One of the interesting trends in certain world music has been the use of electronics and sampling. Composer/performer Cinque is one of the leaders in this area. He also plays soprano sax, and his ensemble includes marimba, “rhythmic chorus,” and a string quartet. They were recorded at a studio in Italy, and although some of the nine tracks run a little too heavily Arabic music for my ears, I found the second half of the disc fascinating listening. There are translations of some of the songs, but as with much world music, it doesn’t really matter if you don’t understand what the performers are singing – you still get the feeling they want to project.
The note had a poetic observation which somehow really struck me: “[The cafe is] aware that the universe – contrary to what people keep telling us – is not a vast mechanism, but rather a vast thought.” The vastest selection here for my ears was Coro meccanico, which mixes a world of musics – including sampling and electronics – into a compelling super-atmospheric blend which reminded me a bit of the scores to The Constant Gardener and The English Patient. The closing Ararat showcases the strong soprano sax work of Cinque, along with a superb doublebassist, and in the middle features a very sexy-sounding supposedly Turkish female vocal.
Garritm/Core amante, Tangerine cafe, Niente senza’e te, Radiobaladid, Coro meccanico, Garritm/Songlines, Tangerine cafe instrumental, Garritm/Danza, Ararat.
– John Henry
