Vote for a new FAIR album before Nov. 15

Lisnaholic · 11-09-2011, 05:09 PM

Every two weeks the Folk And International Roots Album Club will vote for an album that they will listen to and discuss in the coming weeks.
Anyone can vote in this poll, but if you vote, please follow through and be ready to discuss whichever album wins the poll.
These are the candidates to choose from :-

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazstp

Talking Timbuktu - Ali Farka Touré & Ry Cooder (1994)

This one's new to me but sounds promising.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Pat

This Is Fire (2006) by Spires That in the Sunset Rise

This Is Fire, Spires That in the Sunset Rise's most accessible album, is not only a great entry point for the band (an all-female one at that), but also free folk and avant-folk. Of course, I use the term "accessible" lightly mainly due to the fact that this album is still very experimental... Squeaky/beautiful violins, ominous guitar playing, and vocals similar to that of The Raincoats and (occasionally) the almighty Comus. This band is slowly becoming one of my favorite folk artists... along with Big Blood, Jandek, and Bert Jansch, and I hope we all get a chance to listen and discuss it in the future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Pat

Desertshore (1970) by Nico

You probably know of this album... So I won't say too much about it. It's experimental, folky, dark, drone-like, and it has very unique female vocals. I'll finish on a few quick notes: she's not tone-deaf (like many claim), she has the most interesting solo career out of all the other Velvets (in my opinion), and this album isn't completely murdered by her harmonium playing (such as in a few of her previous releases).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moshe

"DESERT WIND"-OFRA HAZA

From the late Nineties, this was Ofra's attempt to reach an international market without abandoning her Israeli Mizrachi roots.
A gorgeous album, IMO. Ofra Haza passed away of Aids related illness.

^ This album has appeared in a total of four FAIR album club polls, but it has never scored very well. So, following the club rules, this is its LAST CHANCE week: if it´s not voted for in this poll, it´ll be stood down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazstp

Colour Green by Sibylle Baier (Recorded 1970-73, released 2006)

^ “ Haunting, intimate, fragile“ are the words that turn up elsewhere on the internet to describe an album which is far removed from the usual commercially-inspired exercises. In fact it was apparently recorded at Sibylle`s home, just for private circulation, and was only released 30 years later, at her son`s insistence. Can`t get much better Folk credentials than that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

This is Americana that takes a little from Dylan, a little from Springsteen, but still manages to carve out a territory, and individual voice of it`s own.
Like the cover photo, the music has a striped-down, somber beauty; usually mournful, but sometimes erupting into raucous celebration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argento

Compilator (it's a seal, not a person): Putumayo
Album's name: African Odyssey
Year: 2001

Samples can be listened on Amazon:
Amazon.com : Music Sampler

I nominate it for those songs:

Sinama Denw - Habib Koite
Mar - Augusto Cego
Kecu Minino Na Tchora - Bidinte
Raki - Oliver Mtukudzi
The Well - Seydu
Fundo Di Matu - Manecas Costa

Sorry the poll is a little late opening this week - I hope it´s worth waiting for : seven albums, one of which is fighting for survival in the deadly waters of the FAIR album club poll. Is anyone going to throw Ofra Haza a line ?

Argento · 11-10-2011, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

...
^ This album has appeared in a total of four FAIR album club polls, but it has never scored very well. So, following the club rules, this is its LAST CHANCE week: if it´s not voted for in this poll, it´ll be stood down.
...
Sorry the poll is a little late opening this week - I hope it´s worth waiting for : seven albums, one of which is fighting for survival in the deadly waters of the FAIR album club poll. Is anyone going to throw Ofra Haza a line ?

I love Ofra Haza's Im Nin'Alu (from the album "Shaday")

But I feel that "Desert wind" is a fall from higher standards...

Lisnaholic · 11-11-2011, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argento

I love Ofra Haza's Im Nin'Alu (from the album "Shaday")
But I feel that "Desert wind" is a fall from higher standards...

I was thinking of going for Ofra Haza, but this ^ was enough to make me vote for "Spires" instead.

Stephen · 11-13-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

I was thinking of going for Ofra Haza, but this ^ was enough to make me vote for "Spires" instead.

Hmm I found Desert Wind about as folk as Rick Astley.

Argento · 11-13-2011, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazstp

Hmm I found Desert Wind about as folk as Rick Astley.

Not folk, surely, although I'm no expert on Israel folklore.

She was worldwide famous as "The Madonna of the East", so she was more like pop.

But the thread subject includes International Roots. Maybe that album is correctly classified under Israel roots.

Lisnaholic · 11-13-2011, 08:46 PM

^ It`s not always easy to say where folk stops and pop begins - especially if, like me, you haven`t heard the album in question !
Moshe mentions that the "Israeli Mizrachi roots" are still there, but from what you guys say, it sounds like they`ve been pasted over to achieve a pop sound. Maybe she`s like a lot of ethnic-music artists, having at a shot at an international pop hit - usually a recipe for disaster, IMO.

Lisnaholic · 11-14-2011, 08:59 AM

With the poll closing tomorrow, we currently have a three way tie. Doesn`t anyone else want to join in and vote ?

Later :

Ok, thanks to whoever voted us out of a tie. We now have a winner with the Felice Brothers. Time to find the album, give it a listen, and join in the discussion that`ll start on Nov. 21.
See you there.

View Poll Results: Vote for a FAIR album before Nov. 15
Ali Farka Touré + Ry Cooder	0	0%
Spires that in the Sunset rise	1	25.00%
Nico	0	0%
OFRA HAZA -last chance	0	0%
Sibylle Baier	1	25.00%
The Felice Brothers	2	50.00%
Various Putumayo Artists	0	0%
Voters: 4. You may not vote on this poll

11-14-2011, 08:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	With the poll closing tomorrow, we currently have a three way tie. Doesn`t anyone else want to join in and vote ? Later : Ok, thanks to whoever voted us out of a tie. We now have a winner with the Felice Brothers. Time to find the album, give it a listen, and join in the discussion that`ll start on Nov. 21. See you there. Last edited by Lisnaholic; 11-15-2011 at 09:17 PM. Reason: a last minute voting frenzy

11-13-2011, 08:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	^ It`s not always easy to say where folk stops and pop begins - especially if, like me, you haven`t heard the album in question ! Moshe mentions that the "Israeli Mizrachi roots" are still there, but from what you guys say, it sounds like they`ve been pasted over to achieve a pop sound. Maybe she`s like a lot of ethnic-music artists, having at a shot at an international pop hit - usually a recipe for disaster, IMO.