Beginner's Guide To World Music: 2006 World Cup Limited Edition - Lee Scratch Perry,Richard Thompson,Miscellaneous Performers Album Review

Album Review

With the FIFA World Cup fast approaching, out come the predictable musical 'soundtracks'. Away from the ubiquitous fast buck trend of forthcoming singles releases, and terrace anthems, comes the bona-fide crème-de-la-crème of world music. 'It celebrates cultural diversity as well as highlighting shared musical visions and philosophies.' Unless you're a multi-linguist, you're going to have some comprehension problems, not that it actually matters- this is a feast for the ears anyway. With a bumper 32 tracks straddling across a 3 CD boxset, making it a welcomed and refreshing release. The CD sampler of 11 tracks gives an insight into the massive talent that doesn't normally get an airing on such global occasions.

Legendary rootsman Lee 'Scratch' Perry joins Dutch-Brazilian trio Zuco 103, fronted by Lilian Viera on a lightweight reggae beauty.

Ghana is represented by Captain Ya with a sassy Afro-funk dance orientated Isaac Hayes-sounding boogie. Ivory Coast star Dobet Gnahore, 23, now a Marseille resident shows her sublime vocals on the lightweight sways of Youne. Multi-award winning 35 year old actor-singer-dancer Ayaovi 'King' Mensah, known as 'The Golden Voice of Togo, leads with a cultured vocal display on a floaty melody laden gem- Nana Benz. Italian folk legend Riccardo Tesi backed by his evergreen band Banditaliana is featured by his diatonic accordion sojourns on the uplifting Justin. Berlin based 17 Hippies, who historically mix a blend of Cajun and Baroque music, stomp through a bright and breezy Hotel Cazane. Tunisian MC Rai, who specialised in native chaabi folk music in his early years, now embraces rai music, indigenous to neighbouring Algeria, fusing hip-hop and other modern electronica. A writer of more than 600 songs, wild gypsy abandonment follows with Serbian legend Saban Bajramovic's pulsatingly feisty Pena. Tango Negro Trio bring some smouldering Argentinean tango via Paris based Juan Carlos Carceres' rusting ramblings, proving to be one of the major highlights.

Afro-Latin combo Cantoamerica, based in Costa Rica, and influenced by Cuban Son, Salas and Calypso, delivers some sublime gentle Santana like sways on Cancion Del Oficio. Home-grown folk star Richard Thompson, formerly of Fairport Convention, adds his mercurial musicianship to self-penned gem Old Thames Side from his 2005 release Front Parlour Ballads.

Elly Roberts