The Appalachian Mountains reach across the Eastern portion of the United States, from Georgia to deep into New England. A wide array of different musical types flourish in this region, including bluegrass, gospel and some styles of old-time folk music whose roots can be traced back to the British/Irish immigrants who settled here centuries back. This edition in the Rough Guide series presents a sampler of some of the diverse musical influences that call the Appalachian Mountain region home. Listeners can expect an exciting blend of fiddles, banjo, guitar, bass and country style vocals. Artists featured here include: Cox Family, Peter Rowan, Claire Lynch, Larry Sparks, Laurel Canyon Ramblers and more.
1. Claire Lynch - God Spoke His Name 2:09
2. Laurel Canyon Ramblers - Happy I'll Be 2:41
3. Rhonda Vincent - My Sweet Love Ain't Around 4:29
4. Tom Adams - Box Elder Beetles 4:11
5. Peter Rowan - Wild Geese Cry Again 3:51
6. Del McCoury - How Long Blues 2:52
7. Cox Family - Another Lonesome Morning 3:04
8. Tony Rice Unit - Jerusalem Ridge 6:33
9. Blue Highway - Still Climbing Mountains 3:41
10. Larry Sparks - The Old Church Yard 3:16
11. Ginny Hawker - My Warfare Will Soon Be Over 4:30
12. Ralph Stanley - Two Coats 2:40
13. Rafe Stefanini - I've Got No Honey Baby Now 2:41
14. Bluegrass Album Band - River of Death 2:20
15. Jeremy Stephens - Hard Times 3:05
16. Joe Thompson - Old Corn Liquor 3:23
17. Norman & Nancy Blake - Hello Stranger 3:06
18. Dock Boggs - Wise County Jail 1:48
19. Karl Shiflett - The Trail of the Ancients 3:31
London, ever the epicenter of club culture innovation, is responsible for perpetuating one of the electronic scene's more inspired movements: the Asian Underground. Fueled by the passion of artists like Talvin Singh and Fun-Da-Mental, who thrive on merging India's best bhangra and Indian classical tunes with the latest trends in genre-bending studio wizardry, the Asian Underground has risen from its esoteric East London following to a worldwide phenomenon. Interested in learning more? Never fear, it's Rough Guide to the rescue. This compilation offers a comprehensive sampling of the Asian Underground's characteristic beats, breaks and flute swirls via artists like TJ Rehmi, Ananda Shankar, Joi and State of Bengal.
1. Ananda Shankar - Streets of Calcutta 4:43
2. State of Bengal - Elephant Ride 6:23
3. Black Star Liner - Killah Connection 5:01
4. Joi - Fulfillment in Dub 5:43
5. Fun-da-Mental - Ja Sha Taan 6:02
6. Uzma - Yab Yum (Sabres of Paradise Remix) 4:31
7. Orchestral World Groove - Pyar 6:24
8. Shivanova - Sundance 6:42
9. Asian Dub Foundation - Debris 4:19
10. TJ Rehmi - Is It Legal? 5:52
11. Mahatma T - Jihad 4:35
12. James Asher - Nataraj Express 5:36
13. Sister India - Out of Place 4:12
14. Mo Magic - Mixed Vision 4:29
15. Bill "Ravi" Harris - Path of the Blazing Sarong 3:04
During the late 1800's, Western eyes were seduced for the first time by the enchantment of bellydance. A century may have passed, but the allure of this Middle Eastern dance form has not diminished… in fact, its popularity continues to surge. Despite its title, the 70+ minutes of music contained this album from the Rough Guide series goes beyond feminine dancing; it offers a taste of traditional, rhythm-based music from North Africa and the Middle East. Amidst frenetic beats and regional instruments (oud, ney, riq, tabla, qanun), artists like Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Mahmoud Fadl, Reda Darwish and Jalilah continue to mystify audiences and define the sounds of the Mediterranean's southern shores.
1. Jalilah feat Ihsan Almounzer - Tahia's Dance 4:36
2. Reda Darwish - Marhaba 1:41
3. Ahmad Fouad Hasan - Dimashq 3:06
4. Mahmoud Fadl - Aament Bellah 12:02
5. Jalilah feat Mokhtar Al Said - Enta Omri 5:27
6. Setrak Sarkissian - Ala Jsrel Low Ziyyi 5:35
7. Mahmed Matar - Adawar 4:35
8. Omar Faruk Tekbilek - Laz 3:54
9. Kemani Cemal Cinarli - Kirkpinar Ciftetellisi 6:19
10. Jalilah feat Mokhtar Al Said - Rakiya's Tabla 1:50
11. Mahmoud Fadl - Ana Wehabibi 5:04
12. Armando El Mufafo - Arruga La Camisa 3:27
13. Ahmed Mneimneh - Aini Bet Ref 4:02
14. Rabih Abou-Khalil - The Happy Sheik 6:00
15. Reda Darwish - Raqset El Banat 3:11
Bhangra music, a traditional celebratory (dance) music form of India's Punjab region, has not just been revived, but completely reconstructed halfway across the world as part of the U.K.'s underground music scene. Traditionally, no bhangra would be complete without the characteristic low thump of the dhol or dholak. This rule still holds true, however experimentations with synthesizers, guitars, electronic beats and ethnic fusion have brought the genre well into the new millennium, turning this humble style of Indi-Pakistani folk music form into a burgeoning trend. BHANGRA, from the "Rough Guide" world music traveler series, exposes some of the greats of this nouveau bhangra movement including legends like Alaap and late qawwali master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, modern mixmaster Bally Sagoo, female crooners Sangeeta and more.
1. Four of a Kind - Rail Gaddi 5:09
2. Soni Pabla - Dil Tera 3:51
3. Daljit Mattu & Ravi Bal - Captain Bhangra Da 4:56
4. Aman Hayer - Dil Nai Lagda 4:19
5. Partners in Rhyme - Gal Sun 4:44
6. Veronica - Sajna 3:28
7. Malkit Singh - Chal Hun (Get Up Fix) 5:28
8. Binder - Billo Raneeay 4:08
9. Juggy D - Akheer 3:46
10. Manak-E - Paisa 4:51
11. Madan Bata Sindhu - Mehndi/Madhorama Pencha 3:23
12. Indy Sagu with Manak-E - Lakh Hilda 5:10
13. Daljit Mattu - Taweet 4:40
14. Taz - Apna Sangeet 4:16
15. Panjabi By Nature - Nain Preeto De 3:46
Although you can likely trace the history of bluegrass back to 17th century settlers, who arrived on American shores with the musical influences of their homeland (especially Ireland and Scotland), modern day bluegrass first became a recognized musical force in the 1950's. A combination of Celtic folk music, blues, Southern spiritual/gospel music and eventually pop/rock, bluegrass conjures up images of the rural lifestyle, especially in the Appalachian Mountain region. This collection from the "Rough Guide" series offers a multi-faceted look at the different sounds of bluegrass music, with selections from Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Larry Sparks, Claire Lynch, Country Gentlemen and more.
1. Larry Sparks - Gospel Train 3:05
2. Alison Krauss - Every Time You Say Goodbye 3:15
3. Bluegrass Album Band - Lonesome Moonlight... 3:51
4. Country Gentlemen - Matterhorn 2:14
5. Hazel Dickens - Hills of Home 4:11
6. Jim & Jesse & the Virginia Boys - Chicken Reel 2:34
7. Rhonda Vincent - Lonesome Wind Blues 3:00
8. Red Allen & the Kentuckians - Hello City Limits 2:39
9. Johnson Mountain Boys - My Better Years 3:23
10. Emerson & Waldron - Shiloh 2:05
11. Ralph Stanley & Clinch Mountain Boys - Rank... 2:53
12. Longview - Brighter Mansion 2:28
13. J.D. Crowe & New South - Nashville Blues 3:27
14. Claire Lynch - Sweetheart, Darlin' of Mine 3:02
15. Tony Rice - I've Waited As Long As I Can 2:56
16. Bela Fleck - Crossfire 3:23
17. Hazel Dickens - You'll Get No More Of Me 2:40
18. The McCoury Brothers - You've Got the Look of... 2:25
19. IIIrd Time Out - Can't Say Goodbye 3:60
20. Lynn Morris - Mama's Hand 4:11
21. Dry Branch Fire Squad - I've Lived A Lot in My... 2:12
Majesty. Glamour. A star-studded subculture that rivals its American counterpart. All of these characteristics define India's film industry, dubbed Bollywood. Out-pacing Hollywood in terms of film output, Bollywood is a multi-million dollar industry where music and pageantry are commonplace. Interestingly, the music of Bollywood has become almost as prolific as its films, with its colorful dance numbers, enchanting love songs and pure exoticism on all fronts. This compilation from Rough Guide delves into the music of Bollywood, with a focus on love songs. Featured are heavyweights of the Bollywood music scene, including Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, Lucky Ali, Kishore Kumar, composer R.D. Burman and more.
1. Asha Bhosle - Dum Maro Dum 1:56
2. Kishore Kumar - Roop Tera Mastana 3:43
3. Asha Bhosle & Rahul Dev Burman - Piya Tu Ab To... 5:27
4. Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh - Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil... 5:01
5. Asha Bhosle & Mohammed Rafi - Chura Liya Hai Tum 4:50
6. Kishore Kumar - Pyar Diwana Hota Hai 4:46
7. Kishore Kumar & Manna Dey - Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin 5:21
8. Nazia Hassan - Aap Jaise Koi 4:07
9. Udit Narayan - Jaadu Teri Nazar 4:42
10. Lata Mangeshkar & Kumar Sanu - Tujhe Dekha Tob 5:03
11. Chitra - Kehna Hi Kya 5:51
12. Lata Mangeshkar - Didi Tera Devar Dewanna 8:00
13. Udit Narayan & Alka Yagnik - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai 4:56
14. Lucky Ali - Ek Pal Ka Jeena 6:37
15. Udit Narayan - Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani 3:57
The Himalayan Mountain region isn't referred to as "the roof of the world" for nothing. With peaks reaching to some of the highest elevations on the face of the Earth, it's only natural that surrounding cultures would look to the beautiful, majestic Himalayan landscape as a wellspring of inspiration and spiritual enlightenment. This edition in the "Rough Guide" series of world travels albums looks at some of the many musical styles of the people from the Himalayan region, including both sacred and secular music from India, Nepal, Tibet, China and Bhutan. Highlights include the sweet singing of Buddhist nun Choying Drolma (against Western instrumentation from Steve Tibbetts), Krishna Das with the Modern Light Music Brass Band and Bill Laswell's project Hooked Light Rays.
1. Choying Drolma & Steve Tibbetts - Ngani Troma 1 2:15
2. Shivkumar Sharma, et al - Panadi 6:44
3. Krishna Das - Gurans Ko Phool Siuri 3:58
4. Nuns from Jangchub Choeling - Gaden Lhagya 4:21
5. Choying Drolma & Steve Tibbetts - Kyamdro Semkye 3:09
6. Monks from Drete Dhargon - Lekdri Ma 6:56
7. Hooked Light Rays - Fire Channels Me 9:59
8. Petso - Dar Tson Nanga 3:41
9. Ladakhi Musicians - Music for Archery 3:51
10. Jigme Drukpa - Ling Sho La 3:27
11. Nepali Musicians - Mwe Dyahlhaygu 3:39
12. Do-Pe - Dong Lim 1:40
13. Guo Yue & Joji Hirota - Himalayas 7:12
If you're looking for a highly comprehensive album of traditional folk music from Ireland, you can't go wrong with this sampler (the second edition) from the "Rough Guide" series. The album covers Irish music from almost all angles, offering a selection that contains both vocal and instrumental tunes, polkas, jigs, reels, ballads and more. Rather than filling the album with artists that are well-known on this side of the Atlantic (Altan being the exception), most of these artists are more obscure, yet equally talented. As a result, you feel like you are experiencing the real thing - authentic music that might be overheard in a Donegal tavern, rather than a big city recording studio.
1. Flook - G.D. Hooper's Loop / Pressed For Time 4:42
2. Dervish - An T-Ull 2:17
3. Frankie Gavin - The Night Cap / The Frost is All.. 2:46
4. Maighread & Triona Ni Dhomhnaill - Liostail Me... 2:38
5. The Prodigals - The Morning After 3:08
6. Seamus Quinn & Gary Hastings - Paddy Killoran's 2:09
7. Paddy Keenan & Tommy O'Sullivan - Antara 4:04
8. Lasairfhiona Ni Chonaola - Bean Phaidin 2:18
9. Ciaran O'Maonaigh - Loughisle Castle 1:17
10. Mary McPartlan - Slieve Gallion Braes 2:35
11. Seamus Creagh & Aidan Coffe - Hughie Travers 3:09
12. Paul Brady - Mary & the Soldier 3:55
13. Matt Molloy - A Stor Mo Chroi / The Primrose Lass 4:11
14. Seamus Begley & Jim Murray - An Seanduine 4:06
15. North Cregg - Polkas (Callaghan's/Glen Cottage...) 3:59
16. Cran - Taimse 'n Arrears 3:14
17. Paul Moran & Fergal Scahill - The Cuil Aodha Slide 2:20
18. Lunasa - The Walrus 2:39
19. Helen Roche - As I Roved Out 4:16
20. Paul McGrattan - Lark On the Strand / The Geese 3:50
21. Altan - The Humours of Castlefin / Nia's Dance 3:26
22. Gerry O'Connor - Cam A' Lochaigh (Curve of the...) 3:21
Ah, Paris. Few cities have seen such an interesting mix of cultural influences, especially in the arts. Despite its colorful musical landscape, France has one musical style that's virtually synonymous with the romantic cafes that line its rues - the "bal-musette" (often dubbed "French accordion music" due to the frequent inclusion of the instrument). Sometimes fast-paced like an Italian polka, at other times mid-tempo with spirited Gypsy flair or quiet and sentimental like a serenade, the music is as richly influenced as the culture that spawned it. This exploration of Parisian Cafe Music features classic artists as well as modern innovators including Edith Piaf, Les Primitifs du Futur, Marc Perrone and Ramses.
1. Ramses - J'ai Trou Dans Ma Tete 3:06
2. Jean Corti - Coudes A Coudes 3:20
3. Michele Bernard - C'est Un Rital 2:12
4. Didier Pauvert & Michel Esbelin - Lo Mometto 1:45
5. Les Primitifs Du Futur - Portrait D'Un 78 Tard 2:18
6. Emile Vacher - Mado 2:40
7. La Denecheau Jase Musette 2:47
8. Marc Perrone - Vas-Y Mimile 2:40
9. Frehel - La Der Des Der 2:41
10. Les Hurlements D'Leo - Le Der Des Der 2:41
11. New Quintette Du Hot Club de France - Minor Swing 2:45
12. Louis Corchia - La Roulotte 2:36
13. La Tordue - Paris Oct 61 3:55
14. Michael Macias - La Godasse 4:42
15. Debout Sur Le Zinc - Au Comptoir 3:57
16. Gerard Pierron & Gaston Coute - Petit Poucet 2:42
17. Jo Privat - Joseph Joseph 3:28
18. Bell Ceil - Je Ne Suis Qu'Un Attarde 3:21
19. Marcel Azzola & Richard Galliano - Afro-Musette 4:34
20. Les Ogres De Barback - Rue de Paname 3:49
21. Antonin Bouscatel & Jean Sanit - Para Lo Lop 2:29
22. Charles Peguri - Mandolinette 2:25
23. Edith Piaf - L'Accordeoniste 3:10
24. Gus Viseur et Son Ensemble - Jeanette 2:25
25. Francis Lemarque - L'Orphelin De La Java 2:56
Untrained ears may immediately mistaken Scottish music for traditional Irish music. That's not too surprising, the neighboring cultures have been known to influence one another. On the other hand, Scottish music has a rich history all its own. This edition from the "Rough Guide" series exposes the roots of this culture through a variety of contemporary and traditional folk tunes, often centered around instruments like the fiddle and the Highland pipes (the robust cousin to the Irish uilleann pipes). Artists include renowned supergroup Capercaillie, Boys of the Lough, Cliar, Emily Smith, the Battlefield Band and more.
1. Battlefield Band - Chiur I Gluin Air A Bhodach 4:20
2. Emily Smith - Fair Helen of Kirkconnel 3:19
3. Finlay MacDonald - Cowden Hall 3:57
4. Deaf Shepherd - Millenium Village 4:54
5. Capercaillie - Skye Waulking Song 4:37
6. Bob Hobkirk - Niel Gow's Lament for His Second... 1:55
7. Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley - Utiseta 3:38
8. Jack Beck - Fordell Ball 4:07
9. Pete Clark - Coilsfield House 3:06
10. Christine Primrose - Do Ghaidheil Shiatail 3:23
11. Robert Mathieson - Calypso 2:32
12. Boys of the Lough - Brother Gildas / Calliope... 3:48
13. Heather Heywood - Logie O' Buchan 3:31
14. Cliar - Cailleach An Airgid/Rachainn A Shuiridh... 3:12
15. Donald Black & Malcolm Jones - 6/8 March 2:51
16. Blazin' Fiddles - Dancing On the Moon 3:05
17. Pipe Sergeant Gordon J. Walker - Gaelic Air 3:34
18. Alison McMorland - Rowan in the Rock 3:32