July 24–31, 1997

disc quicks|roots

The Planet Sleeps

Various Artists (Sony Wonder)

The Planet Sleeps, a collection of lullabies from around the world, may be a hit with the toddler set, but adult world-music fans are in for a treat as well.

Producer David Field literally traveled around the world to record the 16 traditional lullabies. Locales ranged from Canada's Cape Breton Island to war-torn Bosnia. As complex and diverse as the various cultures represented, The Planet Sleeps is more than a hip multicultural soundtrack for getting the kiddies to sleep. The tunes included on this collection, ranging from the Gaelic melody "Chi Mi Na Morbheanna," to a Middle Eastern song sung in both Arabic and Hebrew, all reflect the need for a safe haven in an often overwhelming world.

All the tracks are performed a cappella which adds to the intimacy of each recording. The traditional French tune "Fais Do Do, Colin Mon Petit Frere," recorded in the Paris home of cabaret singer Sophie Meriem Rockwell, even captures the faint sounds of footsteps from the street below and birds outside her window.

Another bonus of this CD are the fascinating liner notes, which provide detailed information about the countries contributing songs, as well as about the songs themselves.

The Planet Sleeps is also enhanced with CD-ROM multimedia, including film footage and illustrations. Another reason to check out this record: 50 cents from each retail sale is being donated to UNICEF.

— Nicole Pensiero