TOP OF THEWORLD
On your free CD – the editor’s selection of the top ten new releases reviewed in this issue
BEST NE LBUM RELE SES
SONGHOY BLUES | R CHEL NE TON S M MIDON | LIR Z | KHUSUGTUN ND MORE...
01 Liraz ‘Injah’ 02 Rachel Newton ‘The Early Morning’
03 Sam Amidon ‘Cuckoo’ 04 Songhoy Blues ‘Gabi’ 05 Vincent Peirani & Emile Parisien ‘Memento’
06 Tio ‘Mumbwe’ 07 Khusugtun ‘Chinggis Khaan’
08 Ruby Mack ‘Machine Man’ 09 Rodrigo Costa Félix ‘A Sangue Frío’
10 Redi Hasa ‘Dajti Mountain’
TOP OF THE WORLD
CD 163
PLUS 5 tracks chosen by Jackie Morris
11 Karine Polwart ‘Follow the Heron’ 12 Colm Mac Con Iomaire ‘Time Will Tell’
13 You Are Wolf ‘Oh Ruin’ 14 Dyble Longdon ‘Heartwashing’ 15 The Lost Words: Spell Songs ‘The Lost Words Blessing’
Exclusively with the December 2020 issue of Songlines. STWCD139.
This compilation & © 2020 MA Music, Leisure & Travel Ltd
ND N EXCLUSIVE PL YLIST
BY J CKIE MORRIS
163
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
06 SONGLINES › ISSUE 163
TOP OF THE WORLD PLAYLIST TRACKS
01 Liraz ‘Injah’ From Zan on Glitterbeat Records The Iranian-Israeli singer injects passion, urgency and a sense of danger into tracks on an album that is a tribute to the contemporary women of Iran – from child brides to freedom fighters. See p61
06 Tio ‘Mumbwe’ From Sorousian on Wantok Musik The multi-instrumentalist from Vanuatu releases a refreshing and contemporary album of songs from a little-heard part of the world, including this reworking of an Ambryn kastom dance song. See p59
02 Rachel Newton ‘The Early Morning’ From To the Awe on Shadowside Records The strong opening track of the album that puts women at the centre of the narrative. Energetic, subtle and wide-ranging, this new release from the Scottish singer and harpist is worth your awe. See p52
03 Sam Amidon ‘Cuckoo’ From Sam Amidon on Nonesuch Records The American singer-songwriter proves to be the Frankenstein of folk as he re-imagines and transforms familiar Appalachian songs, murder ballads and novelty tunes. See p46 04 Songhoy Blues ‘Gabi’ From Optimisme on Transgressive Records Optimisme is a tough, rocking set from this young award-winning group, boasting plenty of trademark desert grooves that prove they haven’t lost touch with their traditional Malian roots. See p44
07 Khusugtun ‘Chinggis Khaan’ From Jangaron Buda Musique A thrilling combo of highly impressive throat singing and morin huur (horse head fiddle) playing opens this exceptional and contemporary album from the Mongolian six-piece. See p57
08 Ruby Mack ‘Machine Man’ From Devil Told Me on Ruby Mack Superb harmony singing, finely honed songwriting and a pointedly LBGTQ+ take on acoustic Americana from the all-female string quartet on their album full of political undercurrents. See p48
09 Rodrigo Costa Félix ‘A Sangue Frío’ From Tempo on Fado World A perfect conversation between voice and guitar, this track is beautifully balanced, subtle, full of invention but never showy, exemplifying an excellent album from Portuguese fadista Costa Félix. See p51
05 Vincent Peirani & Emile Parisien ‘Memento’ From Abrazo on ACT Music Inventive and warm tango-inspired musings from the accordion and sax duo. This track, penned by Parisien, is delicate and lingers long after it finishes. See p62
10 Redi Hasa ‘Dajti Mountain’ From The Stolen Cello on Ponderosa Sublime instrumental music inspired by Mediterranean folk traditions and conservatoire classicism, all played on the cello Redi Hasa took from his music school after fleeing Albania as a refugee. See p60
WWW.SONGLINES.CO.UK
