Badume's Band - Addis Kan (Innacor Records)

A group of Breton musicians throwing themselves on Ethiopian music from the nineteen sixties and seventies with a passion… admittedly, it's not the most obvious of combinations.

Various Artists - Next Stop... Soweto Volume 2: Soul, Funk & Organ Grooves From The Townships 1969 - 1976 + Next Stop... Soweto Volume 3: Giants, Ministers And Makers, Jazz In South Africa 1963 - 1984 (Strut Records)

Just in time for the start of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the Strut Records label drops part 2 and 3 in their 'Next Stop.

Soldiers Of Jah Army - Born In Babylon (DMV Records/Grooveattack)

'Born In Babylon' sounds more subdued than its predecessor, 2006's 'Get Wiser', and the addition of Puerto Rican horns men Hellman ‘Helms’ Escorcia, Rafael Rodriguez, Yamuel Marcano and Mario Castro adds an new dimension to SOJA's sound.

Jodian Pantry - Never Stay Away… The Journey Begins (Advocate Records)

Introducing: Jodian Pantry, a new female talent on the Jamaican music firmament.

Romain Virgo - Romain Virgo (VP Records)

Although he is still a relatively new face in the Jamaican music scene, Romain Virgo probably doesn't need further introduction.

Skatroniks Jamaica - Skalsa #1 (Skajam Records)

No idea what happened with Jazz Jamaica, but the bulk of the musicians in that band, now led by keyboardist Bigga Morrison, regrouped as Skatroniks Jamaica.

Various Artists - Ayobaness: The Sound Of South African House (Out Here Records)

This year, the FIFA World Cup takes place in South Africa and with the compilation 'Ayobaness: The Sound Of South African House' ("ayoba" is an expression to indicate when something is crazy or great) the Outhere label serves up an album that could well be the perfect soundtrack to this event.

Maka Jah - Roots Rock Revelation EP (Artikal Music)

Backed by Artikal Krew, Antillian Maka Jah has been making a name for himself with our southern neighbors for some time now.

Various Artists - Joe Gibbs 12" Reggae Discomix Showcase Volume 4 (17 North Parade/VP Records)

In part 4 of this series of 12" disco mixes from the archives of Joe Gibbs, you might think the best is already behind us, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Beres Hammond - Just A Man (17 North Parade/VP Records)

'Just A Man' is a bit of a strange reissue; recorded for Joe Gibbs, this was the second album in Beres Hammond's discography, but don't expect a reggae album, for 'Just A Man' is all about disco and soul.

Raul Paz - Havanization (Naïve)

When music critics mention Raul Paz, the description "pioneer of the new Cuban wave" (a group of young Cuban musicians who washed ashore in Paris in the 1990s) is often used.

Various Artists - Palenque Palenque: Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots In Colombia, 1975 - '91 (Soundway Records)

For the 'Palenque Palenque: Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots In Colombia, 1975 - '91' compilation the Soundway Records label left familiar African waters to head to the Caribbean coastline of Colombia.

Quique Neira - Jah Rock (GLM Music)

The name Quique Neira will perhaps not immediately ring a bell, but if we add that in the past Quique played with Gondwana, some reggae lovers will know what we're on about and in his home country Chile he has already made a name for himself.

Tanya Stephens - Infallible (Tarantula Records)

Tanya Stephens may have called her new album 'Infallible' (and because she no longer believes in album sales she's even offering it as a free download), but is la Stephens actually infallible herself? In all honesty we can find little bad to say about this album: lyrically Tanya is quite potent and inventive ('Still Alive' on the problems of AIDS and HIV) and musically things also sound as they should; but we do to wonder how long she will keep rehashing the same theme - Tanya is looking for a man, but the specimen she encounters are always too drunk, too ugly, too lazy or too promiscuous - before it will start getting boring.

Horace Andy - Serious Times (Minor7flat5)

It had been since the release of Cocoa Tea's 'Biological Warfare' in 2007 since we last heard anything from Andreas 'Brotherman' Christophersen's Minor7flat5 label and we already started fearing the worst.

The Moon Invaders - Live At The AB Club (Grover Records)

Yours truly got to know The Moon Invaders a few years ago as backing band for artists like Pat Kelly, Rico Rodriguez and Doreen Schaeffer; a Belgian version of The High Notes so to speak.

Fra Fra Sound - Black Dutch & More (Self-published)

Surinam-Caribbean Netherlands-based septet Fra Fra Sound this year celebrates its 30 year anniversary.

Haytham Safia - No Complication (Me & My Records)

Haytham Safia is essentially a classically trained Palestinian oud player.

Vinicius Cantuaria - Samba Carioca (Naïve)

Yours truly has never been fond of Brazilian party genres like samba or frevo, but we're always up for a dose of jazzy bossa nova, samba for intellectuals so to speak, and that is exactly guitarist/percussionist Vinicius Cantuaria's field of expertise.

Hedzoleh Soundz - Hedzoleh + Sweet Talks - The Kusum Beat (Soundway Records)

Yours truly knows the Soundway Records label mostly from their excellent compilations filled with vintage African highlife, afrobeat and funk, but with the reissue of 'Hedzoleh' and 'The Kusum Beat' this time they are focusing on two great Ghanaian albums.