 Various
Artists
"Putumayo Presents Global Soul" CD
Putumayo
World Music
Genres: R&B, soul, dance
Aug 4 - 10 2003 |
Global
Soul is an average, fun world music compilation. It is focused on
modern, danceable tunes as opposed to more ethnic material. Songs come
from France, South Korea, Brazil, Cameroon, Tanzania, Canada, South
Africa, Germany, Senegal... the list goes on. But the focus is on a
more mainstream, funky style that often lacks variety. Hence, the
songs often sound similar despite being from different places on the
map. Those expecting a varied sample of what the world has to offer
may be disappointed to find that Global Soul's sound is
surprisingly familiar.
However, this does not mean that there is nothing to enjoy on this
CD. There are some downright awesome songs. Melgroove's "J'attendrai"
(from France) is a funky soulful number reminiscent of late-90s
R&B music, while Saf Sap's "Nit Kit" (from
Senegal) is one of the catchiest tunes I've heard in a long
while. And that's just two of the thirteen cuts on this disc.
If you're looking for an extensive, semi-scholarly look at the
music of different cultures around the world, Global Soul will
not be for you. Alternatively, if you just want a fun mix of modern
soul, dance, and R&B songs from Africa and Europe, this
compilation will definitely satisfy.
80%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 13 tracks, distributed by the
label, released January 2003] |
