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04/08/2004 WOMAD triumphs (again)
When it was launched, by former pop star Peter Gabriel in a tiny market town in Somerset almost a quarter of a century ago, WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) appealed to a narrow coterie of very adventurous music lovers. Those in the mass poprock market who even noticed looked on in cynical bemusement. By the time of last weekend's WOMAD festival, beside the Thames in Reading, world music had developed into the most dynamic musical genre of all. Though still attracting a minority, mainly left of centre, audience, its myriad forms continue to set the pace, with an explosive creativity that no other musical genre can hope to emulate. Important musics are now emerging from every part of the Third World, from the West African hot spot of Mali, to music responding to the fall-out from the Islamicisation of countries like Algeria. Fusion and cross-fertilisation are producing a rich, if bewildering, array of new forms. The world music greats (Ali Farka Toure, Youssou N'Dour, and the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan are particular favourites of Music for Grown-Ups) present a canon which is instantly recognisable - it's fresh, authentic and eclectic. And, so far, the genre is largely untainted by the show biz excess which afflicts virtually every other genre. Attenders at WOMAD 2004 reported to Music for Grown-Ups that, though this years's festival was a trifle thin on big names, those who did appear made it a weekend to remember. David Byrne and Nigel Kennedy (fronting a small Polish string band, Kroke), the best-known musicians on display, contributed memorable sets. Rising stars Souad Massi, Rokia Traore, and Faudel underlined their credentials as leaders of the next generation. And crossover English folkie Jim Moray, praised to the skies in Daily Update some months ago, lived up to his rocketing reputation. Grown-ups are indebted to artists, labels, publicists and entrepreneurs in the world music scene for making their uniquely rich art accessible to the wider audience. Gerry Smith
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