Reviews:

Khaled
Sahra
Paris based Algerian is a sensation in Europe playing music called "Rai" - a fusion of traditional Algerian music with rock, funk and modern technology. Follow up to his last excellent "Nissi Nissi" Sahra moves slightly further in a westerly direction without losing that "otherness" of the original roots stuff.

Phillip Glass
Kundun
new Scoresese soundtrack

John Scofield
A Go Go
Organ trio and guitar funkeee - yikes.

Massive Attack
Mezzanine
The long awaited 3rd album from this Bristol co - operative who have in many ways defined the sound of the 90s. Lot more depth than previous album.

Robbie Robertson
Contact from the Underworld of Redboy
Fourth solo album from legendary "Band" guitarist and composer exploring his Indian roots with 90s technology producers Howie B and others.

Miles Davis Quintet
1965 - 1969
Six CDs of the classic late 60's quartet, before Miles blasted off into the stratosphere of electronics in the early 1970s.

Arto Lindsay
Mundo Civilizado
Hyper Civilizado Mundo Civilizado Remixed
Neon Chill
Former N.Y.C. punk enfant terrible exploring his Brazilian past. Mostly original songs but some wonderful reworkings of "Prince" and Al Green. Very very easy on the ear, languorous and sexy but twisted at the same time, especially the album of remixes.

John Zorn
Bar Kokbah - Circle maker
Filmworks V111 1997
Both albums featuring the less frenetic side of Zorns nature. He explores his Jewish roots with beautiful results.

Panthalassa
The Music of Miles Davis 1967 - 1974
reconstruction and translation by Bill laswell. If you didn't hear this music 1st time around, this is a great opportunity to catch it edited, cleaned up without the loss of its original majesty. Spans the period from "In a silent way" to "Get up with it".

Ry Cooder
The End of Violence Soundtrack Album
Reunited with director Wim Wenders after 14 years, this is his most interesting and coherent since Paris -Texas (cameos from James Blood Ulmer and John Hassel)

Bill Frisell
Gone, Just Like a Train
Following last years "Nashville" this one Features Jim Keltner on drums and victor Krauss on bass. Seductive, soulful, rock inflected, introverted, witty and at times surprising - you can tell Frisell just loves all guitar players from Hank to Hendrix.

Olu Dara
In the World - from Natchez to new York
Not what we would have expected. Absolutely unique, legendary cornet from obscure New York "out there" jazz sessions over a period of 20 years, leader of never recorded Okra Orchestra, releases 1st solo CD which is more in line with Taj Mahal than Lester Bowie. he sings, plays a beautiful guitar, but the horn is special. A little gem.

In brief:

Other CDs we absolutely love at the moment:

Moby
I like to score
Techno wizz - soundtrack material

Slingblade
Soundtrack
music and songs by Danial Lanois

Yo La Tengo
I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One
Modern day Velvet's soundalike, although they hate the comparison.

Acetone
Acetone
more of the above

Morcheeba
Big Calm
2nd album

Pat Metheny/Charlie Haden
Missouri Skies
Metheny's best in ages, Haden his usual self ( no higher recomendation needed.

Arcana
Arc of Testimony
Bill Laswell, Tony Williams with Pharoah Sanders etc.

Eagerly awaited discs:
Sonic Youth - new CD
Beck - new CD
Pere Ubu - Pennsylvania

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