Around the world in 10 albums: 2005's best in world music

JEFF GIFFORD

RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Posted: 12/30/2005

Reno Gazette-Journal critic Jeff Gifford's favorites from around the world.

1. Amadou & Mariam, "Dimanche A Bamako": The blind Malian husband-and-wife team joins with the innovative Manu Chao to create this enthusiastic blend of West African blues-rock with an international pop flair.

2. Rachid Taha, "Tékitoi": The Algerian firebrand with a punk history imbues these songs with a sense of rage at politics in his homeland. A fierce, visceral and sometimes eerie Arab-rock disc.

3. Chango Spasiuk, "Tarefero De Mis Pagos": Spasiuk tears it up with his brilliant Argentinian Chamamé-style accordion. The album fuses Indian, Spanish, African and Ukranian music, sometimes sounding avant-garde, other times sweetly rustic.

4. Various, "The Rough Guide To The Sahara": This music powerfully evokes the landscape of its origin. Lonely, spacious, loping sounds that range from guitar rock to otherworldly chant.

5. Ion Petre Stoican, "Sounds From A Bygone Age Vol. 1": It's a reissue from the '70s, but it's new to most everyone outside of Romania. The violinist leads a magical gypsy orchestra whose music yanks you by the arm, whirls you for 45 minutes and leaves you breathless. The instrument called a cymbalom here is simply boggling.

6. Souad Massi, "Honeysuckle": Sounding more worldly-wise than ever, the Algerian singer's beautiful Arab cabaret-folk takes on African and Berber shades at times, and she gives her usually silky voice an occasionally husky edge.

7. Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté, "In The Heart Of The Moon": Two greats from Mali combine with a soft and wholly pleasing record dominated by the West African harp called the kora.

8. Seu Jorge, "Cru": A Brazilian disc spread thick with smoothness. Covers of Elvis and Serge Gainsbourg. Generally slow and sparse. Always cool.

9. Emmanuel Jal & Abdel Gadir Salim, "Ceasefire": Rapper Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier from Sudan's black, Christian south, collaborates with Abdel Gadir Salim, a venerated Arab orchestra leader from that country's north. An exciting blend of traditions, cultures and generations, and a counterpoint to Sudan's long civil war.

10: Lura, "Di Korpu Ku Alma": She's sometimes compared to her older compatriot Cesara Evora, but really, Lura has her own shimmering Cape Verdean sound, and a strong emotional voice to back it up.