June 1999

Elizabethan Consort Music-- Tom Manoff reviews a compact disc by the Hesperion XX. The cd features the vio, a cousin to the violin, though the neck has frets. Manoff thinks the music is beautifully colored and vibrant. he also loves the packaging. The CD is Elizabethan Consort Music, by Hesperion XX available on the Aliavox label. E-mail them at Aliavox@Compuserve.Com. Their number is (310) 478-1311 (4:30)

Steve Earle-- Nick Spitzer reviews the latest CD by Steve Earle, a 25 year veteran of the Nashville country music scene. Earle got into drugs for a while, but says he's done with all that now. He's teamed up with one of this country's best bluegrass bands for a rollicking collaboration of country, rock and bluegrass called The Mountain. (3:30)

In September, the Light Changes-- Andrew Holleran is one of the country's most respected writers of novels about homosexual life. His first book of stories has just been released--it's called In September, the Light Changes. Alan Cheuse has this review. (2:00)

MoseFan Fan-- Charles de Ledesma reviews a new CD from Congolese guitarist and singer Mose Fan Fan. It's called The Congo Acoustic. The album is filled with Congolese rumba music, whose roots can be traced back to the influence of many Cuban bands who toured Africa in the 1950s. Fan Fan left Zaire for London in the 1980s. Many of the songs are laments for the grim reality of war and chaos in the former Zaire, now Congo. Note: Due to Internet rights issues, this piece has been cut.

Los Lobos-- Music reviewer David Greenberger has a look at the solo projects of the members of the band Los Lobos. The albums are Soul Disguise by Cesar Rosas, Dose, by Latin Playboys, and the self-titled Houndog. (5:00)

Who's Irish-- Alan Cheuse, who teaches writing at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, has a review of Who's Irish? a collection of short stories by Gish Jen. (2:30)

A Vaudeville of Devils-- Alan Cheuse reviewsA Vaudeville of Devils by Robert Girardi. It's a collection of novellas and short stories that Cheuse found extremely engaging. (2:00)

The book is published by Delacorte Press.

Makai-- Alan Cheuse reviews Makai - a new novel from Oregon writer Kathleen Tyau. Cheuse says it's an endearing crazy-quilt story of family. (1:30)

Underworld-- Charles de Ledesma reviews the latest CD by the British band, Underworld. It's called Beaucoup Fish. Underworld was among the early pioneers of electronic dance music in Britain, and worked with the techno pioneer group Kraftwerk. De Ledesma says the new CD has its roots in rave and techno, but has a more refined, smooth, sophisticated sound that shows the band's evolution into electronica. (4:00)

Hannibal-- Alan Cheuse reviews Hannibal, by Thomas Harris. It's the sequel to his bestseller The Silence of the Lambs. Cheuse says that the book is a fantastic thriller and he's ready for another sequel already. (3:15)

The book is published by Delacorte Press.

XTC-- David Greenberger reviews the new CD by the British band XTC. It's called Apple Venus Volume One It's the first CD the band has put out in seven years. Greenberger says it's lush with layers of orchestration. (4:30)
NOTE: DUE TO INTERNET RIGHTS ISSUES, THIS SEGMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE.

Summer Reading-- Our book reviewer Alan Cheuse has picked his top ten favorite books for summer reading. The books are mostly fiction, but include some non-fiction and poetry as well. The complete list can be found on the internet, at www.npr.org. (12:30)

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