1 Giant Leap: Not just an album but also a fascinating movie, 1
Giant Leap is the perfect introduction to anyone interested in not just
world fusion music, but the fusion of world ideas. It combines literally
almost every world music genre there is, across all continents, many
countries, and hundreds of people. The two conspirators, Jamie Catto and
Duncan Bridgeman of the UK, took a computer and a plethora of sampling
devices to musicians around the world recording a range of styles from
popular talents such as Michael Stipe, Robbie Williams and Eddi Reader; to
ethnic sounds such as Baaba Maal, the Mahotella Queens and Revetti Sakalar.
Combining not just tribal and ethnic sounds but modern and urban sounds as
well, the result is a profound confirmation of world unity not only through
thought, but through sound as well. The creators interviewed artists and
musicians around the world on such subjects as God, money, sex and death;
the songs feature the voices of such notable personalities as Dennis Hopper,
Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Robbins, and Ram Dass. The soundtrack is just as
compelling as the film, masterfully produced and mixed to not only combine,
but also merge all the different sounds into one. Percussion from South
Africa blends with vocals from India and chanting from Australia, urban
beats and rap, and too many other elements to name, creating something
incredibly well-crafted despite the challenges that must be involved. For
the topic of world fusion, 1 Giant Leap should be the final word.

Much of music of these artists can be sampled and purchased on CD Universe:

Si*Sé

Manu Chao

Oliver Mtukudzi

Habib Koité

Salif Keita

Afro Celts (Afro Celt Sound System)

Talvin Singh

Garmarna

Buena Vista Social Club

1 Giant Leap