The Rough Guide

VA: The Rough Guide to Bottleneck Blues



One of the most overlooked (and subsequently underappreciated) subgenres of music is that of bottleneck blues, more readily known as slide. Evoking images of chain gangs and plantation fields, musky swamps and dusty back roads, bottleneck slide was an offshoot of Delta Blues and an exquisite aural canvas for the deep South of the early 20th century. The sound was organic, falling uncomfortably between melancholy and mean, and attracted many of the greatest blues players of the era. Even second and third generation fret board artisans were drawn to the haunting nature of bottleneck; think of Duane Allman and Jimi Hendrix using everything from shot glasses to beer cans in an effort to recreate the sound of their bluesy forefathers. Now, with the release of The Rough Guide to Bottleneck Blues, committed aficionados and casual observers can indulge themselves equally in this collection of beautifully gritty treasures from the past (and present).

Serving as a solid primer in Bottleneck 101, the CD boasts 22 varied tracks, each resonating in its own special way. The diversity of the collection dismisses any notion that slide was a rudimentary mechanical trick incorporated to elicit tonal nuances; bottlenecking may have been conceptually simple, but the actual art of sliding was far more complex. Listeners can judge for themselves by comparing the juke and jive twang of Blind Willie Johnson’s “God Moves On the Water” and Kokomo Arnold’s “Twelves” with the loping storytelling of Allen Shaw’s “Moanin’ the Blues” and Muddy Waters’ “I Be’s Troubled”; the mournful fluidity of Fred McDowell’s “Fred’s Worried Life Blues” with the breezy pick’n’slide of Casey Bill Weldon’s “You Just As Well Let Her Go”.

With a generous helping of tracks, the disc is anchored by the blues’ most recognized purveyors (Sylvester Weaver, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, and Son House) while featuring lesser known but similarly gifted artists (Willie Harris and Dan Pickett). The mixed roster complements itself by offering a broader understanding of the scope of bottleneck blues, as played by noted blues luminaries and forgotten practitioners.

As an added bonus, several contemporary artists’ slide explorations are included with classics from yesteryear. Stefan Grossman’s instrumental “Memphis Jellyroll” shares time with the somberness of Martin Simpson’s “I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes” as do strong efforts by John Fahey and Bob Bronzman. Interestingly, these efforts carry much the same impact of songs recorded decades earlier, evidence that the subtleties of bottleneck slide can be faithfully recreated long after most of the blues’ legends have passed on.

With the proliferation of greatest hits packages glutting the marketplace, choosing quality collections that are fairly representative of their respective genres is a challenge. For blues lovers and those interested in a 70-minute history lesson in bottleneck slide, The Rough Guide to Bottleneck Blues makes the decision process quite easy: Buy it and enjoy it.


01. Guitar Rag - Sylvester Weaver
02. Fred's Worried Life Blues - Fred McDowell
03. God Moves on the Water - Blind Willie Johnson
04. Falling Down Blues - Furry Lewis
05. Jack O'Diamonds - Pete Harris
06. Moanin' the Blues - Allen Shaw
07. Memphis Jellyroll - Stefan Grossman
08. Country Farm Blues - Son House
09. Come on in My Kitchen - Robert Johnson
10. I Be's Troubled - Muddy Waters
11. Sic 'Em Dogs On - Bukka White
12. St. Louis Blues - Jim & Bob
13. Mama, 'Tain't Long Fo' Day - Blind Willie McTell
14. Dance of the Inhabitants of the Palace of King Philip XIV of Spain - John Fahey 15. A Spoonful Blues - Charley Patton
16. Never Drive a Stranger - Willie Harris
17. Roll & Tumble Blues - Hambone Willie Newbern
18. Twelves, The (Dirty Dozens) - Kokomo Arnold
19. I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes - Martin Simpson
20. Poor Me - Bob Brozman
21. You Just as Well Let Her Go - Casey Bill Weldon
22. Baby How Long - Dan Pickett



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VA - Rough Guide To The Music Of The Balkans

192 kbps | 95 MB | 2003 | ethno | Balkan states

Tracklist:

1. Djeli mara - Saban Bajramovic feat. Mostar Sevdah Reunion (Serbia)
2. Pet je kumi - Cinkusi (Croatia)
3. Asfalt tango - Fanfare Ciocarlia (Romania)
4. U lijepom starom gradu visegradu - Mostar Sevdah Reunion (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
5. Nesatova sa-sa - Maleshevski Melos (Macedonia)
6. Chaje shukarije - Esma Redzepova (Macedonia)
7. Disko dzummbus - Boban Markovic Orkestar (Serbia)
8. Hora de la bolintin - Toni Iordache (Romania)
9. Karafili edhe zamaki - Gonda Manakovska (Kosovo)
10. Belmont - Yuri Yunakov (Bulgaria)
11. Jarnana - Ayde Mori (Albania / Turkey)
12. A pirin medley - Angelite (Bulgaria)
13. Taranjkanje - Marusic Is Trio (Croatia)
14. Trigona - Kristi Stassinopoulou (Greece)
15. Do mare ciften - Ensemble Tirana (Albania)

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The Rough Guide To The Music Of Mali & Guinea

This is a superb compilation of music from the heart of West Africa. This is not Paris-style world music (good though that is) - this is the real thing.

The tracks range across more than 20 years of Mali/Guinea music, with acoustic and electric sounds from well known (eg Ali Farka Toure) to more obsure (eg Momo Wandel Soumah) artists. There are some really classic songs here: Haidara by Jali Moussa Jawara and his kora, Sara 70 by Balla et ses Balladins, and Lan Naya from Bembeya Jazz National. Other big names represented are Mali's Rail Band and Ali Farka Toure. Taj Mahal even gets a look in, on a wonderful track dominated by the kora playing of Toumani Diabete.


Track Listing

01. Alasidi - Afel Bocoum
02. Balani - Abdoulaye Diabate
03. Atlanta Kaira - Toumani Diabate
04. Lan Naya - Bembeya Jazz National
05. Bassa - Momo Wandel Soumah
06. Fanadugule - Nahawa Doumbia
07. Allah Uya - Ali Farka Toure
08. Sara 70 - Balla et Ses Balladins
09. Haidara - Jali Musa Jawara
10. Duga - Rail Band
11. Sounafi - Mah Damba
12. Mali Twist - Boubacar Traoré
13. Damensena - Sekouba Bambino

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Discover the roots of English music with this authoritative 70-minute tour.This superb Rough Guide profiles influential and talented musicians who have been instrumental in establishing and reviving England's thriving folk scene.

Every decade or so, it seems that English folk and roots music develops the impetus to revisit and reinvent, taking familiar elements and bending them into new shapes that have the twin appeals of familiarity and newness. Such sudden reinventions have provided listeners with the work of artists as diverse and closely linked as Ewan MacColl, Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, June Tabor, and Phillip Pickett; the music may hail from the present or from 600 years ago, and instrumentation may involved electric guitars, trap drums, concertina, and someone blasting away with a crumhorn (a combination likely to reveal the presence of Ashley Hutchings, with the Albion Band or without). The Rough Guide to English Roots Music pulls together 18 likely suspects, with an accent on the closing years of the 20th century, which means selections from Eliza Carthy & the Kings of Calicutt and Billy Bragg alongside such expected icons as Martin Carthy and the Watersons. There are some excellent choices to be found in this set, but it functions all too well as an appetizer -- indulging in this collection could lead to rash actions later, such as carting off boxes of albums of English roots artists, or purchasing one each of everything in the Topic Records back catalog; the most hopeless cases will never again be able to imagine having led a life without Ashley Hutchings.

1. Lucky Break - Allan
2. Trip - Traditional
3. Sail on By - Jones, John [1]
4. Claudy Banks - Traditional
5. Be My Rambling Woman - McLeod, Rory
6. Gypsy's Lullaby/The Hawk/Memories/Coates Hall - Pigg, Billy
7. The Begging Song - Traditional
8. A Lord of Steam and Iron - Traditional
9. Falling Slowly - Simpson, Lester
10. Hopping Down in Kent
11. Country Life - Traditional
12. Byker Hill - Traditional
13. Brilliant Pebbles - Wesson
14. Yellow Dress - Hutchings, Ashley
15. Red Wing Polka - Mills
16. Bold Fisherman
17. The Baker - Stevenson, Savourna
18. A New England - Bragg, Billy

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With a population less than the size of greater New York, Hungary has produced a remarkably wide variety of music. While Marta Sebestyen and Muzikas (represented here) are probably the country's best-known musical export, there's plenty more worth hearing, not just the remarkable traditional tanchaz dance music of the Ökrös Ensemble, but gypsy and regional traditions, which remain very potent, with Zoltán Juhãsz and Mihály Halmágyi prime examples, the latter with some wonderful dance music. But there's plenty of room for the modernists, too. Romano Drom offer the contemporary end of the Rom Gypsy tradition, and they're remixed to great effect by Emil on their track. The Transylvanians seem to be very ethno-punk, with "Akasztós" sounding as if "Anarchy in the UK" had traveled to the Balkans. Kalyi Jag would seem to be strongly influenced by Dylan and Springsteen, while keeping their central European roots intact, while Fekete Vonant offer a sort of Gypsy rap that's not quite rap at all, but co-exists in the same neighborhood. Overall, incredible music and playing, and a chance to explore the many tangled strands of music that make up Hungary.

1. Páva (Hey, Peacock)
2. Hajnali Nóta (Morning Song) - Traditional
3. Akasztós - Traditional
4. Hungarian Verbunk
5. Jumping Dances
6. Deta Devla (God Bless)
7. Friss Csárdás (Fast Csárdás)
8. Hungarian Songs - Traditional
9. Könyörgés (Song for Mercy) - Varga, Gusztav
10. A Bivaly Hátán (Sitting on the Buffalo)
11. Pásztornóták Hosszúfurulyán - Traditional
12. Kerekes (Round Dance)
13. Danses de Lórincréve (Dances from Lórincréve)
14. Tánc a Hóban (Dance in the Snow) - Szarka, Tamás
15. Petrusevo Kolo
16. Szátélé Zsáv - Kovács, Antal Jr.
17. Numa Romanes - Beat
18. Rábaközi Karéj/Dus/Csárdás És Friss (Dances from Rábaköz)
19. Rákóczi Induló

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The Rough Guide to Irish Folk

The Rough Guide to Irish Folk provides an introduction to the different styles and artists within the genre. Established groups like De Danann and Deata and newer artists perform jigs, reels, and "sean nos, " a traditional form of a cappella singing. Rich in heritage and creativity, this collection should whet the appetite of anyone interested in contemporary Irish folk performers.

1. Ships Are Sailing/Ambrose Maloney's/The New Mown Meadows - Hughes, Brian (2)
2. Trucks Of Bohermore - Reeltime
3. Seacht Suailci Na Maighdine Muire - Ni Fhearraigh, Aoife
4. Green Grow The Rushes Oh - Cherish The Ladies
5. Medley - Glackin, Paddy
6. Mac's Fancy/The Mist Covered Mountain - De Danann
7. Maid Of Culmore - Oige
8. Medley - Masterson, Declan
9. London Lasses/Coast Of Austria - Ryan, Sean
10. A Bhean Udai Thall - Ni Uallachain, Padraigin
11. Mattie - Tyrell, Sean
12. Tour De Taille (Around The Waist) - Burke, Kevin & Open House
13. Red Crow/The Dawn/The Bianzano - Craobh Rua
14. Cailin Na NUrla Donn - Ni Bheaglaoich, Seosaimhin
15. Lord Gordon's/Kiss The Maid Behind The Barrell - Murphy, Colm
16. Fonn Mall/Slow Air (Ag Taisteal Na Blarnan) - Daly, Jackie
17. Seoladh Na NGamhna - Ui Cheallaigh, Aine
18. Paddy Fahy's Reel/The Ewe Reel - Moving Cloud
19. Lone Shanakyle - Deanta

first song is missing it had some error, sorry

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The Rough Guide to the Music of the Sahara

Travelling across Algeria, Mauritania, Mali and Western Sahara, The Rough Guide To The Music Of The Sahara encompasses the hauntingly beautiful and dramatically different sounds of the desert. Compiled by Saharan music expert Andy Morgan, this album features driving desert rock and roll, Moorish traditions and remarkable guitar music. Including the magnificent desert blues of BBC award-winners Tinariwen and the funky traditional sound of Kel Tin Lokiene among other outstanding performers, this album celebrates the diversity of Saharan musical culture.



Tracklist

1. Al Jbal Li Dargoug Aaaliya - Jellouli
2. Jraad - Meidah, Malouma Min
3. Alkhar Dessouf - Alhabib, Ibrahim Ag
4. Hakmet Lakdar - Becharia, Hasna El
5. Tadzi-Out - Traditional
6. ¡Dios Mio! - Alal, Nayim
7. Bleida - Alal, Nayim
8. Id Chab - Hassan, Mariem
9. Ikruhuwaten - Oumar, Walett
10. Malfa Sibori - Maïga, Boubacar Sid
11. Tagot
12. Ihama - Akreirou, Hami Ag
13. Fid El Yourn

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The Rough Guide to the Music of the Balkans

The Balkan countries constitute a region of striking contradictions. While political borders have been changing regularly in recent years, Balkan music endures, even thrives, defying political, religious, linguistic and ethnic confines. The region is bound together with some of the most dynamic folk music in the world – as the Turkish brass sound and a series of Muslim influences have swept northward and westward, Western vocal harmonies, waltzes, polkas, bagpipe and accordion have flowed in the opposite direction. Spanning the complete range of Balkan folk, this album rounds up some of the best sounds from Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Romania, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.



Tracklist

1. Djeli Mara - Bajramovic, Saban
2. Pet Je Kumi - Traditional
3. Asfalt Tango - Sîcal, Adrian
4. U Lijepom Starom Gradu Visegradu - Traditional
5. Nesatova Sa-Sa
6. Chaje Shukarije - Redzepova, Esma
7. Disko - Dzummbus - Félix, Lajkó
8. Hora de la Bolintin
9. Karafili Edhe Zamaki - Traditional
10. Belmont - Yanakov, Yuri
11. Jarnana - Traditional
12. A Pirin Medley: Devoiche Belo, Tsurveno/Povdigni Si Milo ... - Stefanov, Kyrill
13. Taranjkanje - Traditional
14. Trigona - Traditional
15. Do Marë Ciften - Public Domain

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Subtitled "Infectious Beats From the Spanish Streets," this is a collection of newer, often younger artists, mostly acoustic performers, who are all of, and frequently working in, the traditional and regional styles of Spain. There's plenty of Andalusian influence here, right from Javier Ruibál's opening track into Javier Paxarino's Arabic-inflected "Amanecer el la Sabika," but that's hardly all. Galicia is represented by Anubía, while the wonderful Hiru Truku and "Neska Soldadua" raise the Basque flag. In between there's a very fair selection of what's going on in Spain, whether it's the flamenco of Diego Carrasco or the political Catalan song of María del Mar Bonet. At its heart, as the compilers note, a lot of this might be classified as pop music (though not in the more American sense), but still very rooted. Notably, some experimental performers, such as Mercedes Peon and those working in a straight folk form (like Susana Seivane), aren't here, but that's fine; this gives exposure to many lesser-known talents, all of whom deserve it. A strong look at a part of Spain that hasn't received enough international sun -- yet.



1. Isla Mujeres - Ruibal, Javier
2. Amanecer en la Sabika - Paxariño, Javier
3. Poble Romani - Guarro, José Fortun
4. El Hechizo de Babilonia - Delgado, Luís Delga
5. Fibali - Salgado, Maria
6. Siete Modo de Guisar las Berenjenas - Xuclá, Antonio
7. Al Niño Miguel - Riqueni, Rafael
8. Mercè - Bonet, María Del Ma
9. De Isla a Isla - Ramos, José Antonia
10. Yo, Marinero - Carrasco, Diego
11. Seguidillas - Traditional
12. Mirabrás - Aguilar, Francisco
13. Neska Soldadua - Traditional
14. Cantarea - Blanco, A.
15. ¡Arrempuja!, Que Ya Estamos Aquí las Marujas - Chirgta Del Sulu
16. Jeta - Pardo, Jorge

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One of the very early entries in the Rough Guides series of CDs, the first Rough Guide to Scottish Music makes a fair stab at trying to collect the traditional and contemporary, the ancient and the new, and the revered and the blasphemous in Scottish music. The album opens with Wolfstone and some contemporary Scot rock, complete with bagpipes, fiddle, electric piano, and rock drum kit. Cathie Ann MacPhee provides an old Gaelic piece, and Capercaillie provides a brand new Gaelic piece to follow. Iron Horse turns in an instrumental piece of atmospheric music, and Talitha MacKenzie (formerly of Mouth Music) incorporates Tuvan throat singing, African drumming, and a club beat into a Gaelic song to stunning effect. After a short martial interlude, the Cast contributes a piece of what is essentially the Scottish end of the Celtic song style. The towering figure of ~censored~ Gaughan is represented with a piece from his major Handful of Earth album, and the Tannahill Weavers toss in a nice piece on a number of fiddles. The Boys of the Lough provide another look at Scottish Celtic traditions, Heather Heywood continues the theme with her voice, and Tannas pumps the beat back up a bit with some call-and-response singing and drumming. Before the album is over, more representatives of the Scottish folk revival scene show up for a number, followed always by another fine example of the same. There's a decent amount of variety here to be heard, and though there's something of a mild lack in the field of the absolute newest developments in Scottish revivalism (including some of the hardest-edged rock involving bagpipes since AC/DC), that's mostly addressed in the later second volume disc. This one's a fine introduction into contemporary Scottish music, keeping an eye on its influences from traditional forms.



1. Ballavanich
2. Chi Mi'n Geamhradh
3. Claire in Heaven
4. The 8 Step Waltz
5. Seinn O
6. Wigtown Fanfare
7. The Scots Callan O' Bonnie Dundee
8. Erin-Go-Bragh
9. The Unicorn Set
10. A Midwinter Waltz
11. The Sally Gardens
12. Mairead Nan Cuiread/The Bob Parsons Strathspey
13. Galicia Revisited
14. Brown Milkmaid: Dunnottar Castle/Maid of Glengarrysdale/Disused Railw
15. Just a Dream
16. Malcolm Ferguson/Finbar Saunde

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Famed for their impressive scenery and refined air, the Alps are also home to a vast gallery of fascinating musical styles. This Rough Guide explores far beyond the stereotypical image of the region to uncover a lively and unexpected music scene, which incorporates age-old dialects and traditional styles to produce a distinctly contemporary sound. Full of humour and innovation, this selection features the unique sounds of instruments such as the alphorn, the kazoo and the hurdy-gurdy, in tracks from some of Europe's most original and talented artists.



1. Prèïèré - Revey, Laurence
2. Am Hans Sine - Kennel, Hans
3. Marcha Mai - Vaillant
4. He-U - Attwenger
5. Oh, Wenn Die Sens' - Trabitsch, Klaus
6. Sontga Margriata, Pt. 2 - Curschellas, Corin
7. Love Your Life - Jaklitsch, Alfred
8. Heavy Metal Landler - Ringsgwandl, Georg
9. Coup de Cæur - Loibner, Matthias
10. Vespa & Adieu Paure Carneval - Bianco, M.
11. Polka - Traditional
12. Hundling - Netzer, Wolfgang H.
13. Taps, Federn & Schnee - Huber, Ernst
14. Sackamra - Bratko Bibic
15. Auftanz
16. Strasetti d'Arba - Agostini
17. Eno Drevce, Coti? - Traditional
18. Rigodon de Manse
19. Stille Nacht - Traditional

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The Rough Guide to the Music of Italy

From high in the Alps to the Calabrian coast, the traditional music of Italy is as varied as its landscape. This Rough Guide offers a glimpse of the country's rich musical heritage, from the mysterious sounding 'a tenore' singing style of Sardinia to the tarantellas of Naples in the south.
Like the other entries in this almost uniformly excellent series, The Rough Guide to the Music of Italy presents a richly diverse introduction to its chosen subject, collecting forms of Italian music both traditional and contemporary, national and localized. Artists present include Banditaliana, Banda Ionica, Baraban, and Tenores Di Bitti.



01.Tarantella Calabrese
02.Maggio - Traditional
03.Cassisia Agghja 'Intu - Ledda, Elena
04.Sera Passaje Pe' Sotto 'Na Cella
05.Grondo Gigo de Blins/Gigo, Cadrio, Pountarelo E Balet
06.Ballate a Ballu Tundu - Traditional
07.Oi, Giovanotti
08.Jone - Petrella
09.Costera
10.Il Moru Sarasin
11.Quanne Sand'anne - Bolognese, L
12.Mary Dem/Icio
13.Va Per Tera/Giga
14.Mario Mario
15.Io Vado in Filandra/La Malmaritata - Traditional
16.La Merla
17.E Stasira Caminandu
18.Beica

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This is a classic combination of songs, sounds and rhythms played and sung by some of the finest vocalists and musicians in Greece. Don't miss the opportunity to own it ... the quality is outstanding!

1. Topos - Nikolousid, M.
2. Kastrinos - Psarantonis
3. Pikrodafni - Traditional
4. Simera Gamos Ginete - Traditional
5. Ballos - Traditional
6. Arabas Perna - Karabesini, A.
7. Tha Spaso Koupes - Traditional
8. Galata Manes - Traditional
9. O Prosfigas - Bizanis, M.
10. Piga Se Magisses - Tselepis, G.
11. Trelli Ki Adespoti - Ksidakis, N.
12. Pare T' Ahnaria Mou - Derveniotis, T.
13. Zeibekiko - Savopoulos, D.
14. San Erthoun Mana I Fili Mou - Traditional
15. Skaros - Traditional
16. Tin Kardia M' Tin Klidomeni - Traditional
17. Leventikos - Traditional
18. Apo to Parko Sti Mirovolo - Bakirtzis, A
19. To Trizoni - Theodorakis, M.
20. Orea Kimoneni - Xidakis N.

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