Non-Western Music

[OverTheHorizonRadar]

I hope a similar thread doesn't exist because I didn't look >.< but anyhow!

As much as I love the music of western culture, I've been curious about other types recently. Been listening to some Gamelan music, which is pretty badass. Is there any music like this that you could recommend?

[machinea]

In the late 80's Peter Gabriel released the film score for The Last Temptation of Christ (brilliant by the way if you haven't heard it) but it was there I was and most of the modern western world was re- introduced to the Duduk, the most hauntingly lonely and bereaved instrument known to human kind imo. It has since been used in many film due to this film score thanks to Peter. Another interesting aside about Peter Gabriel is he is credited with inventing the stage dive.

I happen to own a Duduk from Turkey and it is the hardest instrument I have ever played. What is most unique about he playing style of the duduk is typically one player does the melody, the other a drone. To do this drone one needs to master the circular breathing technique through the nose and simultaneously blow without stopping. In any case I've come to love middle eastern music as a consequence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUv0xyasM70

aaah sorry mate I just realized you were asking for more music in THIS vein.
Not exactly authentic indonesian music but have you heard of Pantha Du Prince? If you like what is happening with gongs and bells you might like his Black Noise and Elements of Light albums.

[GH]

These guys are from the Sahara, so maybe not exactly what you're after, but really worth a look, as they're awesome.

Tinariwen at Glastonbury in 2007: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILkKlxkGPuQ

[A_Northern_Soul]

^ Tinariwen are a fantastic band; seen them live a couple of times and they've been brilliant.

"World" music sometimes has a reputation as being a bit worthy, but Tinariwen are ultimately a really fucking groovy rock band live - at various points in their sets they've sounded like Sonic Youth and Happy Mondays, oddly.

Also check out Ali Farka Toure's album Savane. Haven't heard much of his stuff*, but Savane is a great blues/funk/folk/rock album (weird description, but there's elements of all of those in there)

* - the album he did with a very famous Kora player whose surname is eluding me right now, "In the heart of the moon" is a lovely almost ambient album.

Amadou and Mariam are also worth a listen.

[A_Northern_Soul]

^ Toumani Diabate.

[Mexicola]

Caught a performance by Mongolian throat singers in Ulan Bator about 8 years ago and they were pretty incredible. The best singers are able to produce two tones at once - a deep resonating boom of a bass note, with a reed-like overtone several notes higher that sounds quite unreal. Check it out.

Incidentally, the Mongolian accent is a thing of beauty. Reminds me of Icelandic, with a delicate whispering quality to it.

[OverTheHorizonRadar]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Now I've got some new stuff to listen to. And that was quite informative about the duduk, it's a shame how many instruments there are that I recognize the sound of but don't know anything about. That's partially what my drive is for listening to music like this, a lot of sounds and are feeling over familiar to me and I need some new refreshing ones. So what better place to look than different cultures?

[Negamuse]

Duduk's a beautiful, mournful sound. I was thinking of buying one but the only one I found was about a grand which was a bit much to drop on something I had no idea if I could ever play.

[A_Northern_Soul]

Heading back to Africa, you should also check out some Gnawa music from Morocco - lots of hypnotic percussion & drones and "songs" that last for hours.

[machinea]

Duduk's a beautiful, mournful sound. I was thinking of buying one but the only one I found was about a grand which was a bit much to drop on something I had no idea if I could ever play.

I bought one from a guy who imports them from Turkey. I paid about $300. Honestly I think of selling it because it is so hard to play. I had great intentions though. Now whenever i stick it in music I'm doing I just use samples. Shameful I know. I think I'd rather take on a chapman stick.

[ChipSuey]

Check out stuff by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, if you're into Pakistani/Indian sounds with crazy sick vocals.
Also, Omar Souleyman is pretty badass too. And he's got a new album coming out produced by Four Tet, which could be pretty interesting.

[GH]

Caught a performance by Mongolian throat singers in Ulan Bator about 8 years ago and they were pretty incredible. The best singers are able to produce two tones at once - a deep resonating boom of a bass note, with a reed-like overtone several notes higher that sounds quite unreal. Check it out.

Incidentally, the Mongolian accent is a thing of beauty. Reminds me of Icelandic, with a delicate whispering quality to it.

Saw this video and thought of your post:
http://www.theguardian.com/music/video/ ... 2013-video

[Mexicola]

Caught a performance by Mongolian throat singers in Ulan Bator about 8 years ago and they were pretty incredible. The best singers are able to produce two tones at once - a deep resonating boom of a bass note, with a reed-like overtone several notes higher that sounds quite unreal. Check it out.

Incidentally, the Mongolian accent is a thing of beauty. Reminds me of Icelandic, with a delicate whispering quality to it.

Saw this video and thought of your post:
http://www.theguardian.com/music/video/ ... 2013-video

Cheers! Those overtones man!!!