-
Talé Salif Keita 3c2a5m
A loveable enough effort from the Malian star.
-
From Senegal to the World: 80s Classics and Rarities Youssou N’Dour 466k9
Unlikely to stand out beside more complete N’Dour compilation sets.
-
Beginner’s Guide to Flamenco Various Artists 3c1n65
Solid-enough budget compilation highlighting both known and worth-knowing talents.
-
The Sparrow Lawrence Arabia qm2v
The New Zealander realises a lushly arranged third LP.
-
Unusual supergroup delivers a set that’s more sketches than songs proper.
-
Radio Salone Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars 62h1m
A great third album, buoyed by producer Victor Axelrod.
-
Charleston, SC 1966 Darius Rucker 5c2325
A countrified return from the Hootie & The Blowfish frontman
-
Singing Between the Lines Jassi Sidhu 2f2q5s
No great departure for the B21 graduate, but an album with plenty of variety.
-
In Trance JuJu 35272b
A fiery musical crossroads, and an original fusion.
-
Cannibal Courtship Dengue Fever h2q51
The fusionists are displaying increasing sophistication in their arrangements.
-
Phantom Songs 17 Hippies 1555e
Their growing virtuosity and accessibility deserves to win them a wider audience.
-
Toumastin Tamikrest 2t5q6n
A varied and polished second set coming 14 months after their debut.
-
Aurora Azymuth 28136b
Brazilian veterans deliver a good balance between reflective and more festive moods.
-
Brian Eno co-produces Kuti’s second international LP of muscular Afrobeat.
-
Cotonou Club Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou y5624
An inconsistent but frequently captivating return from the Benin legends.
-
Degeneration Street The Dears 2945m
Fifth album of melodrama set to pop hooks from Canadian Anglophiles.
-
Songs from a Zulu Farm Ladysmith Black Mambazo 2xg4k
The South African vocal group breaks new ground by looking to their past.
-
The Sound Of Siam. Leftfield Luk Thung, Jazz and Molam from Thailand 1964 -1975 Various Artists 4w6v54
A mixture of the exotic and the familiar, drawing on off-beat influences.
-
Joy to the World Pink Martini 3j222a
The Christmas concept fits the 12-piece ‘little orchestra’ like a glove.
-
The Voice of Lightness, Volume 2 Tabu Ley Rochereau 356x5t
Meticulously annotated two-CD set from one of Africa’s most popular performers.
-
Make the Light Kate Rusby 1n1x1t
Rusby’s first disc of all-original songs is perfectly assured.
-
Blood/Candy The Posies 4o4n12
Seventh studio LP from Seattle scene power-pop stalwarts.
-
AfroCubism AfroCubism 2u2g5c
Belated collaboration between Malian and Cuban musicians results in a fine album.
-
Tande-La The Creole Choir of Cuba 1b3i2n
A challenging listen but with its share of stirring moments.
-
Seu Jorge’s likeable latest mixes English language covers and Brazilian favourites.
-
Jungle Blues C.W. Stoneking 1z1k1m
You’re happy to suspend disbelief, and be carried away by his storytelling.
-
Jamm Cheikh Lô 3qp66
A cocktail of styles come to the fore on Lô’s fourth album.
-
Once Upon a Time in Senegal – The Birth of Mbalax 1979-81 Etoile de Dakar and Youssou N’Dour 3b3gf
As much Etoile de Dakar as most Youssou fans will ever need.
-
Bosnian folk with Middle Ages roots, played with a radical modern spin.
-
Que Beleza The Ipanemas 4r54g
A lovely sixth record from Brazil’s great Afro-bossa veterans.
-
Brothers The Black Keys 6q62z
Pleasingly diverse and diverting, with barely a duff track.
-
Hadestown Anaïs Mitchell 2l3j57
This folk opera, while not without fault, is by and large a success.
-
Their music emanates a life-affirming positivity.
-
BKO Dirtmusic d2617
A multicultural collaboration that only sporadically shines.
-
Garrincha – Estrela Solitária Leo Gandelman 2f2r23
As World Cup fever builds, a tribute to Brazil’s “Coltrane of soccer”.
-
Mark the Hard Earth Kris Drever 6d1j6o
Quite understated and beautifully played, Drever’s singing peerless throughout.
-
Next Stop Soweto: Township Sounds From the Golden Age of Mbaqanga Various Artists 33nm
Tough, rootsy grooves and plentiful hooks give this mbaqanga music broad appeal.
-
Adagh Tamikrest 32g5h
Follows Tinarwen’s distinguished tracks through the Saharan sands.
-
Ali & Toumani lives up to and perhaps exceeds expectations.
-
The Prester John Sessions Tommy T 53346z
Debut sort-of-solo offering from Gogol Bordello’s Ethiopia-enthralled bassist.
-
Night Train for Lovers and Thieves Gypsy Groovz Orchestra Goes TuttiMundi 3avn
Perhaps the year’s best album of Gypsy music.
-
Silverwater The Necks i2x1i
The trio are positioned at the cutting edge of Australian music.
-
One for collectors and obsessives only.
-
An endearing collection of music, ed by fascinating notes and photos.
-
Bonjour Rachid Taha 234z34
Suffers from a dearth of memorable tunes when compared to Diwan 2.
-
New York – Addis – London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975 Mulatu Astatke 4i5x4t
The most mercurial and accessible figure unearthed by the ongoing Éthiopiques series.
-
Magic Neighbor Lisa Germano 2w2a44
An accessible return to form from the Indiana folk singer.
-
Natural Forces Lyle Lovett 4z4vo
The most satisfying record he’s made in many a year.
-
Inspiration Information Volume 4 Jimi Tenor/Tony Allen 1rb6k
The most engaging and fully realised album in the series.
-
Sweetly infectious dance music of the most democratic kind.
