World Music that doesn't suck

Doughy boy-faces who are getting learned in Liberal Arts of Brooklyn (and sometimes even other cities) are educating us on our geographical musicology. Alas, as Barry Manilow must really go, so do music eras and thus, the extended post-post-punk revival is being eclipsed from its subdued pelvic-bass throttlin, stand-forward stoicism to eighties embers. Welcome fine instrumental tuning, exported synthesis and hybrids of all cartography, and it should be emphasised, joy, real expressive joy.

Polyglot, some call it...

AFRIQUE

• Vampire Weekend (Mali/Senegal influences)
• Antibalas
• *BALKAN * (If you haven't already heard by now, you ought to join the caravan)

• Balkan Beat Box
  
• Beirut****
  
• Man Man
  

TURK: Voice of the Seven Woods (London)

And....My Favourite of all time (and they're no Brooklyn skool project. From Denver, accordions, tuba, splitting strings, ceremonial songs, broken-heart ballads and bliss: ****DevoTCHka******

...of course, it goes without saying, didgeridoo or Kingston dub, she could sex up a harpsichord, M.I.A. (with courtesy of Diplo and she's LONDON).

Honouring Vets

Remembrance Day is not a retrospective. While solemnly placing carnations against walls with listless names, let us not be afraid to reflect on the present situation in acknowledging the dishonour of our government and unremitting Administration, to continue a war that is without honour, an immeasurable fallacy.

Right now. Two terms. Four years on.

Sunday is not about deceit and Halliburton and Yellow Cake or Bin Laden or yet another smoking gun. There are just too many to name. The powerlessness of Americans is the ultimate paradox of its founding principles.

For those noble men and women who still believe in patriotic duty, bless their romantic hearts as their lives lay before them losing limbs and minds in the sands of the Middle East. For those of us born into the guild of middle class, white America, who can only scoff at the notion of serving one's country, let us embrace just for a moment, how arbitrary life can be...