Longfingah - Urban Mystic (GuerillJah Productions)
Very occasionally the musical knowledge of yours truly still falls short, as it turns out 'Urban Mystic' is already Berlin based MC Longfingah's second long player ( his debut effort 'Cityopian Spirit' was already released in 2011).
The Battle Of Santiago - La Migra (Made With Pencil Crayons)
'La Migra' (Spanish slang for the dreaded/feared US immigration police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE) is already the third long player by Canadian-Cuban band around bassist and producer Michael Owen, but the first album on which The Battle Of Santiago also added vocals.
Dr. Dubenstein - Conspiracy Theory (Echo Beach)
Dr.
Super Ska - Pow-Wow (Self-published/Coucou Label)
'Super Ska' is the title of a 1983 album by Jamaican veteran Owen Gray.
Juana Molina - Halo (Crammed Discs)
Bit of a borderline case this 'Halo' by Argentine singer-songwriter Juana Molina, because more than tropical "world music" this is in fact South-American indie pop with a bit of an experimental edge.
Oumou Sangare - Mogoya (No Format)
It had already been eight years since Oumou Sangare, the nightingale of Wassoulou, pleased her fans another with a new album.
Ondatropica - Baile Bucanero (Soundway Records)
For the sequel to their acclaimed self-titled 2012 debut, Will Holland and his host of Colombian musicians this time traveled to Isla de Providencia, an island located between Puerto Rico and Jamaica and these days part of the Colombian Department of Archipelago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina.
Jah Sun - Between The Lines (Sugar Cane Records)
To get straight to the point, we weren't exactly blown away by 'Between The Lines', the fifth album by Humboldt, California-born Jah Sun.
No Finger Nails - Quipu Remix EP (Dub-O-Phonic)
This new release on the Dub-O-Phonic net label may only count four tracks, but there's quite a concept behind the 'Quipu Remix EP'.
Salome Fur - Beyond The Cathouse (Blue Esquire Records)
For Salome Fur, a Munich based band, a number of (former) members of groups like Steamy Dumplings, Jamaram and Benuts joined forces.
Lord Echo - Harmonies (Soundway Records)
Lord Echo, the name may sound like that of a forgotten calypsonian, but in fact it's the alter-ego of New Zealand producer, multi-instrumentalist and DJ Mike Fabulous (also guitarist and producer with The Black Seeds).
Mamj Ras Soul - Lettre Du Continent (FONS Records)
The number of projects Senegalese reggae artist Ras Mamj Soul is involved with can't be counted on the fingers of one hand, but since he met Belgians Dirk Delvaux and Greet Vanrijkel 'Koperen Muntjes voor Nianing' ("copper coins for Nianing"), an organization raising money through placing collection jars at different retailers in Louvain and by organizing all kinds of activities and once started with the support of a local basketball team in Nianing , the native village of Mamj, perhaps the most important.
Williams Brutus - Williams Brutus EP (Garvey Drive/Musicast Distribution)
Simultaneously with the release of his 2015 'Général Indigo' album, Pierpoljak also presented his own Garvey Drive label.
BB'87 - Return Of The Ska Originals (Self-published)
From 1987 to 2003, Johan Steevens (guitar and vocals), Iwan de Lang (bass), Marco van Krieken (drummer) and Michel Steevens (keys) built a reputation for themselves in The Netherlands as Beatbusters.
Krak In Dub - Amazonite EP (Universal Egg)
Yours truly got to know Federico Trujillo aka Krak In Dub last year thanks to 'Upgrades', his collaborative effort with Troy Berkley.
Kasai Allstars & Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste - Around Félicité Soundtrack (Crammed Discs)
Even though they were responsible for most of the songs on 'Around Félicité', this actually isn't a new album by Congolese band Kasai Allstars, but rather the soundtrack to 'Felicité', a film by Senegalese director Alain Gomis, who drew on the universe of Kasai Allstars for inspiration.
Uman - Umanist (Umanmusic)
Six years after the release of his previous album, 'Umanity', the Brussels based dancehall-punk (as he describes himself in 'Pas De Justice Pas De Paix') returns with 'Umanist'.
Morgan Heritage - Avrakedabra (CTBC)
After winning the Grammy for Best Reggae Album with 'Strictly Roots', with 'Avrakedabra' Morgan Heritage seam to continue even further down the eclectic (read: commercial) path.
Marcus Gad & Tribe - Chanting (Natural Prod'/Musicast Distribution)
All the way from New Caledonia, a French overseas territory to the northeast of Australia, we received this gem by Marcus Gad & Tribe.
M, Toumani Diabate & Sidiki Diabate - Lamomali (Labo M/Wagram)
With 'Lamomali' singer and composer Matthieu Chedid aka M finally got to realize on of his dream projects.