Thursday, January 13, 2011

CD Review: Asani - Listen


Listen
Self-Release

An Edmonton-based trio, Asani, which means 'rock' in Cree, is a Canadian vocal group that sings in Cree, English, and French. "Nitohta" is a fine folk song with hints of throat-singing. The soulful "Okisikowak" is another gem. Instrumentally, the music is fairly simple with marimba, percussion, drums, and vibraphone. The bluesy "Boil Water Advisory" at first sounds like a comedic tune, but it is based purely on reality and is a serious problem among many communities. The traditional instrumentation and vocal harmonies are definitely above-average. The Aboriginal Award winning group sings songs of Canadian life and Aboriginal legends. The final track, "O Canada", is the Canadian National Anthem, but this one celebrates their Woodland Cree heritage. The twelve tracks are pleasant and educational at the same time. Asani proves you do not need a guitar to create beautiful and moving music. ~ Matthew Forss

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