2010 Music Worth Listening To: Five By Amanda on December 16, 2010 12:13 PM | Permalink
Huun-Huur-Tur, Ancestor's Call
Yes, I hear you say, this list has had lots of country and folk and some blues, some New Orleans and Texas sounds, some this and some that. But where? Is the Tuvan throat singing? Gotcha covered right here. Had Huun-Huur-Tur's previous album in my year end a couple of years ago and Ancestor's Call is in much the same vein so needs a spot to. Despite the reputation and undoubted strangeness to non-Steppes ears I find this music comforting for some reason. The clip clop of the horses seems to underpin the whole flow; see here for some insights into what they're actually singing.
There aren't really any live YouTubes that do it justice for mine so if you're interested track down the music as recorded.
Gregory Porter, Water
Time for some vocal jazz! Cool guy, hot voice - a voice very much in the traditional crooner mould (he's performed on Broadway & does a Nat King Cole tribute show which gives you an idea) but, while certainly colouring between the lines, the album has also an effortless modern touch and style. This is his first album, an up and comer. (Of course I can't say or think his name without adding "The only thing I knew about Gregory Porter was that his name wasn't Gregory Porter.")
Lucky Peterson, You Can Always Turn Around
I want to say "traditional blues" but there are enough other elements to not make that quite accurate, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" swings and the opening to "I'm New Here" is as fine folk-country picking as you'll hear, "Trampled Rose" is, i dunno, some gypsy-Arabic thing happening. But he pulls it off, complemented by the fine vocals of Tamara Peterson.
The Carter Family III, Past & Present
The Carter Family III is Dale Jett (A.P and Sarah Carter's grandson), John Carter Cash and his wife Sarah. and is "just" a really fine collection of old timey tracks in the (surprise) Carter Family style. Not much by way of video for this ... but here's John Carter and Dale Jett (autoharp) on a Carter track together, plus bonus Tom T Hall.
