Tibet in 1989, she first lived in Australia and then in New York. She tours extensively, singing unaccompanied, and has collaborated with artists such as Annie Lennox, Billy Corgan, Sheryl Crow, Michael Stipe and Peter Gabriel, to whose label, Real World Records, she is under contract. This song, Lhasa, can be found on her 2008 album Ama, and is dedicated to her father.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

It's All Greek to Me: Savina Yannatou & Primavera en Salonico with "Sumiglia" and "Radile"



You get a little more bang for your random tune buck today. The randomizer picked the song Radile by Savina Yannatou & Primavera en Salonico, but the only video I could find was concert footage that included their song Sumiglia also. Savina Yannatou is a renowned Greek singer who has teamed up with Greek jazz and traditional musicians Primavera en Salonico to explore at first Sephardic and Mediterreanean music but has since expanded to include music from around the world. Starting out with classical guitar lessons, Yannatou began studying singing and later completed postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Her repertoire is mainly Greek music, though she has also made forays into free jazz and avant-garde. She also is a songwriter and composer for theater, dance and video. Sumiglia can be found on the 2005 album Sumiglia by Savina Yannatou and Primavera en Salonico. Radile can be found on their 2008 album Songs of an Other.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Humorous Rambling: Altan and "Humours of Andytown/Kylebrack Rambler/The Gladstone"



Today's random song is from Irish band Altan, and is a set of reels called Humours of Andytown/Kylebrack Rambler/The Gladstone. Altan was originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Besides The Chieftains, they have worked with musicians such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. Humours of Andytown... is from their 1993 release Island Angel.

Friday, September 11, 2015

This is Why I Need a Raise: Old Blind Dogs and "To the Beggin' I Will Go"



On this sad anniversary, today's song is by Old Blind Dogs called To the Beggin' I Will Go. Old Blind Dogs were formed in 1990 when the three founding members met on a "buskers holiday" in the Scottish Highlands. The band was originally distinctive as it represented the music and traditions of Northeastern Scotland and sang in the dialect of Aberdeen and the region. The band focuses on traditional Scottish and Celtic music, with influences from rock, reggae, jazz, blues and Middle Eastern rhythms. To the Beggin' I Will Go can be found on their 1999 CD The World's Room.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Listen to the Latest Global Music Show at the KUNM Two Week Archive!

You can listen to the latest KUNM Global Music show at the KUNM Two Week Archive! Just go to the archive, put in Monday, September 7 at 10 pm and let it run. Here is the playlist from the evening:


  1. Fire is Low, Freshlyground (South Africa), Radio Africa
  2. Farima, Bamba Wassalou Groove (Mali), Farima
  3. Owour Won Gembe, Owiny Sigoma Band (Kenya/UK), Nyanza
  4. Mela Mela, Qwanqwa (Ethiopia), Volume Two
  5. Karpatskyi Rep, DakhaBrakha (Ukraine), Light
  6. Sañanaru, Aurelio (Honduras), Lándini
  7. KangnaFareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad (Pakistan), The Reluctant Fundamentalist Movie Soundtrack
  8. Fununkesaya, Kasse Mady Diabate (Mali), BBC Radio 3 - Awards for World Music
  9. Buje Buje, Orlando Julius with the Heliocentrics (Nigeria/UK), Jaiyede Afro
  10. Rumba SoYoRicardo Lemvo & Makina Loca (Angola/US), La Rumba SoYo
  11. Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free), Emel Mathlouthi (Tunisia), Kelmti Horra (Bonus Track Version)
  12. Ba'hari GhibbThe Spooky Men's Chorale (Australia), The Spooky Man in History
  13. Girls' Night In Galway, Gaelic Storm (United States), Matching Sweaters
  14. Banks of Newfoundland, John Jones (UK), Never Stop Moving
  15. CourageThe Souljazz Orchestra (Canada), Resistance
  16. KemekemQwanqwa (Ethiopia), Volume Two
  17. Debho, Daby Touré (Mauritania), Amonafi
  18. Sengigugile, Insingizi (Zimbabwe), African Harmonies
  19. Tawwalt El Gheba, Omar Souleyman feat. Gilles Peterson (Turkey/UK), Bahdeni Nami
  20. Hasaposerviko, Elektra Kurtis & Ensemble Elektra, Bridges from the East
  21. Ani Tzame Psalm 122 (121) "Laetatus sum"The Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz & Timna Brauer & Elias Meiri Ensemble (Austria/Israel), Chant for Peace
  22. Rum Jhum Rumu Jhumu, Khiyo (UK), Khiyo
  23. Akashta Kanpchhilo Kyan?, Khiyo (UK), Khiyo
  24. Simple ReflejoLulacruza (Colombia), Circular Tejido
  25. Que Vida É EssaWal Sant'ana (Brazil), Rough Guide To Psychedelic Samba
  26. Africa, King Selewan and his Calypsonians (Trinidad &Tobago), Discovering Calypso
  27. Mami WattaKing Selewan and his Calypsonians (Trinidad &Tobago), Discovering Calypso
  28. Canto da Ema / All On a Mardi Gras Day, Nation Beat feat. Cha Wa (US), Carnival Caravan - EP
  29. Geragotikos Sirtos, Du-Sems Ensemble (Turkey), Music from Turkey & Greece

Not Never: The Twain Shall Meet and "Solstice"



The Twain Shall Meet brings us our song of the day, entitled Solstice. The Twain Shall Meet is comprised of Egyptian cellist Ashraf Hakim and guitarist Scott Wurtz. I couldn't find much substantive information on the musicians. Solstice can be found on their 2008 eponymous album The Twain Shall Meet.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner: El Naan and "Charro del Marinero y la Estrella"



El Naan is a band from the Castilian region of Spain. Starting from a base of Castilian regional music, they connect the music with other roots music from all over the world. This rollicking song, Charro del Marinero y la Estrella, is from their 2015 album Código de Barros, a crowd-funded effort which explores the different influences in Spanish music, including Celtic, Arabic and musics from the Americas, Africa and the Far East that went forth from Spain and came back again.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Joking Around: Habib Koité and "Baro"



Today's song, Baro, comes to us from Mali. Habib Koité is a Sengalese singer, songwriter and guitarist based in Mali whose band, Bamada, is a supergroup of West African musicians. Koité is an unusual guitarist, tuning his guitar on a pentatonic scale and playing on open strings like one would play an African n'goni. His styles can often sound like blues and flamenco. His singing is more relaxed and intimate as compared with his contemporaries. Baro can be found on his 2001 album of the same name and on the Putumayo compilation CD Acoustic Africa. Title of the song means "The Chat," and talks about the Malian tradition of joking around with each other which in turn helps foster social peace and harmony between people and groups.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Where Art Thou: Andrea Corr and "Oh Brother"



Today's random tune is by Andrea Corr, who along with her siblings Caroline, Sharon and Jim founded the Irish group The Corrs. The Corrs began in 1990, and in 1991 they auditioned for the film The Commitments - Andrea landed the role of Sharon Rabbitte and the band got noticed by musician John Hughes who agreed to act as their manager. Their debut album was one of the most popular by an Irish group. The Corrs went on hiatus in the mid 2000's as members of the band concentrated on raising children, and Andrea went solo, launching her debut album Ten Feet High in 2007. She continues to record and perform while raising her two children with husband Brett Desmond. This song, Oh Brother, can be found on the compilation album Welcome Home: Music of Ireland (2011).

Sunday, September 6, 2015

They Just Want to Bust Out Singing: Värttinä and "Laulutyttö"



Today's random song of the day is by Värttinä, a Finnish folk group founded in 1983 by sisters Sari and Mari Kaasinen, who had performed together reading poetry in the 1970s. In 1983, the sisters formed Värttinä and entered a youth arts contest with their poetry reading. They made it into the finals that first year, and the next year changed to singing and won the event. They brought on some male members in 1985 and entered the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, becoming known as the group that sings high and loud. Many children in their hometown were now eager to join the band, and finally Värttinä had to establish a new group for the youngest children to join. In 1987, at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, they were chosen "Ensemble of the Year," and in 1988 they released their first album. In the early 1990s, they moved to Helsinki and began training at the Sibelius Academy and perfecting their skills. The band first performed traditional Finnish folk songs, but in the mid-1990s began playing its own original compositions. Over the years the band has had many forms and lineup changes, and is currently made up of three female vocalists and three acoustic musicians. They have performed worldwide to international acclaim and have released 14 albums, including 3 compilation albums and one live CD. This song, Laulutyttö, is from their 1998 CD Vihma. The song lyrics are in the first person - the singer wants just wants to sing and party.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Quitting Cold Turkey: Habib Koité and Bamada with "Cigarette Abana"



Cigarette Abana, by Senegalese singer-songwriter Habib Koité, tops our list today. Based in Mali, Habib Koité leads a supergroup, Bamada, which consists of some of the best West African musicians. Koité tunes his guitar to a pentatonic scale and playing it on open strings, and his music can often sound like blues or flamenco, and he composes and arranges all songs for the band, which may be sung in English, French or Bambara. Cigarette Abana can be found on his 2001 album, Baro.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Dance Away the Sadness: Marissa and "Saudade Fez um Samba"



Marissa, a Brazilian singer from Rio de Janeiro, brings us our song for the day. Marissa is also an accomplished percussionist who has spent much time studying and perfecting her knowledge of Brazilian rhythms as a member of various percussion groups. Saudade Fez um Samba (Sadness Makes a Samba) was written by bossa nova legends Carlos Lyra, Ronaldo Bôscoli and João Gilberto. It speaks of how the joy of a samba replaces the pain of lost love. Saudade Fez um Samba can be found on the 2006 compilation album Putumayo Presents: Brazilian Lounge.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Bollywood Dreams: Rajeshwari Sachdev and "In Ankhiyaan Vich Tu"



Today's random song is by Rajeshwari Sachdev, a Hindi film actress and singer who made her film debut in 1991. She was born in Mumbai in 1975; her father is Punjabi and her mother is from southern India. She is best known for her role in the 1996 film Sardari Begum which won her Best Supporting Actress at the 1997 Indian National Film Awards. This song, In Ankhiyaan Vich Tu, can be found on the album Bollywood Dreams Bhangra (2010).

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

The Things He's Seen: William Gutierrez and "Through Ancient Eyes"



The random tune for today comes from William Gutierrez, a Native American flute maker and musician of Dineh and Ute heritage. There isn't much information on him personally that I've been able to find, though his flutes are highly prized. This song, Through Ancient Eyes, can be found on his 1995 album Eagle Canyon.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

A Little Piz-Zaz: Zaz and "Port Coton"



Port Coton is the title of the random song of today. It is sung by French singer-songwriter Isabelle Geffroy, known by her stage name as Zaz. Mixing jazzy style, French variety, soul and acoustic genres, she became famous on the strength of her first album, the eponymously named Zaz (2010). After a childhood steeped in music education she started her musical career in 2001 singing in musical groups and as a backup singer. She released Zaz in 2010 to great acclaim, especially her single Je Veux, and has since won awards and has toured. She has released two more albums since, Recto Verso and Paris. Port Coton can be found on her debut album Zaz, and was written by French pop singer Raphaël Haroche.