“Murmuration” is an uplifting and unusual track with a 7/8 time signature by Nomad Soul Collective, a young London-based British band. Influenced by The Cinematic Orchestra, the collective came to prominence in late 2011 when the tune was used as the soundtrack to a short video which went viral on Vimeo. The eponymous video by Sophie Windsor Clive […]
Daniel Martin Moore: In the cool of the day
Daniel Martin Moore is a Kentucky-born singer songwriter who grew up immersed in the Southern Baptists’ musical traditions of spirituals, hymns, gospel and choir music. In 2011, the musician set out to record In the cool of the day, a collection introducing a personal and fresh take on several of these old spiritual songs remembered from childhood, […]
Ibrahim Maalouf: Questions and answers
“Questions and Answers” is another song from Ibrahim Maalouf taken from Wind (2012), his latest release. Once again, the quarter tone trumpet allows the musician to create a lovely hybrid music that spans across several genres: I have with me an instrument that reflects exactly what I would like to say […] I believe my music […]
Maja Ratkje and Frode Haltli: Vandring
Vandring This is a composition from Frode Haltli’s 2007 recording Passing Images featuring a vocal performance by Maja Ratkje and Arve Henriksen on trumpet. As the accordion player notes, the origin of this track is twofold: Vandring is based on “Jeg er på vandring gjennom livet” as it is sung by Elias Akselen (b. 1947) who […]
Andrey Dergatchev: The return
I must have watched The Return three or four times now, several years apart, and each time I am left with a very strong impression. Set against the backdrop of the desolate wilderness of Northern Russia, The Return is an arresting film by first-time director Andrey Zvyagintsev. On its release, the film took most critics by surprise and […]
Amadou & Mariam: Wily Kataso
Amadou & Mariam have been playing music together since the early 1980s and Folila, released in April 2012, is the pair’s latest recording. Often referred to as “the blind couple from Mali”, Amadou & Mariam have a great knack for composing catchy songs in their inimitable Afro-pop style. While a lot of their music is […]
