AA.VV.
Putumayo Presents. A New Groove

"Contemporary artists forge a new world of music on this eclectic collection of cool tracks and underground sounds". This is the presentation found in the notes of this great compilation released in 2007, by the productive entity Putumayo World Music, a New York label that has long been working on promoting new music, artists, and ideas from every corner of the world. Many releases have been published under the supervision of boss Dan Storper in these 16 very active years of career: selections ranging from folk, afro, jazz, latin, passing through reggae, electronica, and the most refined lounge; over time, several newcomers have taken their first steps into the music world thanks to the space provided by this project, alongside them are decidedly more resonant names, which regularly raise the level of the records (for example the respectable Thievery Corporation, present here with "Until The Morning" remixed by veteran Kid Loco).

The Putumayo concept bases its philosophy on the interest in the most diverse cultures, ethnicities, and travels, and no project was more successful: the platter unfolds through 10 different names from 9 different countries. There's Denmark, here present with the unusual bossanova rhythms of "In The Back Of Car" by Emo Dada, who reappear on the marked electronics of "Dirty Laundry", by the Americans Bittersweet (easily remembered by the more attentive for the now absent Smoke City). There's quality downtempo, with "The Hop" by the German Radio Citizen (how nice to find the splendid voice of Bajka, after the excellent performance offered to us in the album "Days To Come" by Bonobo!), and there are also the jazzy and retro elements of the mischievous "High Up On The Hook" by the Englishwoman Alice Russell. The Latin percussions of the seductive "Everything" are appreciable, even more enjoyable on the Puerto Rican "Unrock", to which interesting elements are added (including the good hip hop crafted beat). The highlight of the disc is undoubtedly "The Lost Song", by the Australians The Cat Empire (take note), a band full of components (they play just about everything), who offer us a pleasant and elaborate mix of electronics, reggae (remarkable the vocal lines of Felix Riebl), latin, funk, and soul; decidedly high the overall level of this track.

A project now guaranteed, not only musically and/or destined for enthusiasts of the vast World Music panorama, but also relevant under the human factor, [in fact, Putumayo World Music also has some characteristics of fair trade; in particular, it funds support projects for the communities to which the artists it produces belong (source Wikipedia) to be duly noted!

01. Emo - In The Back Of The Car (Denmark)
02. Bittersweet - Dirty Laundry (USA)
03. Gabriel Rios - Unrock (Puerto Rico)
04. The Cat Empire - The Lost Song (Australia)
05. Alice Russell - High Up On The Hook (UK)
06. K-0s - Crabbuckit (Canada)
07. Linn And Freddie - L.I.N.N. (Sweden)
08. Radio Citizen Featuring Bajka - The Hop (Germany)
09. Jehro - Everything (France)
10. Thievery Corporation - Until The Morning (Rewound By Kid Loco) (USA)