Bread and Barrels of Water - Outlandish

From BC about this album:

Outlandish might, to many not be scene as an "obscure" or "unknown" group, but given their completely unheard status in the states, I figured I would open up some ears to this gem of an album, more so then that, the defining single, Aicha.

To us in the western world, the history of the song Aicha is relatively unknown, but in the arabic world, its listed as one of the best songs of the 1990s, it was preformed orginenally by Khaled Hadj Brahim. Aicha infact won Song of The Year in 1996 at the arabic version of the Grammy Awards. Many wondered if it was good enough infact, to take to the english speaking world and see what would happen. Ideas of that dropped off soon after it won Song of the year. There is no real explaition of why.

However, in 2003, a band called Outlandish, decided to take the risk. Oultandish is a danish hip hop group, two of its members are devote muslims, which I believe is how the song ended up in their ears in the first place. The band blended the song to their style and set about recording. They stayed as close to tradition as possable with the track, all the elements that were there the first time around are there, the catchy upbeat sounds, the sing along friendly chorus, even the hindu that is used in song, all of it. Such a beautiful song, now loved the world over.

It is because of that song I first heard this album "Bread and Barrels of Water" and its one of the reasons I love this disc so much, I find that the rest of the album is a nicely contrasted mixture of west and middle east pop/hip hop with just enough social awareness to keep people aware they they aren't turning a blind eye to the world, songs are formulated like this; mostly two of them singing and one rapping, sometimes two. depending on the song. "Dirty Dirty East" had me up on my feet in the first 20 seconds, which is saying something because I suck at dancing.

I would say this album is for anyone thats up for something that was a hit everywhere but the US, which makes me confused because I find nothing at all wrong with it that could keep it from being played here, but thats me I guess.

Artist: Outlandish
Album: Bread and Barrels of Water
genre: Pop/Hip Hop/Soul

Bread and Barrels of Water by Outlandish

By BC

Playground - Burhan G

From The Artist's Website:

Burhan G’s debut album hits the stores and when that happens it will be the provisional culmination of a 21-year-old man’s long career in combining talent, creativity and vision. An imaginative but also ambitious process flowing into an album setting new standards in how pop music can sound. Playground is a charge of energy suggesting inspiration from soul strongholds such as New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles where the game of being first with a new sound is cruel. But Playground is nothing short of a brave pearl from a young man growing up in the Copenhagen suburbs of North West and Broendby Strand.

The road to the platform Burhan G has found for himself is long and richly faceted. But characteristic of everything Burhan G does is the imagination and drive to play with musical modes of expressions being in the centre of things. From piano to guitar. From Danish hymns to “Dangerous”. From the family mirror in Broendby Strand to music on high level at Avedoere Gymnasium. From asphalt to main stage. From Danish troubadour Kim Larsen to Usher. From soloist in the Copenhagen Boys Choir to doing backing vocals for Outlandish. Everything driven from desire, curiosity and the dream of one day to be able to make his own contribution to the world map of music.

As early as in 2nd grade a teacher saw other potential in the small boy with the shy smile than being good at playing football during the breaks. He recommended Burhan for admission to the musically inclined Sankt Annae Gymnasium where Burhan started 3rd grade. In addition to changing schools Burhan and family moved to Broendby Strand. Here too Burhan’s impressive voice made a hit – even though it was put to use in somewhat different context than school and choir:

“When playing football or basketball in the backyard the big boys would call me over and ask me to sing to some girls they fancied. I made a buck on that ‘cause the boys knew that the little punk could really sing…”

And here he is today. Many years and musical experiences later. Ready to stand own ground with his debut album Playground. An album primarily produced with the skyrocketing team Maximum Risk that produced the first single “Burhan G” and the title track “Playground”. In his own words, Burhan G describes the collaboration with Maximum Risk as a musical oasis where he truly can use the sum of all his many experiences and develop himself as songwriter, singer and musician.

There was also room for other play buddies on the album. For instance the beautiful duet “Confessions” written and performed with the English singer Nina Jayne whose own debut album is due in the autumn on RCA/BMG UK. The track is produced by Saqib best known for his collaboration with Outlandish. In the process of making Playground Burhan G also took a trip to London to work with British soul singer Lynden David Hall who in 1997 released the critically acclaimed soul pearl Medicin 4 My Pain.

So all in all Playground has a wide stance and states obvious ambition of reaching a larger audience than the Danish. It’s hard to predict when the world outside little Denmark will eye Burhan G’s apparent qualities but one thing is certain: With Playground Burhan G harvests the fruits of many years of playing, talent, self-confidence and hard work. And Playground carries in itself a promise of getting both the swings and the roundabouts going with the musical exuberance Burhan G initiates with his debut album.

Genre: Hip-Hop / R&B.
Country: Denmark.
Language: English.

Burhan G - Playground

By BC