Various Artists Womad New Zealand: Sounds Of the Planet 2010 (Shock Records)

by Phoebe Harrop | 3:16 am 18/05/2010

3/5

If WOMAD were a person, it would probably be a pot-smoking, prayer-chanting, bongo-playing hermaphrodite with knee-length dreads and no shoes. It’s no surprise, then, that this year’s WOMAD compilation is about as eclectic as it’s possible to be, encompassing all reaches of that most eclectic genre of them all: world music. WOMAD – World of Music and Dance – makes its sixth appearance in New Zealand this year, an event once again being held in charming New Plymouth over three days in March. 

This record’s middle name is certainly diversity. Our very own sultry songstress Ladi6 does us proud with her upbeat dub/soul mixture ‘Walk Right Up’. The laid-back bop of the ska giants the Skatalites rubs shoulders with an intriguing latin-rap hybrid by The Public Afro Orchestra. And there is, of course, the obligatory piano accordion appearance care of Lepistö & Lehti’s track ‘Helsinki’. Another highlight is ‘Mi Swing es Tropical’ from Nickodemus, a DJ who poaches the best from all corners of world music. 

Predictably, this album is a whirlwind tour of WOMAD’s 2010 artists. Perhaps unfortunately, many of the tracks are instrumental and not really sing-along material. This music is definitely made to be enjoyed in the sun among hundreds of swaying hippies, not in your car on the way to work. But if you can’t make it up to Taranaki for the real deal, this is definitely the next best thing.

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