:: Various Artists - Womadelaide: Sounds Of the Planet 2009

Various Artists

Forgive me for sounding cliched, but Womadelaide Sounds of the Planet 2009 really does take you on a musical journey across continents. This album features artists from all over the world and a diverse range of sounds that are rather inspiring. WOMAD stands for World of Music and Arts and they’ve been sharing their global good vibes for seventeen years now. WOMAD are intent on delivering ‘a cultural festival … with sounds that reach across all frontiers.’ The result - an impressive collation of songs that can keep you absorbed with entrancing melodies and cultural celebrations from the far corners of the world. From expressive, soulful sounds, to hypnotic harmonies and urbane beats, Womadelaide definitely has the ability to open your mind – and ears – to music across the seas. Good to see Australia’s own Cat Empire feature on Track 3 with ‘Fishes’ – an interesting yet apt choice in representing a unique brand of Australian music. The standout Australian act, however, is the inclusion of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yanupingu. For those of you who are not familiar with his work, this talented musician sings in the Yolngu language and has won four ARIA awards for his musical abilities (he plays the drums, keyboards, guitar and didgeridoo, no less) and his exquisite voice is truly captivating. Another breathtaking track: Anita Moa’s ‘My Old Man’. This singer-songwriter from New Zealand is one of the country’s finest musical gems: I suspect this track is but a mere glimpse into her talents. Needless to say, her melodic voice is enough to bring a tear to your eye (again, forgive the cliché). Womadelaide gives you a chance to broaden your horizons and appreciate music you otherwise might not get the chance to hear. It’s definitely worth your while.