The Anthologies

Desert Blues 3 – Entre dunes et savanes ı The Dream Journey Continues

Many stars from the countries around the Sahara have allowed themselves to be inspired by the Desert Blues. For Desert Blues III, Network Medien has evaluated all the new releases of recent years and is now presenting the crème of musicians from 10 countries and their highly emotional ballads.  Details

Various ı Golden Afrique Vol. 3

The music presented on this CD developed in a situation unparalleled on the African continent: in the townships of the African mineworkers, the copper mines of Zambia, the gold and diamond mines of South Africa and in the urban beer halls, night clubs and shebeens of South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).  Details

Various ı Golden Afrique Vol. 2

A brilliant edition

From the beginnings of the Ngoma label to “Indépendance Cha Cha Cha” and featuring an early recording by Manu Dibango, the ports of call on this musical journey are the sounds of the great and the good: Tabu Ley Rochereau, Franco, Sam Mangwana, Dr. Nico, known simply as the “god of guitar”, Nyboma, whose productions even had West Africans dancing the Congolese Soukous.

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Various ı Golden Afrique Vol. 1

It was the most exciting period of recent African history.

It was the dawning of the golden age of African pop music. In the 1970s and early 1980s, local traditions, modern western styles and instruments combined to create an exciting new sound that expressed the euphoria and pride of a newfound freedom.
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Rêves d' oasis ı Desert Blues 2

Presenting 31 ensembles from 13 countries, the album showcases the leading representatives of Rembetiko in its many forms throughout the world and traces its development over the years.  Details

Ambiances du Sahara ı Desert Blues 1

A journey of two and a half hours through the rich tradition of ballads from the Sahara, the Sahel and neighbouring regions. This double CD presents the musical cosmos of Africa at its most tranquil, sung by its most magnificent voices. "None of the selections will disapoint: all are prime cuts, intelligently chosen, panoramic in vision, insightful as signposts to fresh disvoveries and delight" (Folk Roots). "More than two hours of Afro-ambience that shimmer with desert sensuality" (The Observer).

With:
Youssou N'Dour, Oumou Sangare, Ali Farka Touré & Ry Cooder, Hamza El Din, Baaba Maal, Taj Mahal, Baly Othmani & Steve Shehan, Sona Diabate, Tata Dindin, Abdel Gadir Salim, Sali Sidibe, Dimi Mint Abba, Kante Manfila, Aster Aweke, Mahmoud Ahmed, Abou Djouba, Hassan Hakmoun & Adam Rudolph, Ali Farka Toure & Taj Mahal, Ensemble El Moukhadaram

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A dream voyage beyond compare... ı Emociones - 3 CD

This treble CD set presents highlights from the Network programme. It is an extended musical journey around the world, centering on heart-rending ballads.  Details

 ı The Diaspora of Rembetiko

Presenting 31 ensembles from 13 countries, the album showcases the leading representatives of Rembetiko in its many forms throughout the world and traces its development over the years.  Details

 ı Island Blues / Entre mer et ciel

After years of research, this dream project for the Network anthologies series has finally come true. A symphony of the music between sea and sky.  Details

L'épopée Tzigane ı Road of the Gypsies

Following the success of Desert Blues, Network set out to trace the fantastic journey of the Gypsies from Rajasthan all the way to Spain. 28 ensembles from 17 countries present emotionally charged ballads and compellingly passionate instrumental pieces that really get under your skin. One third of the 32 tracks are released on this CD for the very first time. Two and a half hours of music, a beautiful booklet with exclusive photos and an informative text.

With:
Camarón, Goran Bregovic, Ando Drom, Taraf de Haidouks, Bratsch, Esma Redzepova & Ensemble Theodosievsky, Pedro Bacan, Romica Puceanu & Orchestra Florea Cioaca, Mustafa Kandirali, Loyko, Rromano Dives, Taraf Mociu, Abdullah & Gholam Sakhi, Angelo Debarre, Serge Camps, Frank Anastasio, Vanessa & Sorba, Yiorgos Mangas, Jelem, Istanbul Oriental Ensemble, Kályi Jag, Schnuckenack Reinhardt Quintett, Blehorkestar Bakija Bakic from Vranje, Titi Winterstein Quintett, Suwa Devi Kálbelya, Kocani Orkestar, Lida Goulesco, Musicians of the Nile, Gabi Lunca si Ion Onoriu, Valerie Buchacová & Ensemble Horvàthovci

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 ı Russian Gypsy Soul

Russian Gypsy Soul is the first anthology ever to present Russian Gypsy music so comprehensively in all its diversity. To listen is to plumb the depths of the Russian soul, for there are few other countries where the music of the Gypsies has gained such widespread popularity. This double CD set with lavishly illustrated booklet features mostly original recordings for this anthology.  Details

 ı Golden Brass Summit / Fanfares en délire

Network's musical journey through the Balkans continues. We have now scaled new summits, tuning in to the impassioned golden sound of brass

Golden Brass Summit is a retrospective survey of the finest work of the past forty years, selected from some 1300 recordings in the archives of the House of Culture in Guca.

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 ı Musica Negra in the Americas - The Anthology

Musica Negra in the Americas is a journey of discovery along the dream roads of the American continent and the Caribbean to the different Black cultures and their expressive music. This double CD set with lavishly illustrated booklet features some of the greatest groups and real musical surprises from this vast region.  Details

Echos du Paradis ı Sufi Soul

For the Sufi mystics, music is the medium by which the human soul can approach the divine. With 21 tracks (6 of them unpublished to date) Sufi Soul is the first compilation to offer a complete cross-section of the most powerful Sufi music from Morocco to South-East Asia. Two and a half hours of music, plus a beautiful booklet with exclusive photos and an informative text. "Sufi Soul gathers the very best of a border-ignoring genre in mesmeric, mind-blowing fashion" (Mojo Magazine).

With:
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Hassan Kassayi, Sheikh Hamza, Ercan Irnak, Shakkûr & Ensemble Al-Kindî, Ahl-e Haqq Dervishes, Munadjat Yulchieva, Ostâd Elâhi, The Sabri Brothers, Kani Karaca, Sohrab Faqir, Ashik Müslüm Sümbül, Khatereh Parvaneh, Qaderi Women from Kurdistan, Husna Naz, Musa Dieng Kala, Davlatmand, Mohammad Rahim Khushnawaz, Fawzy Hafez, Maalem Si Mohamed Chaouqi, The Women's Ensemble of Ferganah, Yâr Mohammad

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 ı Hommage à Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

A last farewell to one of the greatest singers of our time: 14 original compositions by some of the leading Sufi singers and their ensembles expressing their affection and respect in a profoundly moving way. This volume also presents a previously unreleased piece by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Double CD with more than two hours of playing time. Lavishly illustrated booklet with a text on Nusrat and his art by a close friend of his."A superbly produced and genuinely numinous work with a depth that will keep one listening for decades" (Daily Telegraph).

With:
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sheikh Hamza Shakkûr, Alim Qasimov, Ferganah Qasimova, Cheikh Lô, Sharam Nazeri, Kamkar Ensemble, Munadjat Yulchieva, Abida Parveen, Salamat Ali Khan, Shafqat Ali Khan, Mehr & Sher Ali, Mallik Family, Asif Ali Khan

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Rêve et Passion ı Soul of Klezmer

This is the most comprehensive collection of klezmer music to date, charting a route from from the finest of contemporary klezmer bands to the highlights of past masters whose inspiration is still very much alive today. The genre ranges from the soulful yearning of ballads to the sheer abandon of wedding dances and the virtuosity of instrumental improvisations. The main instruments are violin, clarinet and accordion. Whether they are played in small and intimate groups or in big band combinations, they invariably convey the unique and unmistakable sound of klezmer music.  Details

Flammes du Coeur ı Gypsy Queens

For the first time in the history of phonographic recording, this double CD presents six of the most outstanding female voices in Gypsy music in one edition. These are songs of impassioned intensity, smouldering with emotion. Most of the tracks are original recordings for this album or available on CD for the first time. They pay homage to the finest female voices of Macedonia, Romania and Hungary, and present a new star in the firmament of Spanish Flamenco.

With:
Esma Redzepova, Dzansever, La Macanita, Mitsou, Romica Puceanu, Gabi Lunca

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Souffles de l'âme ı Balkan Blues

Balkan Blues is a musical journey through seven different countries, tracing two aspects of the Balkan soul -- on the one hand, ballads that tell of pain and hope, and on the other hand the magical exuberance of the virtuoso performances that accompany joyous celebrations. This double CD clearly shows that the music of the Balkans knows no national or ethnic boundaries.

With:
Toni Iordache, Dumitru Farcas, Ion Petre Stoican, Bulgarian All Star Orchestra, Petro-Loukas Chalkias, Psarantonis, Loudovikos, Ferus Mustafov, Esma Redzepova, ...

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