Heard

It’s not often that you listen to an album that aims to take the listener from Africa to New York, from start to finish. This one, Hammock House: Africa Caribe… Read the rest promises to do just that, in its two-disc set mixed by DJ and Producer Joaquin “Joe” Claussell.
The record itself

SMOD, the Malian-based trio, represents a new genre of world music. The group plays a combination of rap, folk and traditional Malian styles while singing powerful lyrics about African politics and corruption. As NPR put it on their ‘5 African Artists to Watch‘ section, “This young group’s self-titled debut … Read the rest

Río Arriba… Read the rest is Latin club music rooted in traditional Argentine rhythm and beats. It is the melding together of urban electronica and Argentine folkloristic music. It is the work of artist Chancha Via Circuito, who comes from a town outside of Buenos Aires and produces music unlike that of anything

As the front man for the Icelandic rock band Sigur Rós, Jónsi wrote many of the group’s song lyrics, and, over the years, amassed a large amount of written songs that had yet to be recorded or played for an audience. Out of this “pool” of songs came Jónsi’s first… Read the rest

Outdoor clothing manufacturer Patagonia announced Tuesday a new initiative to promote environmental causes through the sale of popular music. Backed by bands Pearl Jam, The Bad Plus and Toad the West Sprocket, along with performers Jack Johnson and Brett Dennen, the company aims to let customers support conservation efforts for… Read the rest

This video strangely hypnotic. And, perhaps that’s the point. The music–lyric-free and undulating–is accompanied by a strange array of creatures (they may be aliens, as they’re walking on what appears to be the moon) who move to the beat of their own tune. And although the video is long-ish, lasting… Read the rest

When you combine the traditional sounds of the Klezmer–an Eastern European instrument that infiltrates Yiddish culture–with lyrics about “Laughing Jackie the Pimp,” drunken dancing and “The Whiskey Rabbi,” you come out with the one and only Geoff Berner.
The musical genius known as Berner is truly unique. He plays a… Read the rest

Francisca Valenzuela is a 22-year-old musician from Chile that we’re sorry to say we haven’t featured before. She writes her own music–both in english and spanish–and plays the piano and guitar beautifully. We came across this 2011-released single, “Quiero Verte Más“ on NPR‘s listing of 2011′s new Alt Latino rising… Read the rest

With today’s array of overly synthesized music, it can be hugely refreshing to hear music in its natural form–without electronic assistance or overdubbing. Perhaps that’s why we’re so turned on by Black Dub, … Read the resta group of four talented and diverse musicians who record their tracks and release them without any

“If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place,” Jake Shimabukuro (she-ma-BOO-koo-row) believes. Perhaps that’s the inspiration for the title of his undeniably peaceful new album, “Peace Love Ukulele,” which will be released tomorrow.
The ukulele  is traditionally recognized as a somewhat mediocre instrument saved for tacky… Read the rest

The simplicity and humanity of Bjørn Torske’s new album, Kokning, … Read the restemanates from the title; one word (Kokning) that in Norwegian means something along the lines of: putting potatoes on to boil, going fishing and then preparing the fish and potatoes together when returning home. This word, representing the simple human

La Santa Cecilia’s brand new album, Noches y Citas… Read the rest, presents us with a vibrant set of sounds in the form of just five sharp tracks. In its new album, released last week, the Los Angeles-based band takes us on a musical journey–imparting, at times, folk-style Mexican sounds; other times

If you see the holiday season as an opportunity to give your time or resources to a good cause, you’re in for a unique treat. Schwinn Bicycles just launched its ‘Bells for Bikes’ campaign, which gives you the opportunity to donate a brand new bike and helmet to a kid… Read the rest

Mountain Man comprises three talented young women and one acoustic guitar. As a result, the tracks on Mountain Man’s debut full-length album, Made the Harbor… Read the rest, are inspiring and invigorating in their sheer, unique simplicity.
It’s not often that you hear a group sing along with just one instrument… and

This isn’t a song that most people outside of this village in Zambia have ever heard. And the man singing it isn’t famous. He plays a home-made guitar and sings with a beautiful voice that we suspect wasn’t trained by voice lessons. The song itself, titled “A Traditional Era,” is… Read the rest