After gauging the current Zeitgeist of blogs, comment sections and conversations, people seem to have a wealth of opinions about the importance of indigenous music and listening to it before, during and after traveling to that place.
Mine is that it's absolutely required and that one should pay attention, lest you miss an integral part of the local experience. I hereby implore you to run to your nearest iTunes--I mean record store--and check out some of these artists before leaving for South America, Africa, Europe or wherever. It may give you a deeper understanding and appreciation for the locals you encounter on your journey.
So, to continue the theme after the Best Travel Books post of a couple weeks ago, I bring you the some of the best in travel music.
Air – satiny smooth French electronica, good when flying above the clouds. Feels like being immersed in molten silver and whipped cream.
Café Tacuba – Probably the preeminent rock band of the "español movement" to come out of Mexico in the last two decades. Loud, boisterous, super fun and as good as any American rock & roll outfit you know of.
Noir Desir – Similar to Café Tacuba (above) but more brooding, and French, with darker, more punk-inspired elements.
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – Latin surf rock, dub, ska and reggae-themed music. Get Fabulosos Calavera for a wild, madcap ride.
Rodrigo y Gabriela – flamenco duo from Mexico. Providing sheer unabashed amazingness on a nylon stringed guitar since 2003.
Paolo Conte – one of the most charismatic Italian singer/songwriters of the last 40 years. A jazz Pisano, his songs are original, par excellence.
Manu Chao – called the father of Latin worldbeat music, always lively and infectious, Manu Chao's style bounces from salsa to dub to rock to pop in unexpected and welcomed ways.
Edith Piaf – Parisian legend, icon, enigma. " La Môme Piaf" or "the sparrow" her vocals are almost universally adored as they are intrinsically linked with the French spirit.
Charles Aznavour – Another amazing French vocalist and entertainer this time of more modern persuasion. With a career spanning nearly 45 years the always passionate Aznavour took the vocal pop cabaret style to the next generation.
Pink Martini – hard to categorize but unceasingly fantastic, this Portland, Oregon orchestra is master of the French-Cubano, tango, bossa nova and sound. Singer China Forbes sings in at least ten different languages and does it with style, grace and near perfection. Combining salsa, jazz, samba-rumba, flamenco and other traditional styles, Pink Martini is a must have on any excursion.
Seu Jorge – Brazilian samba survivalist, born and raised in the favela in Rio de Janeiro now churns out stoic and bare bones sounds, lively and sensual as the country itself.
Fela Kuti – probably the most important Afro-beat artist to come out of Nigeria (or any part of Africa for that matter) in the last century. Exuberant and provocative African music, his nearly 50 albums tell the story.
Panjabi MC - Bhangra dancehall pioneer, mashing electronica, sitar and the traditional dholak drum. Good from the ears and for the booty. Did a famous collaboration with rapper Jay-Z but that's certainly not why he's good.
Facundo Cabral – Hailing from Buenos Aires, a powerful singer/songwriter whose songs have been translated and recorded in 9 languages. On par with any American or European crooner around. Near perfect flamenco stylings.
Oumou Sangare – West African chanteuse employing both traditional and modern instruments with decidedly African arrangements. Her album Seya highlights her silky and downright lovely voice.
* you can listen to (and purchase) any of this music by clicking on the album cover!