Narasirato Pan Pipers - Cry Of The Ancestors [obscure, world music]

Yes, I know the first track sounds uncomfortably dischordant; it's their ultra-traditional music. Push through, because from the second track onwards it's really great. In the 2000s at the Joondalup Festival, I saw the Narasirato Pan Pipers performing a set. I was so impressed I bought their CD and I still enjoy listening to it. What's so great about it? Well, Narasirato (as they are now known) are part of the Are'Are people from the Solomon Islands. When Christian missionaries came to their island, they forbade the traditional music and it started to die out. Eventually, one of the musicians was able to pass on his craft and the traditional music to a new generation of musicians. Narasirato successfully merge their traditional music and instruments with Western influences and reggae, and the result is super listenable! Of special note are track 3 "Panpipe Culture of Are'Are" which seems to have influences from dance music and is super catchy (lyrics in English, even)! "Sidestep with the toes" is performed on special tiny pipes struck against the ground. "My culture is my life" also has English lyrics and was released as a single, getting into the Pacific Islands top 10 at the time, if I recall correctly. What's your favourite song on this album? As a bonus, I found a video where Narasirato perform a cover version of the song Rude, by the band Magic!. Not only a great, unique cover version, but it also will give you an idea of their instruments and live performance style. It's tacked onto the end of the album.