Monday's mp3: In the Indian Lounge

If there's one word that reveals the tone of Putumayo's new India compilation, it's "gentle." As in "a captivating musical masala featuring mesmerizing vocals and gentle beats." No fiery ragas here, nor Bollywood crooning, nor Punjabi partying.

In truth, I did find this disc somewhat enticing...also puzzling. The music -- yes, the gentle music -- is all soft edges and cool vibes. With lot of atmospheric keyboard/electronics floating around behind the vocals, guitars, and tabla. And yes, the predominant strings are guitars; there's nary a sitar to be found here.

It's nice music, and much in line with the Putumayo Lounge series (which raises the question of why this CD isn't called Indian Lounge). But having just returned from Delhi, I'm puzzled about just whose India this music represents. I heard nothing like it in the taxis, in the stores, in the concerts I attended. Is India really India without the musical passion?

Perhaps the explanation is that a number of these artists live or were raised and educated outside of India -- in Canada, the USA, the UK. In any case, the music is likeable enough, but don't expect it to have the dramatic, emotional impact of a Ravi Shankar solo or the latest hit from Panjabi MC.

[mp3] A R Rahman, Chinmayee: Tere Bina
from the album Putumayo Presents India

By the way, Putumayo is branching out into other media with this release, publishing a companion book called India: A Cultural Journey, which "combines photography, travelogue, and cultural exploration." Looks nice, from the sample pages. Nice and gentle.

Mostly Acoustic French Diaspora Music

CD REVIEW

Putumayo Presents Acoustic France

The first song on the new Putumayo compilation Acoustic France begins with a bossa nova guitar riff and cuica. Continental confusion? Naw...this really is French music. What could be more French than a breakthrough hit about unemployment? And the "cuica" on the song "Assedic / Welfare" is in fact a voice. Oh, those clever French!

I'm a little puzzled about Putumayo's definition of "acoustic" however. Sandrine Kimberlain's poppy "Le Quotiden" features some (admittedly tasty) organ and electric guitar. But what the heck -- the "France" part of the title is also stretched by including New Brunswick singer Pascal Lejeune and San Francisco group Rupa & the April Fishes. In any case, expect some engaging tunes by great French-speaking artists, and you can decide for yourself if maybe it should be called "Mostly Acoustic French Diaspora."

Hear song samples and read more at Putumayo's website

Sesame Street Is the Weapon of the Future

No wait...that's not right. But both music and the children's TV show are tools for cross-border communication. As a kid watching Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, I had no idea that kids in foreign lands might be watching the same characters, and hearing them in their own languages.

A new CD/DVD combo from Putumayo shows how the culture of Sesame Street has spread around the globe, with 13 songs from Tanzania, Brazil, France, Russia, South Africa, India, China, Israel, Mexico, Palestine, and the Netherlands. The inclusion of a DVD with five music videos helps balance the relative brevity of the music CD, weighing in at under 30 minutes.

Music is an extremely powerful medium... While musical style is unique to different regions of the world, music itself is something we have in common. (Sesame Workshop President Gary Knell)

Many of the songs are either unknown to me or forgotten with other childhood details. Others are clearly distinct to their own cultures, such as "Galli Galli Sim Sim," the Indian show's theme song that sounds like a kids Bollywood tune. And the "Traditional Game Song" from Palestine.

I would gladly have done without the USA version (or any version) of "Elmo's Song," but the Tanzanian "Don't Be Sad Song" really lives up to its billing, with an uplifting rhythm and Kiswahili vocals.

[mp3] Kilimani Sesame: Don't Be Sad Song
from Sesame Street Playground

But honestly, who could argue that the album's highlight is a Chinese version of "Rubber Duckie," sung by Zhima Jie. As kids' albums go, Sesame Street Playground will stand up well to repeated listenings by adults. Just skip over Elmo.