Modern-day Stax soul dynamo N'dambi brings the heat to Nashville; plus a roundup of world-music releases

By Ron Wynn

Published on March 05, 2010 at 11:07am

Global Roundup

Longital, Gloria (Slnko)

Slovak vocalist Shina Lo's dreamy, sultry vocals provide much of the lure for Longital's music, with the rest of the band's appeal coming via an ambitious mix of Daniel Salontay's crisp, crackling guitar lines and a wealth of colors generated from Xi-di-nim's fortress of synthesizers, turntables and various devices. Longital's been around since 2001, though they adopted their current name five years ago. One minute they sound like a French lounge act, the next a spacy ambient crew. Longital also funnels other influences like rockabilly, pop and rock through tunes that sometimes extend as long as seven minutes, though most unfold in charning three to four minute montages. Their music has a catchy quality, and when Lo and Salontay harmonize in either acoustic or electronic settings their interaction adds energy to the proceedings. (March 9).