Takana Zion - Good Life (Soulbeats Records)
If we still described Takana Zion's 2012 album 'Kakilambe', as his most African and eclectic long player to date, then for 'Good Life' the Guinean singjay opted for a Jamaican approach again.
Bi.Ba - Massavana (Dibyz Music)
'Massavana' is the second album by Bi.
A-WA - Habib Galbi (tôt Ou tard)
Where Yemeni music is concerned, our knowledge was limited to the repertoire of the prematurely departed Ofra Haza (who doesn't remember 'Im Nin'alu' ?), but with A-WA or the three Haim sisters, who you may already consider our hot tip in world music for 2016, that is now about to change.
Marabout Orkestra - Seven Lives (Self-published/Socadisc)
As musical influences, saxophonist and composer Johann Guihard cites the creativity of Soul jazz Orchestra, as well as Herbie Hancock's groove and the psychedelism of Barney Wilen's 'Moshi', and describes Marabout Orkestra as an afro groove band.
Ziggy Marley - Ziggy Marley (Tuff Gong/V2)
With this self-titled album Ziggy Marley provides a successor for 'Fly Rasta', his 2014 album that earned him yet another Grammy.
Jah Works - Believe (Riddim House Productions)
With 'Believe', Jah Works, a band from Baltimore - the port city on the East Coast of the US to which the well-known Baltimore-riddim also refers - that for over 20 years active, is presenting its tenth long player to date (proving yet again how little known much of the American reggae scene on this side of the ocean still is).
Clinton Fearon - Waiting EP (Chapter Two Records/Wagram)
In anticipation of a new album, Clinton Fearon treats his fans to this aptly titled EP.
The Lickshots - The Lickshots EP (Rockers International/Rebel Sound Records)
The Lickshots are a New York band around keyboardist Jimmy McGerald and multi-instrumentalist Nick Fantastic, making their debut with this 6 track EP.
Pablo Moses - In The Future (Grounded Music/Socadisc)
With 'In The Future', the French Grounded Music label signs for the reissue of what in 1983 was Pablo Moses' fourth long player.
Calypso Rose - Far From Home (Stonetree Records/Because Music)
Calypso Rose, born Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis in Bethel, Tobago, is a living legend in her genre: in 1972, she was the first to conquer the title "Calypso Queen" and six years later she added she was crowned "Calypso Monarch" (a title not taking into account the sex of the artist and equaling something like Emperor or Empress of calypso) as well.
Alborosie - Freedom & Fyah (Greensleeves)
After 'Sound The System' and '2 Times Revolution' (we're not counting his dub releases here), albums that couldn't quite convince us, Alborosie returns with 'Freedom & Fyah', a long player filled with delicious rub-a-dub, he describes as a concept album.
Ahmed Malek - Musique Originale De Films (Jakarta Records/Habibi Funk)
Jakarta Records/Habibi Funk, the German label that recently introduced us to the work of Moroccan funkateer Fadoul, this time presents 'Musique Originale De Films', an album by Algerian composer Ahmed Malek.
Various Artists - The Midlands Roots Explosion Volume Two (Reggae Archive Records)
Just under a year after the release of 'The Midlands Roots Explosion Volume One', Reggae Archive Records now presents this sequel.
DVoyce - The Beginning EP (Soundalize It! Records)
The Romanian Soundalize it! Records label of producer LionRiddims already presented us John Life's 'Fly Away' EP a couple of months ago, and this time introduces us to Dwayne Stewart aka DVoyce, a singjay from Spanish Town in Kingston.
Jungle By Night - The Traveller (V2)
When we got to know Jungle By Night at the time of their 2012 debut release 'Hidden', the youngsters were still mostly exploring the treasures of afrobeat and Ethio-jazz.
Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate - Monistic Theory (Cumbancha)
Sekou Kouyate doesn't seem to waste any time.
Papa Style - Turbulent (Baco Records)
Orleans born Papa Style (real name Johann Leinenweber) began his career with Christophe Peyroux as the duo Papa Style & Baldas, butwith 'Turbulent' is now going at it on his own.
Djama Keïta - Guidance (EÏA Productions/Keyzit)
'Guidance' is the new album by Djama Keïta, a French-Antillean singjay from Fort de France in Martinique.
Bambu Station & Sensimilla Dub - Unity (Crasso Records) + Jimmy Luv - Estilo Original EP (Dubatak Records)
Bit of a strange release this aptly titled 'Unity', as it is a so-called split-album, on which two separate bands - Bambu Station from the US Virgin Islands and Brazilian Sensimilla Dub - both contributed 5 songs.
Yom - Songs For The Old Man (Buda Musique/Full Rhizome/Planètes Rouges)
For many years now, French clarinet player Guillaume Humery, better known as Yom, has been one of the mainstays in the international klezmer scene.