While most of my Monday Music posts are about one group or artist, I occasionally like to focus on just a song, maybe on a compilation album, or even an entire style. In the same vein I want to look at a record label today, something I usually don't even pay attention to. But this time it's a bit different. The company in question is called Putomayo, and is known for its colorful album art and great collection of world music.
How to Start a Musical Journey?
I always love to discover new music, preferably from different places around the world. But how can I go about doing it? Sure, I can try describing what I have in mind, and do a search for it, such as chilled-out electronic samba or perhaps up-beat balkan gypsy. Sometimes I find interesting things this way, but usually it takes a looong time with lots of dead ends.
Or, I can take a look at the albums released by Putumayo, with titles such as Latin Lounge, Africa Lounge, Latin Party, Arabic Groove, Asian Groove, French Café, African Café, Italian Café, etc. Each of these albums is a collection of a number of songs by various artists, from the specific region, or the style that's in the title. Though it may be debatable what exactly the sound of a "café" is, after a couple of impressions one gets the idea.
Some of their albums are also specialized on female vocalists, such as Women of Jazz, Women of Latin America, Celtic Women, etc. Similarly, there is another line of kid's music, called European Playground, Reggae Playground, etc. as well as a yoga line Yoga Lounge, Yoga Dreamland, ... You get the pattern. So far there have been close to 400 albums released since 1993, first on cassette tapes and CDs, today typically as playlists. I thought knowing 32 of these was a lot, but apparently it's not even scratching the surface.
Recognizable Artwork
One of the distinguishing features of Putumayo is the album art, created by Nicola Heindl in her colorfully drawn style, looking infantile and mature at the same time, as well as combining folky and modern themes. Though this style may not be everyone's favorite, one thing is certain: it will be recognizable from afar in any bookshop or café where they may be sold. And for anyone who's already gotten a taste of Putumayo may want to try some more of it. Of course, the fame of the music label had its own effect on the artist, and now her works are sold on books, plates, and greeting cards.
Not Every Song Is a Winner
Since their albums are always compilations, it goes without saying that some won't have the desired effects. And it's true, the chosen music for each collection includes a wide range, from the super famous to the obscure. The nice thing, however, is that there will always be a few favorites. And that means, now the musical traveler has a name to do a search for, and take a deeper immersion into that particular music. In this way Putumayo is a jumping board into the lesser known musical areas. A very fun way to follow though.
As such, I have come across some amazing tunes, from Polynesian music to some great folky accordion from Québec. Some Caribbean carnival sounds and some laid-back hypnotic Arabian. Gypsy music, Bluegrass, Flamenco, you name it. All of the songs I have linked in this post I got to know through Putumayo. Some of them I have become quite familiar with outside of their compilation album, others I still just know as "that cool song from Acoustic Arabia". Eventually I may try to get to know other songs by that artist... or I may take a peek at some of the hundreds of other Putumayo albums I don't know.
Take a Look at the Previous Posts in my Monday Music Series:
The Sound of the Hungarian Zither
Obligatory Line-Dance at Mexican Parties - El Payaso del Rodeo
Floating Into the Night by Julee Cruise
Classic Canadiana - Stan Rogers
Party Like There's No Tomorrow, Cry Like Everything Is Lost - Hungarian Gypsy Music
The Harder Sound of the Middle Ages - Corvus Corax
The First Hip-Hop I Actually Liked - Things Fall Apart by The Roots
No Prophets in Their Own Land - Rodrigo y Gabriela
Beyond the Boundries of Styles and Genres - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Accordion-Rock You May Not Know (But Really Should) - Los Tabascos
Songs of the Mexican Revolution - La Adelita
Memorable Weirdness - What Do You Want A Japanese To Do Again?
Gloomy Sunday - The Hungarian Suicide Song
Party Tunes from the Wild East - The "Russendisko" Experience
Folk Songs from Your Home Village - Hungarian Regional Sound Archives
Polynesian Salt Water Music
Images Conjured up by Tom Waits' Music
In Country: Folks Songs of Americans in the Vietnam War
Somebody Tell Me - Translating a Hungarian Song Into [EN] and [SP]
Somebody Tell Me - first trial & live performance [HU] [SP] [EN]
Horst Wessel in Mexico
Playing for Change: Old Favorites Played Around the World
Soothing Tunes and Gentle Rhythms of Mali Music
What Is It About Music? [Ecotrain's Question of the Week]
Halász Judit: Memories from my Childhood
Discovering Rocksteady
The New Generation of Banda
Horrible Music From Hungary: Dáridó or Wedding Rock
[ENG - ESP] 3 Songs From My Youth / 3 Canciones De Mi Adolescencia
Dick Dale: Surfer Tunes from the 60's
Tiny Desk Concert with the Kronos Quartet
Ghymes, Palmetta, Deep Forest: The Love-Hate of Hungarian Crossover
Crossover Styles: Cooking With Many Ingredients
Shady Grove: My First Impression Leading up to Discovering The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead: Endless Jams and Weird Imagery
Ratatat: Electronic Hip-Hop Beats for Studying and More
Flogging Molly: Irish Music With That Extra Bite
Manu Chao: International Sound of the Revolution
Dead Can Dance: Music for Dreaming of Times Past