Rhytmic pyrotechnics
db | portland, oregon | 06/28/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Over 20 years ago while listening to a US radio station called KBOO-FM I heard a solo piece of Laotian music (voice and a truly haunting instrument I later learned was called a khene). This was a music which reached deep into my being. There was something very personal and intimate about this music, almost as if the musician and I were sitting together. Full of emotion, from exultant to heartbreaking, the sensibilities of this music are tapped by Wobble with this release. Not solely for the above qualities, but also for the superb level of musicianship of the Molam Lao group. While I sometimes found Wobble's bass grooves on this release lacking the same level of passion he attained in earlier releases (I am particularly fond of some of his work with Nicky Skopelitis), some stunning mergings of styles occur here. Unlike with Deep Forest (whose first album is a travesty, at least if you've ever heard some of the original recordings they sampled), I sense a real connection happening between musicians in these recordings. Clive Bell, who wrote the liner notes and appears on a couple tracks, speaks of this when he mentions how at the conclusion of each song mix the entire studio would burst into applause.This is an exciting album and I'm quite pleased with the purchase. Wobble's album also mentions that Molam Lao have a release on the Nimbus label entitled 'Music from Southern Laos' (NI5401). KBOO, by the way, is still going strong and available on the net."
Deep-space Marco Polo at the Luk-Thoong Cafe
bossamambo | Phoenix,Az. | 06/07/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Jah Wobble,in his continuing mission to couple ethnic pop music to his own circular,rocking,deep-bass groove-lines,presents Laotian electric country/blues filtered through Wobble's desire to make you love this music the way he does.The results? An enchanted journey to the valley of the good groove."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
