I'm no expert either tbh. That was actually my primary motivation. This is a good opportunity to do something about it, isn't it? Welcome on board, I'm looking forward to your music choices! 

Lorenzo:  Nice idea to use 3 by the same artist, actually.  Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan “Mustt Mustt”  I actually know this piece, but not from this source.  Second husband played Middle Eastern and other related musics and their band did a version of this.  This one has some electric bass and drumbeats at the beginning with some repeated electric (guitar?) quietly plinking along underneath it all.  There is village-style call and response within the piece, as well as some sort of reedy sounding keyboard (accordion or the like?).  Already I know this poll will be terribly difficult for me!  Next up “Intoxicated,” by same.  Here, the piece begins with shimmery electric notes, very subdued, then some electronic whangs and shuffling, which begin to take shape rhythmically as it builds.  The vocalist enters quietly and quaveringly. There are some accordianesque or organ, I think, notes, that are added in under the vocalist, who begins a swifter bit of almost scatting (although they may be words, as I don’t know the language, despite being exposed to a lot).  And thirdly, “Crest”  beginning with plaintive electric guitar notes and a very melancholy vocal melody.  The instrumental parts actually remind me of some of Alan Stivell’s music, very unrelated, yet also shares some qualities.  It does become more pointed about halfway in, with the vocals becoming more strident and the band becoming more electric oriented and jazzy in feel, with a more western structure.  It evolves into a washy fadeout.

JD:  Kodo “Stomp”  Thundersounds at the start, then two Taiko (I believe this is Taiko) drummers perform a very stylish short piece, makes me think that you’re starting your selections off with a drumroll.  Harry Partch “Delision of the Fury: Act I: Sanctus: An Entra’cte”  Harry Partch famous for building his own instruments and such, a very creative individual.  This begins as lots of percussive bell sounds and some whangs for emphasis.  Hypnotic piece that rises and falls in intensity, there is an almost hurdy-gurdy-like sound that enters at just under 2 minutes and some deep resonant bells follow.  Some sort of strummed instrument prevails with some blaring type sounds over halfway in.  All falls back for some solo percussion, then an organ-type sound enters with the percussive elements continuing.  Large bells and buzzing sounds with a few crashes bring it all to the end.  Electronico Fantasticos “Live At Iron Island Festival”  As advertized, live performance with a bouncy electronic beat, which is joined in on with various insruments, some of which look handmade here, as well, including incorporating electric fans.  Female playing some sort of keyboard adds some vocalizing after a bit.  Not sure what she’s singing, but it sounds like kind of a complaint.  Ends in some whangling and an appreciative audience.  Very imaginative. 

Anders:  Dewa Alit & Gamelan Salukat “Dripping Water/Yeh Jgetel”  As stated earlier, I love Gamelan music, but darned if I could name any of it.  I’ve heard a fair amount in live settings, this looks to be a favourable listen from me.  Begins with some percussive beats on I think, some sort of pottery instruments, that sound almost electronic, as do the next additions that are deeper-sounding pan-like instruments.  The pace picks up and then slows again, it truly does sound like stylized dripping water.   There are added in some even deeper elements on other pan-like instruments and then there is also an instrument similar to marimba added in, with some occasional bell-like tones, not sure what made those.  Everyone ends in unison.  Very meditative. 

George:  Wahh World Fusion Band “Desire On Fire”  Sitar started this one out slowly, with it’s very signature sound.  A male singer, with some echo effects on his voice sings out.  The opening is very sensuous, as the title would indicate.  Bass and drums are added as the pace picks up and they go more into a jazz sort of mode, and sounds like guitar there as well.  Tablas switch the mode again and very decidedly electric guitar flaming lead (excellent!).  It moves into another more sensual, ecstatic mode with sitar lead and vocal scatting.  The scatting becomes more quick and almost rap-like, except I think what he is doing is the drumbeats, vocally. Fadeout to end.   Jonas Hellborg/Shawn Lane/ V. Umashankar/V. Selvaganesh/ V. Umamahesh “Anchor”  Here we start again with sort of a classical Indian sound by the vocal and tablas, but the bass and guitar quickly dispel that thought that you are about ready to go on a typical raga.  This is a nice foray (with hecka great bass!) into fusing jazz with Indian music, has a live feel to it.  There is some sort of effect or? Creating a violin-ish drone sound about a third in.  Pretty imaginative lead on effected guitar, or is it a synth (leaning more towards synth as it continues)?  Solo vocal scatting for a bit, sounds like 2 different vocalists, call and response style, for a good stretch, then in unison.  Full band kicks in again with lead vocal over.  Kyaw Kyaw Naing/Bang on the Can All-Stars “Sein Chit Tee A Mhat Ta Ya” This begins rapidly with flutes and percussion, bass as well, it sounds like.  Goes into a fast spirally section, then slows and builds, with fits and starts, moving on to another quick paced section.  Then some very oriental sounding back and forth with flutes, percussion and keyboards.  Pretty bell-like portion is up next, this is like a quick journey through oriental sounds, in a way.  Kyaw Kyaw Naing demo on pat waing: Fun to watch him playing these, thanks! Love that mizmar sounding high (reeded?) instrument, too.   Yoshida Brothers “Rising”    This promises to be very electric, yet also with traditional instruments, from the opening.  Becomes very rock ‘n’ roll-ish, yet also cinematic music.  Dfficult and precise pacing, quick electric lead punctuates the piece about halfway in, then back to the main western sort of theme.  Ends with a super-tight finish.

Greg:  Geinoh Yamashirogumi “Osorezan” Well THAT woke me up!  Didn’t even have the speakers turned up yet, lol.  Scream then a drumroll, then some more drumming.  Some very subdued keyboard notes, then some shivery gong sounds, an eerie wailing and a woman’s voice, maybe a ghost story?  Some shaker type sounds and something indefinable, pretty spooky stuff going on, though.  Washy sounds and shimmers, some electric guitar and odd voicings, this time male, fading in and out.  Screechiness and wails, more to the fore.  Some wah-wah type guitar sounds.  More distressing sorts of noises, shrieks and clashy sounds.  Single drum beat and some snare.  Eerie female chorus, with now some sorts of horns or maybe organ?  Becomes much more rhythmic with an angular electric guitar lead. Vocal choir enters the stage, with a few more wails and screaming.   Orc-ish sorts of sounds, is this a descent into Hell?  Perhaps.  Scream again, then subtle sounds start and the woman voice is back, very quietly singing with some ambient sounds around her.  Interesting piece, I liked some of the really spooky parts a lot, definitely a journey.  Haco + Sakamoto Hiromichi “Ash In The Rainbow”  This one starts with some bowed saw-like (or theremin? Or whatever Japanese instrument makes that sound, don’t know the name) sound and some heavenly violin or cello with an equally heavenly female vocal.  Mournful, melancholy sounding piece.  I like it! Just gorgeous. She is joined with other voices and goes into a speaking part. An almost lullaby feel to this one. Ends a little abruptly.  Yoshihiro Kanno “Egg's Dream”  Choral and some shimmery strings, cascading all around each other.  Very angelic in feel, yet also a bit discordant, so perhaps evoking outer space.  Bits of deep bells here and there, then deep church type bells. Abrupt halt, then the angels return for just a moment (well several, actually). 

Note:  This will be a very tough round, for me, so far, everyone has something that really caught my ear. 

Hello everybody, 

So far we have 14 participants and in total there are 25 slots on the poll. I was wondering whether it would make sense to give you guys the chance to nominate more than just one song each?

2 participants have submitted just one song. I would nominate also only one in order to leave more space. Maybe, Lorenzo would also agree on nominating only one song considering that he suggested several songs by the same artist. This would allow the following option:

The idea was not to make one package of two song per participant. Quite the opposite, people could vote for each song separately. I found it difficult to vote in the heaven/hell poll that we have had recently. In that regard, I absolutely agree with you. - You mentioned that you would listen mainly to the nominated songs. People have posted some really great stuff this edition. It would be a pity to miss them.

Well you know, I am new here. I have participated only three times so far. Your poll gave me the impression that this format was flexible which encouraged me to suggest a modification of the rules. Of course your topic did require two songs per participant. That's where the main difference is.

Now I can understand your concern, Kees. I did mention in the rules that 3 songs per participant would be reasonable but I can't ask people to delete their videos that they have already posted, can I? If we had less of those long pieces things would be a bit easier, too. I have not much experience with these polls here. I participate in a few online song contests but they work differently. There you have more people and shorter songs, 4-5 min at the max. Also people do comment on the music but much less than here and it is more competitive, you see?

Kees:  Sounds very interesting to me!  Here we go.  Altin Gün “Tatlı Dile Güler Yüze”  Electric band with a Farfisa sounding organ, female vocalist.  Nice electric oud and saz, maybe?  Very 60’s/70’s as you said, I really like what I’m hearing here.  Very plinky on the Farisa thingie.  Great beat for dancing, felt a wee bit short.    Altin Gün “Şad Olup Gülmedim”  Begins with some atmospheric whirring, quickly goes into an inspired saz feature.  Male vocalist this time.  Just gorgeous, contemplative music. Altin Gün “Süpürgesi Yoncadan”  This one has a very pointed electronic feel, as you stated, sorta disco-y.  I prefer the first two to this, but it is always fun to hear that combination of ancient and modern.  Altin Gün ”Yüce Dağ Başında”  Another electronic one, fun to see the band here.  Female singer again.  A bit of an 80’s feel with the shimmery keys and electronic drums, with handclaps.  The first two are strongest for me, here.  Definitely checking them out on bandcamp, thanks!

I prophesy disaster: Baraka “Balinese Monkey Chant” Love the start with the bell-percussion instruments.   Here again are a bunch of vocalizations, that sound like drum beats to my ear, but as I don’t know the language, it could be my ignorance.  Reminds me of a Balinese “Meetings With Remarkable Men,” as far as the video goes.  Chanting in unison and making more of the vocalizations, in a large choreographed scene.  Fascinating!  Kinda makes one want some of what they’re having, lol!

 

Mila:  Anandi Bhattacharya “In Between Us”  More of the sort of perhaps drum vocalisations, with table, some male ones first, then a very pretty female vocal from the main artist.  The male “singing,” is delegated to the back, while she occupies the fore. Sitar also joins in (or was that her father on slide guitar?).  Very ornate and haunting.  Kikuo ft. Hanatan “The Girl That Sells Misfortune”  Sounds perhaps like a Japanese folk tale, put to music, from the title.  Ah, now I see what you wrote below, it’s for a video game (kinda of a folk tale, after all).  Very electronic sounding at first, but regular keyboards enter in and there is a very light sort of female vocal, she sounds a bit sarcastic to me, with some whang and wonks in a percussive manner.  I like the scribble people, very interesting way to depict despair, but this is about the music, not the video. Music wanders back and forth from electronic to the vocalist.   Isfar Sarabski & Band “Novruz”  I’m anticipating that I’ll prefer this one the most.  Very rapid solo piano begins the piece, it soon starts to pull together into a beautiful, contemplative melody.  However will I come up with three favourites out of this whole poll?  The pace picks up and the whole band joins in.  Not sure what the lead string instrument is, looks like a tenor sort of saz if there is such a thing.  Standup bass and strings are included with this ensemble and drums (very understated).  Music returns to the quiet piano once again.  Again into a more ecstatic part, with the stringed instrument to the fore.  Back to the piano, this time in a much more jazz sort of frame, then back again to the more oriental feel.  This is more of a conversation between 2 styles as opposed to more of an amalgamation for the most part, but the ending does make them meet in the middle.

Mirakaze:  The Monks of the Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery “A Traditional Composition for Gya Ling and Dung Chen”  Blaring sound at first (one of those deep horn things?), then a chorus of smaller horns and some chanting.  Very promising beginning!  Reminds me quite a bit of The Pipes of Pan at Jujuka that Brian Jones produced.  The higher horns create a swirl of sounds, with the deeper horn punctuating from time to time.  Very hypnotic.  Toru Takemitsu “Dodes’kaden”  Plaintively beautiful tune on a stringed instrument, delicate keyboards (or marimba?) and swelling orchestra.  A concertina-like instrument wanders in for a moment, as do some flutes. Flute then comes to the fore, in a lilting melody, backed with the orchestra.  A sort of stilted march of sorts next with some sort of odd froglike horn and another melody, with the concertina thing again and the full orchestra swelling.  Flute here sounds almost like an ocarina.  The piece is sometimes momentarily whimsical.  It seems like it may be an overture?   anNina “対象ａ”Piano with some plinky-ness going on, then orchestra and a dulcet-toned female vocal.  This one has a jazz feel to it.  Lovely break about halfway through with strings.  Sounds like a harp is added in after the break for a moment.  I really enjoy all three of yours, I have no idea which I would choose, either, if it were up to me.