Music Rough Guides: Out Of This World CD - Import

Celebrating their 10th anniversary, World Entertainment Network released a series of special items and trinkets, one of which is the label-encompassing Music Rough Guides: Out of This World sampler album. The attempt is to draw from all eras and locales of the Rough Guides' 100-plus albums in the space of ten songs. As a result, it can perhaps be doomed from the outset, but the pieces chosen are, in fact, representative of the major movements in the multitude of albums from which they're culled. Latin jazz starts things off with a bit of mambo, quickly moving into some modern Arabesque (Arabic electronica) with Aisha Kandisha, and roots music with Larry Sparks' bluegrass. The modern multiethnic dance music of bhangra is followed by the older multiethnic dance music of tango (represented by the venerable master Roberto Goyeneche, no less). The heart-rending songs of fado are represented by Jose Afonso, and Buckwheat Zydeco brings the sound back to something with more kick to represent the Louisiana end of things. Before ending, the album turns to some Bollywood and West African Sona Diabate. The album finishes with the completion of a circle, using a Joe Arroyo track from the first Rough Guide album ever pressed. Ultimately, with the consistent delivery of the Rough Guides, there was no hope of covering the whole range in one album. Nonetheless, the sampler does a fine job of giving a minor glimpse into each sphere of influence with a fine track. Omissions galore, but allowable. ~ Adam Greenberg

"Celebrating A Decade Of Musical Exploration".

Performers include: Sona Diabate, Ali Akbar Khan & Asha Bhosle, Larry Sparks, Bombay Talkie, Joe Arroyo Y La Verdad, Roberto "Polaco" Goyeneche, Mamborama, Jose Afonso, Buckwheat Zydeco, Aisha Kandisha's Jarrring Effects.

Liner Note Authors: Phil Stanton; Duncan Baker.