Mondo Head [SACD]

1. Berimbau Jam

2. Sange

3. Okesa Prayer

4. Wataru

5. Maracatú

6. Psychopomp

7. Daraijin

8. Oya y Ogun

9. Echo Bells

10. Kashira

11. Ektal

Mondo Head,Bobi/Hart, Mickey/Hidalgo, Giovanni/Moreir Kodo/Cespedes,Greg/Gyuto Tantric Choir/Hart, Mickey/Hussain Kodo/Ellis,Greg/Hart, Mickey/Hernandez, Nengue/Hidalgo, Kodo/Ellis,Greg/Hart, Mickey/Hussain, Zakir/Ali, Azam Kodo/Ellis,Greg/Hussain, Zakir/Hart, Mickey Kodo/Ellis,Mickey/Hidalgo, Giovanni/Moreira, Airto Kodo/Hart,Mickey/Hidalgo, Giovanni/Moreira, Airto/Tiller Kodo/Hart,Mickey/Hinton, Michael Kodo/Hart,Mickey/Hinton, Michael/Vinayakram, Vikku Kodo/Hart,Mickey/Hussain, Zakir/Musselwhite, Charlie Kodo/Hart,Zakir Kodo/Hussain,Azaam Ali,Red Int / Red Ink,Asia,Asian,Asian Folk,Int'l & World Music,Japan,Japanese,Miscellaneous,Miscellaneous Music,Pop,Traditional Japanese,Worldbeat

Mondo Head
Average customer rating:

No expectations

The best of Mickey Hart

Very Disapointing!

Unless you're a big Mickey Hart and/or Kodo fan...

more Mickey Hart than Kodo, but it rocks

Mondo Head
Kodo
Manufacturer: Red Int / Red Ink
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Far East & Asia | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Tataku: The Best of Kodo, Vol. 2 (1994-1999)

Sai-So: The Remix Project

Kodo - One Earth Tour Special (Bonus CD)

Live at the Acropolis

Heartbeat Kodo 25th Anniversary

ASIN: B0000641BD
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

Berimbau Jam
Sange
Okesa Prayer
Wataru
Maracatu
Psychopomp
Daraijin
Oya Y Ogun
Echo Bells
Kashira
Ektal

Amazon.com

Mondo Head is the kind of percussion panorama that Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart has been orchestrating since he formed the Diga Rhythm Band a quarter-century ago. This time, he works with another group that shares his dream of a 21st century percussion orchestra. Kodo is a Japanese Taiko drum troupe who take the ceremonial drums of Japan and turn them into a performance vehicle with bells, cymbals, flutes, voices, and dance. Hart teams them up with his Planet Drum cohorts, including Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain, Latin percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, and Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira. Then he brings in ecstatic singers including Azam Ali of Vas and Turkish-Armenian Arto Tuncboyaciyan to wail and waft across percussion landscapes ethereal and demonic. Indeed, an earlier version of Kodo were called "the demon drummers." More global soundscape than rhythm dervish, Mondo Head is by turns exuberant and serene, profound and playful. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

No expectations.......2004-05-11

Now! If you are a Kodo fan maybe you will not life this album but if you are a Hart fan this album is really great.
We live on a small planet(drum) and there are some fundamental links between different musical cultures and M.Hart and friends are exploring them evn more so on this album.
A Pleasure

The best of Mickey Hart.......2004-01-23

If you want another traditional taiko CD, this is probably not your thing. Otherwise, this is an awesome album. Mickey Hart again brings together musicians from all over the world to create an eclectic percussion-centered mix.

Mondo Head has some of the best beats I have heard from Hart. The best thing about this album is that every track has its own appeal, from the rocking introduction to the powerful chanting on track 2 to the ethereal singing of the last track. The best songs are 1 and 3. This is music that will stay in your head!

Very Disapointing!.......2003-07-04

I was not impressed with the unharmonious mix of music genre in Mondo Head. The Japanese taiko is absent to the marjority of tracks (you really have to listen hard to find any). The traditional and progressive taiko of past albums is lost to forien rythems. It disapoints me to see Kodo leave its traditional rythmic roots; the reason I and I am sure most others have enjoyed listing for many years now; the pure fusion of traditional Japanese taiko in modern times.
I would suggest any other Kodo album above Mondo head.

Unless you're a big Mickey Hart and/or Kodo fan..........2002-12-19

...then you might not like this.

This CD really gives one the feel that Kodo recorded these tracks and let Mickey Hart do as he wished. What's more, that's exactly what happened! Unfortunately, almost ALL the taiko on this CD sounds like either an afterthought or is buried under the "busy-ness" of it all.
Tracks 1 and 5 are a blend of 5-7 different artists, and unfortunately, the taiko part sounds "cut and pasted" into the tracks. There doesn't seem to be any reason to have taiko in the middle other than to have a different sound. Sometimes the taiko is providing a base beat or cyclical rhythm, but these chunks in the middle seem disconnected and isolated.

As for the good stuff - Track 10, Kashira, is a taiko-heavy piece that Kodo actually plays in concert. It's quite good, and although there are added instruments to it, the taiko is the focus.
Track 2 is a real treat - singer Yoko Fujimoto wails reminiscent of American Indian chanting. It sounds a bit new-agey, but it really doesn't get into that feel.

There are things to like about this album, but if you're looking for Kodo, buy another CD. I suggest Tataku, Tsutsumi, and Warabe. If you're looking for a Mickey Hart CD, it's pretty good except for the taiko issues I mentioned above.

more Mickey Hart than Kodo, but it rocks.......2002-07-13

There are no "pan pipes" here. This is glorious, inventive, adventurous stuff from some of the planet's premiere percussionists.

The structure and tunes seem to be much more heavily influenced by Mickey Hart than by Kodo's traditional approach. Nevertheless, this is new for Kodo, but not a total break.

Anybody who thinks that Kodo should stick to its "time honored traditions" doesn't really know Kodo very well. An important part of their raison d'etre is to bring the world closer together through percussion, which they have done through both concerts and recordings. In Japan, they often play with avant garde jazz musicians (Yamashita, Hino, Umezu) as well as percussionists from Hawaii, Senegal, Brazil, and more -- and even the occasional American gospel singer (Lacey Wright). This year's "Earth Celebration" guests were Airto Moreira and friends, who appear on "Mondo Head". If you want a taste of the international fusion, the absolutely over-the-top must-have CD is "Gathering" -- raw, exciting, exhausting, occasionally imperfect, and unlike anything you've ever heard before. It's too bad they don't bring this sound to the U.S. more often.

Mickey Hart's "newage" (rhymes with "sewage") liner notes aside, the best of this album is absolutely electric. If you had asked me if taiko and tablas could be combined in this way, I'd have told you no, but they pull it off with incredible finesse.

If you can have only one Kodo CD, get "Gathering". If you can have two, add one stocked with straight-up taiko (maybe "Ubu-Suna"; "Live at the Acropolis" leaves me a little cold for some reason). If you can have three, buy this album, and listen to it again and again -- there's always a deeper layer. Listen in the car, listen on your home stereo, listen with the bass turned up -- it sounds different and fresh every time.

Mondo Head
Average customer rating:

An Amazing Multi-Channel Experience

Simply Amazing!

Incredible SACD!! An absolute must have!

Incredible sound!

Mondo Head

Manufacturer: Red Int / Red Ink
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music
General | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Far East & Asia | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Live at the Acropolis

Avalon

ASIN: B000064622
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

Berimbau Jam
Sange
Okesa Prayer
Wataru
Maracat
Psychopomp
Daraijin
Oya y Ogun
Echo Bells
Kashira
Ektal

Customer Reviews:

An Amazing Multi-Channel Experience.......2004-05-06

This SA-CD of KODO is nothing short of amazing. Especially, tracks 7 and 10. If you enjoy percussion instruments and want to experience a totally enveloping encounter, this is the SA-CD to own. It's great to show others exactly what multi-channel SA-CD and DVD-Audio can deliver. The detail of simple wind chimes, finger cymbals rise above the pulsating beat, clear and precise.
Highly recommended . . . . 5 Stars!!!

Simply Amazing!.......2004-02-28

This is an amazing disc! Sound quality is on par with the very best. Played back thru a true reference audio system, this disc will make your feet start moving. Also an acid test for a top notch audio system. I own a high end audio store and this disc has sold several PMC speaker systems for us...the same ones used to master the disc. Highly recommended!

Incredible SACD!! An absolute must have!.......2004-01-23

George is right on the mark with his review! I only have a 20 SACD collection so far, but this particular disc is the best sounding of them all. Spatial information is incredible, clarity and presense are both amazing. The bass isn't saturated, it's fast, clear and subtle yet has immense power. The actual music is indeed a beautiful blend of Asian and African. Both the stereo and surround mixes are extremely well done. Highly recommended.

Incredible sound!.......2003-02-26

This is what SACD is all about. By far the best sounding SACD in my 50 disc collection. Incredible dynamics and resolution. Also a very interesting blend of Asian and African Rhythm. A MUST for all SACD owners!