Track Listing

1. Inexile - Capercaillie, Sibeba
2. Dame Tu Fuerza - Fortuna
3. Assode - Groupe Oyiwan
4. Muengue Mwa Ndolo - Coco Mbassi
5. Negra Presentuosa (Pretentious Black Girl) - Susana Baca
6. Death Letter - Cassandra Wilson
7. Avelo - Tarika
8. Untold Story - Sibongile Khumalo
9. Aguis Mahasnik Biman - Rasha
10. Zarza - Ima Galguen
11. Done Wrong - Ani DiFranco
12. Sue�o de la Hija del Rey - Savina Yannatou
13. Song - Bernice Johnson Reagon, Toshi Reagon

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #117365 in Music
• Released on: 1998-03-10
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Yet another jewel in the Putumayo crown, Women of Spirit brings us an hour of soulfully respondent music from round the globe, made by women whose sound is full like lips, round like hips, and solid like bare feet on fertile earth. Women of Spirit is musky, sensuous, and womanly, at once wise and gloriously ripe. From the opening "Inexile," performed by Capercaille with Siberia, in which Karen Matheson's throaty alto wail soars round reeling Celtic fiddle, to the closing "A Song," featuring the mother-daughter African-American gospel blues harmony of Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon, Women of Spirit celebrates the stages not only of womanhood, but of the entire life cycle. Ani DiFranco's distinctively styled ringing guitar picking twined with her bust-loose vocals on the chorus of "Done Wrong" is deeply affecting. Cassandra Wilson shines on "Death Letter," and the exotic chant and slide of the French-Sudanese Groupe Oiywan makes staying still near impossible. This collection beckons one to embrace life, move to the rhythm, and find comfort in knowing that we are most powerful as a tribe. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

celebration
This is a compilation of celebratory music. It's what we are here for, to celebrate, rejoice, say thank you. This music from all corners of the world will unite sisters, neighbours, co-workers, daughters-in-law, those who will never meet. It cuts national barriers, sexual barriers, most importantly political barriers. We are here for this, to target peoples' ears and hearts nothing else. Women of spirit we call on you to sing your heart out. No-one ever bought a CD of the sound of bombs. We would have missed the point. Sing with your voices, move your fingers on your guitars, buy this CD and clap.

An eye-opener
While the Putumayo collections vary from the sublime to the "Huh?", this one is a winner. I was already familiar with the pop and Celtic artists, but most of the other tracks were a revelation: wonderful music is being produced in odd little corners of the world (such as the Canary Islands), and some ancient musical traditions (such as blacks in Peru) are virtually unknown outside their native turf. I'd never have known this music existed if it weren't for this CD, and I applaud Putumayo for having assembled such an amazing collection. (But I have to agree that the Ani DiFranco song was a poor choice. She's a fine musician and a good songwriter, but in between Ima Galguen's and Savina Yannatou's ethereal selections, hers stands out like a Mohawk hairdo at King Arthur's Court.)

Great background or driving music!
This CD was given to me as a gift, and I must admit, I was a little skeptical. Much to my surpirse and delight, it's a fabulous CD with a mix of world influences. I'm in the process of tracking down entire albums from some of the artists on Women of Spirit.