When a band combines elements of traditional world music in a modern music setting it can often produce magical results. Such is the case with the band Visa, a group of nine musicians from Los Angeles on their second album De Facto. The band is heavy on percussion, features a trio of electric guitarists and a duduk player (a traditional woodwind instrument prevalent in Middle Eastern and Balkan music). Their combined sound is quite unlike anything you will hear from other artists.

Visa’s blend of traditional music styles with modern instrumentation and sensibilities makes for a wholly original sound that is all at once passionate, exotic, entertaining and musically spiritual. Calling this “ethnic music” would be inaccurate as it is far less traditional than many world music artists tend to sound to be tied with that epithet. As you listen you will detect elements of rock, jazz, pop, and even metal-inspired chord progressions wrapped up in a Mediterranean/Armenian/Middle Eastern fused wrapping. The band offers all of its music for sale through its website and their previous album is on iTunes, so if you have an ear for adventure, grab your musical passport and get it stamped with Visa.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2007 Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.