Vietnam is not yet on the world music map, but clearly deserves to be. This intriguingly varied selection covers the country's styles, from the sturdy, trance-like singing of Huy Du, to the virtuoso, bluesy instrumental work of Kim Sinh, playing a two-stringed lute, or the gently stirring, updated treatment of a traditional song by the Paris-based Huong Thanh. There are western influences in contemporary Vietnam, of course, but the country seems to have escaped domination by guitar or keyboard. Two of the more intriguing tracks feature a one-stringed instrument, the dan bao, which can be heard both on a jazzy shuffle by Blue Asia, and a wildly unexpected treatment of the country-pop favourite (Ghost) Riders in the Sky.
Robin Denslow (The Guardian)
Compiler Paul Fisher has done an excellent job: he shows how traditional instruments and styles have been harnessed to Western pop requirements, but he also lets them speak unadorned. So here is a whole series of instrumental encounters, with the dan bau pre-eminent. This is a monochord - an instrument consisting of a single string, an open box for a soundboard and a sliver of buffalo horn attached to the string which the player delicately bends to alter the pitch: its effect is uncannily like the human voice, and it has often been used to conjure spirits. We also meet the 16-string dan tranh zither, and many varieties of gong, lute, and drum. But the glory of this music lies in the female human voice, with its feline grace and the little catch in the throat which most singers use to heighten the dramatic effect. One ritual song, recorded at a shrine, would alone be enough to justify buying this fascinating CD.
Michael Church (The Scotsman)
Compiled by Paul Fisher. The Rough Guide to the Music of Malaysia delves behind the tourist destination facade to explore a wealth of musical styles: from Arabic influenced pop with a distinctive Bollywood flavour to the pulsating roots sound of local Malay groups. Featuring a heady mix of both traditional and modern sounds, this album presents Malaysia's potent musical force. Price: £9.99
Covers the entire spectrum of Okinawan music, from the most famous traditional musicians to the biggest stars of the modern roots scene. Essential. Click Read About for the liner notes and full track listing.
The only compilation of the current Japanese roots music scene. 19 essential tracks of minyo (folk) traditional , Okinawan, and other styles. Click Read About for the liner notes and full track listing.
Price: £9.99
Compiled by Paul Fisher - this CD offers a snapshot on a myriad of Chinese music each track displaying the emotions and attitudes of it's own place in time and circumstance; from Cantonese opera to Beijing punk, from ancient traditions to revolutionary rock, from 1930s pop swing to 1990s pop folk. This CD represents the evolution and revolution in Chinese music until now.
Compiled by Paul Fisher- long awaited and much needed compilation of some of south east Asia's most pulsating sounds - lukthung, (Thai Country music), Morlam (funky northeastern folk), pop, classical and even an orchestra of elephants make this a varied and rewarding listen. Price: £9.99
Double CD compiled by Paul Fisher. 'The Far East may have held a fascination for western travellers for centuries, but strangely enough, the region's music has remained largely unnoticed. For the first time, the Very Best of the Far East links some of the world's most ancient and beautiful cultures and sounds with the bustling vitality and creativity of a largely urban generation. Thus Japanese producers mix Vietnamese, Indonesian or their own traditions with modern dancefloor and laid back rhythms, Okinawan music meets Brazilian beats, or indigenous Japanese music is updated into a living, breathing exciting roots sound. Elsewhere, Vietnamese musicians add jazz inflections to traditional tunes, centuries old Chinese instruments are brought storming into the 21st century with ambient, electronic sounds, while western musicians too add their input to the melting pot. This is a CD to blow away your preconceptions of Far Eastern music, that instead celebrates the diversity, yet unites the music of a region that finally comes of age, the equal of anything, anywhere on the planet.' Click read about for the full liner notes. Price: £13.99
'On Buddhist Chanting-Music For the Path to Spiritual Enlightenment', Nascente's Far Eastern expert, Paul Fisher has compiled a unique double album of mantras and Buddhist music. The electronic keyboard accompaniment augmented by Chinese traditional elements contained on this album is designed to add accessibility and atmosphere to the overall effect- creating music suitable for Buddhist prayers as well as being perfect for relaxing and unwinding to, whatever your path.' 2 CD set, 6 tracks. Click Read About for the full liner notes.
Compiled by Paul Fisher of Far Side Music- A musical journey through Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Okinawa, Japan and South Korea. 'a real backpacking trip that you could make. The artists are genuine, the music authentic and young or old, here are the living, breathing traditions vital for out 21st century. An open door to the world beyond. Price: £8.99
Compiled by Far Side Music's Paul Fisher for a festival in Pamplona, Spain in 2002. Modesty prevents us from critical comment, suffice to say it features 13 artists, from the cream of the Japan and Okinawa roots music scenes, and several of our best selling artists. Included are the Okinawan/Brazilian mix of Miyazawa, young shamisen player Masahiro Nitta, Ainu musician Oki, Japanese female punky Okinawan folk duo Shisars, Okinawan maestro Takashi Hirayasu, grandfather of Okinawan music Seijin Noborikawa and more. Comes with book (as opposed to booklet) sized notes, trouble is you have to read Spanish to understand them, but you can read them here.
Lying Deep in the Pacific, more than 2000 miles west of San Francisco, the islands of Hawaii combine traditional Polynesian influences with the hugely popular slack key and slide guitar styles. This CD spans several decades of Hawaiian music, featuring stunning vocals and guitar tracks from some of the islands greatest masters.
