Australia/South Pacific

This category of world music encompasses Australia as well as Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia -- an area containing thousands of islands and atolls. The region's music is understandably diverse, ranging from Tahitian gospel harmonies to the growling resonance of an Australian didgeridoo. Guitars, vocals and ukuleles create the main harmonies, while a variety of flutes and percussion instruments mimic the fresh, airy sounds of life near the ocean. The music often features a mixture of indigenous and European elements, reflecting both ancient tradition and missionary history. It also influences international artists who wish to add exciting new flavors to their own experiments. There's nothing quite like the sound of a bassline beaten out of a bamboo tube with a pair of flip-flops on the Solomon Islands, or the breathy flutes of Papua New Guinea.