Desert Blues, Vol. 2

Amazon.com
As on the initial volume, this lavishly illustrated and annotated two-CD set explores assorted blueslike traditions found in and around the Sahara. Many of these artists use pentatonic scales and yes, their earthy vocals are often reminiscent of acoustic North American strains. But as each song unfolds into the next, like stanzas of an epic poem, individual identities and nationalities emerge loud and clear. Malian troubadour Boubacar Traore's woebegone keening could melt a heart of industrial-grade granite, while Momo Wandel Soumah of Conakry, Guinea, trades licks with a honking sax and periodically breaks into an irrepressible talking blues. When, or even if, African and Western players first began to influence one another is irrelevant in the face of such soul-stirring beauty. Wherever these tunes originated or have traveled since, they deal with real life in all its heartbreak, frustration, and glory and are triumphs of fierce, vulnerable humanity. --Christina Roden

Tracks:

Regulators - Marvelous Caine
International - Eskobar
Boogie Down - Marvelous Caine
Heroes Welcome - Dextrous & T. Bone
Bump N Bounce - T. Bone
Da Bass II Dark - Asylum
This Is L.A - Lemon D
Sample And Hold - PSYKUS
Get On The Mic - Eskobar
Beyond All Reasonable Doubt - Ray Keith
Jazz And All Dat - Eskobar
Lighter - Ray Keith
Babylon Remix 2 - Dj Trace
Selectors Roll - V.I.P (Tom N' Jerry Remix) - Tom And Jerry
Step Pon Dub - FAZE 1 FM
She's So - Neal Trix
Jungle Blanca - FAZE 1 FM
So This Is Love - Essence Of Aura

Customer Reviews:

this isn't really a review, more of a comment on the above.........2001-12-05

(...) goood track selection, true hardstep venture. i'd pick it up if i was new to the game.

A brillant Hardstep comp. Too Bad they are all edits.......1999-10-18

Americans call this Jungle, Only the true facts of it is that it is really hardstep as the title suggests. Jungle has no kick drum in the drum lines. That makes Jungle very rare. The comp has shinning examples of Hardstep and Dubplates. Such as the brillantly executed choon This is L.A. by Lemon D. Other Choons that keep this disc bouncing are Heroes Welcome by Dextrous and T. Bone. A classic in it's own right.Sample and Hold by Psykus Gives a more mellow side to the disc. Lots of reverb on the drums and horn drops foreshadow the evident coming of Jazzstep. Good quality rolls and bass make this choon a stomper. Ray Kieth's Lighter is another choon that has a groovin bassline. Though the drums tend to be softer than most hardstep/Dubplate, the hip hop dubs and bassline make it as strong as any hardstep. Step Pon Dub uses classic drum effects from 1995 Drum and bass tracks. The rolls are high quality, they move you brillantly. A classic choon that keeps on going. The only thing that made me sad about this album is that the songs on it are all edited. You only get about half the song. For example This is L.A. is about eight minutes long in its original cut. On this it's about four minutes long. It makes me wounder what we miss on the other songs. A good disc for any Junglist or Junglette. Just too bad you don't get the whole song.

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music

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