Old review.

BANCO DE GAIA - Last Train To Lhasa (20th Anniversary Edition)

https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/01/banco-de-gaia-last-train-to-lhasa-20th.html

Of all the 'deluxe reissue' versions of Banco's back-catalogue, this remains the best of them. Makes sense, since this is also still his most popular/recognized album three decades on.

#ElectronicMusic #AmbientDub #Downtempo #Trance #WorldBeat

Old review.

ASTROPILOT - Fruits Of The Imagination 2

https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/01/astropilot-fruits-of-imagination-2.html

The first of what would end up be many remasters/remixed/recontextualizations of his debut album. Always gotta' keep tinkerin'.

#ElectronicMusic #ProgPsy #ProgressiveBreaks #PsyChill #WorldBeat

Contra

Vampire Weekend release their second album on January 12, 2010. It's a huge one for the band -- their break-out album for critics and fans alike. The album photo is a whole story in and of itself ... Listen to Contra by Vampire Weekend on Amazon Music ... #vampireweekend #contra #2010smusic #indiepop #indierock #pop #synthpop #worldbeat #music #musicsky #musiciansky #rock #rockmusic

http://robinbannks.com/2026/01/12/contra/

Old review.

EAT STATIC - Dead Planet

https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/01/eat-static-dead-planet.html

I ended that review claiming this double-LP was worth the investment in getting. Now that the CD's long out of print and on the collector's market, I wonder...?

*checks Discogs* Hah, wow, it's now the 14th most expensive, non box-set item in my collection. Maybe most should stick with digital.

#ElectronicMusic #GoaTrance #FullOn #Downtempo #PsyDub #WorldBeat

Old review.

LIQUID STRANGER - The Arcane Terrain

https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/01/liquid-stranger-arcane-terrain.html

Never let it be said I don't give some genres a chance, even if it's in the most side-glancing, begrudging manner you can imagine.

#ElectronicMusic #Dancehall #Dubstep #Downtempo #Grime #WorldBeat

Older review.

SYSTEM 7 - System 7

https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/12/system-7-system-7-original-tc-review.html

Steve and Miquette had landed a surprise, minor club hit 'Space Bird' in the late '00s, so I thought it'd be a lark to review their *first* album, the debut that almost never gets talked about! There's a reason for that...

#ElectronicMusic #Downtempo #Techno #Soul #UKAcidHouse #WorldBeat

NEW REVIEW!

SPIRITUAL FIELDS - Oddities

https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2026/01/spiritual-fields-oddities.html

A new day, a new month, a new year! Some ol' N:L:E, tho' (well, not quite...).

#ElectronicMusic #AmbientDub #WorldBeat

🇫🇷 Deep Forest "Madazulu" (BBE Remix) – 1997

A hypnotic rework that leans deeper into rhythm, repetition, ritualistic chant, and tribal textures reshaped into a rolling, club-ready flow while retaining the track’s spiritual core...

#deepforest #worldbeat #electronic #downtempo #ethnotronica #remix #vinyl #music #vinylrecords #vinylcollection #vinylcollector #nowspinningonvinyl #nowspinning #nowlistening

🇫🇷 Deep Forest "Comparsa" – 1994

An immersive blend of electronic grooves and sampled traditional vocals. Rhythmic, cinematic, and rooted in a global sound vision that feels timeless...

#deepforest #worldbeat #electronic #downtempo #ethnotronica #ambient #vinyl #music #vinylrecords #vinylcollection #vinylcollector #nowspinningonvinyl #nowspinning #nowlistening

Make America Grateful Again (Global Circle Chant Mix)

The Song:

What became the Global Circle Chant Mix started when each musician grabbed an instrument from their homeland and gathered in a circle. One rhythm led to another, voices layered themselves naturally, and a global chant emerged. No leader, no script—just a shared pulse across continents.

This mix embodies a kind of Pentecost energy: many languages, one spirit. Gratitude becomes a dialect the whole world can speak.

“No one led this song, and no one followed. That’s why it works.” — Kwabena (Ghanaian percussionist)

The Album:

In fall 2025, musicians from around the world met in a small American town to make music shaped by gratitude, unity, and hope. Calling themselves Artists of the Pantheon, their debut EP, Make America Grateful Again, was released by Tongue Screw Records this Thanksgiving.

A global sound for a healing moment.

On streaming platforms worldwide.

Purchase

#distrokid #albumAnnouncement #altCountry #americanRootsMusic #artistsOfThePantheon #collaborativeArt #creativeCommunity #crossCulturalMusic #culturalHarmony #edmFusion #folkFusion #globalChoir #globalCollaboration #gospelBlues #gratitudeThemes #independentMusic #internationalMusicians #makeAmericaGratefulAgain #multiculturalArt #musicRelease2025 #musicalStorytelling #musicalUnity #newEp #newMusic2025 #peaceThroughMusic #recordingProject #ritualChant #ruralAmerica #thanksgivingRelease #worldBeat #worldFusion #worldMusic