African-American gospel in its purest form, sung by the majestic Odetta. Martin Luther King Jr. called her "The Queen of American Folk Music." As Odetta puts it "these are the songs that helped us get up, over and through."
| Hauntingly beautiful, Paracumbe presents the Afro-Puerto Rican traditions of bomba and plena in their purest forms. This group gathered fragments of the traditional songs from the black elders of the mountains of Puerto Rico and brought them to life with artistry and respect.
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Rachel Faro’s songs express a global perspective, both musically and lyrically. “Windsong”, with its signature dulcimer sound, and the anthem “This Shall Endure” encourage us to have vision and heart during these dark times. Celtic, country, folk and blues stylings are flavored by Indian instruments such as the sarangi and bansuri bamboo flute. Lyrics adapted from poetry by ancient Chinese poets mingle with the sound of an Irish orchestra in ‘Dagger Dance’. ‘Touch of the World’, a song of edgy passion, contains both Indian clay pots and guitar feedback. And yet the production never sounds contrived; it all falls together quite naturally, with an uplifted and a harmonious quality throughout.
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