Various Artists – Rough Guide to Planet Rock (WMN/MRA)

This disc contains one cover version. It just happens to be the greatest cover ever. Tuva in South Siberia is renowned for its incredible tradition of throat singing, where singers can bellow out a deep sustained low frequency rumble, holding more than one note simultaneously. Albert Kuvezin & Yat-Kha adopt this tradition and use it to beat into submission the LSD laced classic In A Gadda Da Vida from legendary acid casualties Iron Butterfly. It’s simultaneously hilarious and genius, a rollicking acoustic country riff, sparse percussion, and rumbling vocals that sound like the owner has testicles so large they orbit the sun. “Wont you come with me and take my hand,’ he demands before everything stops and emotionally, almost painfully he bellows “Please take my hand.’ It’s fantastic, incredibly imaginative, where even if you aren’ familiar with the 20 minute late 60′ Iron Butterfly version, or seen the episode where the Simpsons sing it in church you’ll still get a giggle. Planet Rock is a document of the impact of rock and roll into some unlikely areas and you’d have to think Southern Siberia is pretty damn unlikely. Though there are also artists from India, Guinea, Tunisia, Ukraine, Portugal and Reunion Island represented. The aforementioned cover is reason enough to track this down however there’ also some great tunes from Saharan bluesmen Tinarwein, with that unmistakable guitar twang, Niger ensemble Etran Finatawa who sound like distant cousins of Tinarwein and incredible makeshift percussion ensemble Konono No 1 from Congo who’ sound quality is questionable yet fuse an amazing do it yourself aesthetic with infectious energy.