RecommNeds | Khun Narin, Toure-Raichel Collective & More
By Aaron Stein Nov 12, 2014 • 11:30 am PST
A couple months ago, the RecommNeds took an intercontinental journey with new music picks from around the globe. It was such a fun trip, I thought I’d make it a regular feature. So here’s the second installment of Around the World in Neddy Daze:
Khun Narin: Electric Phin Band
OK, so here’s an interesting story. Guy discovers (via YouTube video) a group of dudes in some remote part of Thailand playing crazy one-of-a-kind psychedelic music, quits his day job and makes it his mission to find these musicians and bring their music back to the western world. Thankfully for us, he succeeded, and the recording Khun Narin’s Electric Phin Band is a fascinating, electrifying set of hypnotic, dreamy, eclectic jams the likes of which you’ve never heard before. Cool story. Cool music.
Rdio: h ttp://www.rdio.com/artist/Khun_Narin/album/Khun_Narin’s_Electric_Phin_Band_1/
Spotify: Khun Narin – Khun Narin’s Electric Phin Band
Rhapsody: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/khun-narin/album/khun-narins-electric-phin-band-innovative-leisure
The Toure-Raichel Collective: The Paris Session
The Toure-Raichel Collective is another amazing story of chance encounter that led to some amazing music. Apparently Israeli pianist Idan Raichel and Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Toure met in an airport in Berlin and, one thing leading to another, decided to collaborate. Their first album, the Tel Aviv Session, was a past RecommNed and one of my favorite albums of 2012. Their newest recording, The Paris Session, is another masterpiece in world jazz fusion. The two musicians have a natural chemistry together, with improvised sections sounding composed and composed melodies having the easy, free spirit of improvisation. This is excellent, high quality music that defies geography or genre, don’t pass on it.
Rdio: http://www.rdio.com/artist/The_Touré-Raichel_Collective/album/The_Paris_Session/
Spotify: The Touré-Raichel Collective – The Paris Session
Rhapsody: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/the-toure-raichel-collective/album/the-paris-session
Montibus Communitas: The Pilgrim to the Absolute
If the trees in the forest could play music, it might sound like this album. Montibus Communitas is a “sound collective” from Peru, a sort of amorphous band of musicians whose new release is The Pilgrim to the Absolute. Sounds of birds chirping and water flowing accompany long, flowing songs that are just as much spiritual journey as hallucinogenic instrumental pieces. With hypnotic percussion and slowly evolving melodies, this is new new age music.
Rdio: http://www.rdio.com/artist/Montibus_Communitas/album/The_Pilgrim_to_the_Absolute/< / a>
Spotify: Montibus Communitas – The Pilgrim to the Absolute
Rhapsody: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/montibus-communitas/album/the-pilgrim-to-the-absolute
Dustin Wong & Takako Minekawa: Savage Imagination
Our final stop on this journey takes us around the world in a single album. Savage Imagination is a collaboration between RecommNed fave Dustin Wong (Chinese-American, born in Hawaii, grew up in and once again living in Japan) and Japanese musician Takako Minekawa. Wong’s beautifully looping guitar melodies meet their match with Minekawa’s synth and sampled drums, sounds and vocals to create gorgeous, playful sound collages. As with all of Dustin’s albums, this is inspired music that reveals its secrets upon repeated deep listening. Enjoy!
Spotify: Takako Minekawa – Savage Imagination
Written By: Aaron Stein
