Melbourne-based world music you can listen to without going insane

One among the many things I'm juggling at the moment is a collaborative project between ASAM and 3ZZZ Polyfonix. It's a multimedia project on Melbourne musicians where the content will be broadcasted both through FM radio at 92.3 FM and on the web.

We've covered two musicians so far, Charles J Tan (click link for a clip) and someone who's hot on the ARIA charts right now, Rav Thomas.

Anyway, been doing research for the project and I've found some good bands playing good world music here in Melbourne. Have a listen:

1.Eastern Horizon




Full disclosure: these are actually friends of mine, but I don't think there's anyone else in Melbourne who plays their sort of Southeast Asian, Nusataran music. The percussion, violin, and guitar/oud trio plays Malay melodies like the dondang sayangs and asli music, besides the occasional Arabian Ghazals.

2.The Habibis



Continuing where we left off, this group is full-on traditional arabic music. Those with a strong aversion to incense would do well to stay away, as their music conjures up the wafting images of a middle-eastern lie down in the Sultan's court.

3.Fine Blue Thread



Now I've heard a lot of random world music (just ask traumatised siblings) and this group is pretty out there. They describe themselves as a combination of javanese, indian and classical music, which is a pretty unique configuration in my opinion. The Javanese element of the group is owed to vocalist Ria Soemarjo, who sings her pentatonic Javanese melodies with English lyrics. Definitely one to check out if you're looking for something really different.

4.Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen



Finally and something more upbeat is Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen. I wouldn't trust these guys if I bumped into them at night, but their music is just the right blend of (self-conscious) cheese, the exotic, and dayn-jah. Their myspace page says that their style of music is Eastern European, but I'll leave that for you to decide. Dubious origins aside, their songs are really good to listen to for moments when you just feel like something silly.

Is there anyone else I should be listening to?

Kalu buleh Mok Long nok buak besa-besa drang

Let your content react to good technique

I couldn't blink when I saw North by Northwest's opening titles. It is an old film, and I was really only interested in the story. I didn't expect myself to be impressed by the film's look.

Not a very attractive title for a movie, North by Northwest. If it were just another DVD on the library's shelf, most people would give it a pass. It seemed to me like just another Cary Grant movie old movie like to watch.

Of course, if I had done my research earlier, I would have uncovered the trailer:



Go find a copy. I'll wait.

So how was Hitchcock a master of suspense?
I'll let the man himself explain.



Click here for more of Hitchcock movie-making, thanks to the AFI.