Various Artists - Augustus Pablo presents Rockers International (Greensleeves)
With 'Augustus Pablo presents Rockers International' the Greensleeves label created a package release of two productions by legendary melodica-man Augustus Pablo.
Toto La Momposina Y Sus Tambores - Tambolero (Real World Records)
When back in 1991 and 1992 Toto La Momposina entered the studio with producers Phil Ramone and John Hollis to start working on what eventually would become the 'La Candela Viva' album, she probably never imagined that album would make her into an international star.
Dubtonic Kru - Dub Conscious (Self-published/White Stone Productions)
From the list of bands adding color to the so-called Roots Revival we can't leave out Dubtonic Kru, founded in 2003 by drummer Jubba White and bassist Stone Strickland.
Khalab & Baba - Khalab & Baba (Wonderwheel Recordings)
For 'Khalab & Baba', Italian beat maker and self-proclaimed afro-futurist DJ Khalab joined forces with Malian tamani or talking drum master Baba Sissoko.
Lioness Fonts - From A Baobab Tree (1 Roar Records/VPal)
Lioness Fonts hails from Dominica, but age six moved to Luton in the UK.
Afriquoi - Kolaba (Wormfood Records)
The five members of London based band Afriquoi haven't exactly reinvented the wheel, but their mix of West African kora (Jallykebba Susso) and Congolese guitar ('Papa' Fiston Lusambo) with influences from Western genres like house, hip-hop, soul and jungle, is certainly catching and sounds somewhat like a cross between Afro Celt Sound System and Congotronics bands like Konono N°1 or Kasaï Allstars.
Joan Soriano - Me Decidí (iASO Records)
In 2012 we introduced you to Joan Soriano, together with his brothers and sisters the symbol of modern Dominican bachata, and on 'Me Decidí' the ravishing André Velóz joins the party.
Feuilles de Roots - La Fa Mi EP (Self-published)
Like LMK the members of Feuilles de Roots also hail from Annecy in the Haute-Savoie.
Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal - Musique De Nuit (No Format!)
It's already been 5 years since French cellist Vincent Segal and Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko created their wonderful 'Chamber Music' album in Salif Keita's Moffou studio in Bamako.
Janelle Phillips - Lioness EP (Roots Musician Records)
This 6 track (4 vocal tracks and 2 dubs) 'Lioness' EP is the fruit of a collaboration between the San Diego-born singer-songwriter Janelle Phillips and Roots Musician Records producer E.
Lëk Sèn - Sweet & Tuff EP (Jahsen Creation)
Just recently yours truly raised questions about Tomawok's Native American appearance on the cover of 'Weedamuffin', and now we're already confronted with a similarly attired Lëk Sèn.
Prince Malachi - Third Rock (Self-published/10 Mile Media)
It had been since 2007's 'One Perfect Love' (Blakamix) that we'd heard anything from Prince Malachi, but on the self-produced 'Third Rock' his recognizable voice still resounds.
Junior Kelly - Urban Poet (Irievibration Records/VPal)
Junior Kelly is certainly not the only artist out there who doesn't like being tied down to one genre, but on 'Urban Poet', his tenth long player to date, Kelly really seems to have turned away from reggae.
Jamaican Jazz Orchestra - Encounters (Zephyrus Records)
The first thing that came to mind when listening to 'Encounters', Jamaican Jazz Orchestra's debut long player, was: "Damn, this sounds great!", and hardly anything about this album hints at the fact that this is a Belgian production.
Various Artists - Mr Perry I Presume (Pressure Sounds)
'Mr Perry I Presume' is yet another chapter in what seems to be a never ending series of Lee Perry compilations on the Pressure Sounds label.
Capital Letters - Wolverhampton In Dub (Sugar Shack Records)
As one of the few, we weren't too impressed with 'Wolverhampton', the "new" Capital Letters album, but this dub version of that same album mixed by Dave 'Oldwah' Sandford, did tickle our fancy.
Kenny B - Kenny B (Top Notch Music/Universal)
Jah6 is no more and it's already been a while since we heard anything from Damaru, but never mind, as Kenny B is itching to fill the void they left behind.
Youssou N'Dour Et Le Super Etoile De Dakar - Fatteliku: Live In Athens 1987 (Real World Records)
With the release of 'Fatteliku: Live In Athens 1987', a recording of a 1987 concert by Youssou N'Dour and Le Super Etoile De Dakar, Real World Records immortalizes a piece of world music history.
Various Artists - Reggae Anthology: Gussie Clarke, From The Foundation (17 North Parade/VP Records)
17 North Parade/VP Records keep releasing their 'Reggae Anthology'-releases at a high pace, as less than two months after King Jammy, Augustus 'Gussie' Clarke is now also celebrated with a compilation.
Mamadou Kelly - Djamila (Clermont Music)
'Djamila' is the second solo album by Mamadou Kelly, a Malian singer/guitarist who earned his spurs working with Afel Bocoum and Ali Farka Touré and later started focussing on a solo career together with his backing band Ban Kai Na.