The Rough Guide to the Music of Vietnam

The Rough Guide to the Music of Vietnam Review

On the Rough Guide musical tour of the world, next stop is Vietnam! And as usual they've excelled in offering a CD full of great music that's evocatively representative, widely ranging, and eminently listenable. From contemporary pop songs to time-honored folk lyrics, from popularly traditional melodies to globally-influenced innovations, this CD will take you on a crash tour of one of the most exciting musical landscapes on the planet (and the stuff people in Vietnam are really listening to). If you've never heard Vietnamese music before, you can't find a better intro than this album. On the other hand, if you've been a big fan of Vietnam's incredible music for years, you'll appreciate this fine selection and find a few surprises--Vietnamese Blues? "Rider in the Sky" on the dan bao recorded poolside in Saigon? You'll only hear it here! But every track is golden in its own way, lovingly handpicked by the compiler as is standard practice with Rough Guide CDs.

Speaking of the compiler, Paul Fisher's liner notes are well-written and do the job nicely of introducing each performer and singer while contextualizing and placing the music within the overall musical culture of Vietnam--no stuffy musicological details, just the right amount of background so that the listener can pretty much know and appreciate what's playing. And the tracks are introduced in the order that they appear on the CD (a common sense arrangement that some Rough Guide CDs have gotten a bit too fancily experimental with), so it's easy to follow along with the music--at least the first time, and with this music, it'll be the first time of many!

The Rough Guide to the Music of Vietnam Overview

The apocalyptic image of Vietnam in the movies is a far cry from the reality of later-day Vietnam - a dynamic country with an ancient and vibrant culture combining Eastern, and in recent years, Western influences. Featuring some of the biggest stars of contemporary Vietnamese music, key regional styles, popular folk songs and ancient court music, The Rough Guide To The Music Of Vietnam offers a unique insight into one of the world's least understood nations.

Artists include - Huong Thanh, Than Quy, Cam Ly, Blue Asia, Thu Hien, Kim Sinh, Khac Chi Ensemble, Tranh Sao Bao, Huy Du, Tuyet Tring, Nguyen Thanh Thuy, Van Khanh, Quang Linh, Chau Dinh & Ca Hue Ensemble, Dan Bao Vietnam

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 29, 2010 21:30:10