Looking for something to do on these hot summer nights? Make some sangria, and pop Putumayo‘s recent release España into the CD player. Fans of the Gipsy Kings will love the infectious, hip-swiveling “Para Poder Olvidarla” from Peret, Barcelona’s so-called ‘King of Rumba.’ “Corren” from Gossos, a popular Catalonian rock band, is a sweet love […]
European music
Norwegian Chameleon
Check out Pre Develske Drom from Henning Gustavsen. It’s a recent release from Etnisk Musikklubb, and it is captivating. Gustavsen’s voice is clear and compelling, and it is put front and center on this album. A few early tracks are sung a capella–little to no instrumentation and only an occasional harmonizing voice. These tracks are stark […]
Vanishing Craft
Etnisk Musikklubb‘s recent release Merakerklarinetten I Solo Og Samspell (bet you can’t say that three times fast) features the almost forgotten Meraker clarinet, a handmade folk clarinet that was rediscovered and modernized by Harald Gilland in the 1950s. Since Gilland’s passing in 1992, the instrument has again fallen into near obscurity. To try to keep the […]