Roving Horse's Favorite Music
maintained by Roy Jones, music@hennapage.com
"Today, like every
other day, we wake up empty and frightened.
Don't open the door to the study and begin reading.
Take down a musical instrument."
Don't open the door to the study and begin reading.
Take down a musical instrument."
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A Ma Zone
This is one of my current favorites. It's a mix of styles- maybe all
falling under the banner of World Pop. The vocals are in a combination
of languages from English to French to Swahili within individual songs,
with modern "beats" mixed in. The layers of vocals and styles within
the tunes are fun and lovely. I love listening to this while I henna
because it feels very woman positive (even though I can't understand
half the lyrics) and it provides a kind of bouyancy- really helpful
when your back starts to cramp and your legs fall asleep while you're
working. Zap Mama |
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Talking Timbuktu
I have absolutely loved this disc since the first time I heard it years
ago. Besides being a really cool collaboration between two of my
favorite artists (and the fact that Ry Cooder has done so much to bring
genres of music to the forefront that folks might not otherwise have
found). This is a really nice album for focusing- it puts me right into
the "zone", you know, that trancey place you get to in your work where
everything but the line and the inspiration for it seems to drop out of
your consciousness...ahhhhhh. Ali Faka Toure & Ry Cooder |
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Miss Perfumado
This is a new one for me, a friend just passed it along. It is a really
neat combination of African music and Portugese fado and is just
heart-rendingly beautiful. When I close my eyes and just listen I get
images of exoticly moving hands, bellydancer hands, and the henna
inspiration just flows. It's another great one for getting into that
zone. Her voice is so beautiful. Cesaria Evora |
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Fit?
This is a really upbeat mixture of traditional Scottish music backed up
with D'jembes.
Perhaps the best Scottish band you'll ever hear or see in life. It is
hard to imagine the amount of sound produced by this traditional group
coming from only five musicians. I play this for indigo inspiration and
to pick up my energy if I am getting tired while working. Also very
good for dancing to during minor breaks- a minute or two of movement to
get the blood moving through more than just your hands. And excellent
for the mixing, cleaning and organizing that go with the job, not to
mention the drive to and from...I often drive to this CD and find
myself half coreographing mixtures of scots and african dance while I
drive...I'm sure passers by think I'm probably having a seizure or
something. Old Blind Dogs |
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Djelika
This is another meditative disc. It just seems to help generate images
in my head that turn into henna lines. The music is quick without being
overbearing. It sounds lovely and exotic with the layerings of kora and
calimba. Nice for the background...so soothing. Toumani Diabate |
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