Curumin - JapanPopShow (Makasound)
Curumin (born Luciano Nakata Albuquerque) has quickly become one of the most important ambassadors of modern Brazilian music.
Balkan Beat Box - Blue Eyed Black Boy (Crammed Discs)
Balkan Beat Box emerged a few years ago as the project of Ori Kaplan (ex-Gogol Bordello) and Tamir Muskat, two Israeli music fanatics who accidentally bumped into each other in Brooklyn.
Grupo Fantasma - El Existential (National Geographic Records)
This is already the third Grupo Fantasma album yours truly had the pleasure of listening to.
Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Steps Ahead (Strut Records)
The success of 'New York + Addis + London, The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975', the compilation of his earlier work Strut Records released last year, apparently inspired Mulatu Astatke to head back into the studio to record his first full-fledged solo album in years.
Various Artists - Jammy's From The Roots 1977-1985 (Greensleeves)
Is it there really a need for an umpteenth Jammy's compilation? Well, in this case, it might be justified by the fact the Greensleeves label this time opted to focus on the earliest period of, then still, Prince Jammy.
Various Artists - The Lovers Rock Selection (S & G Records)
'The Lovers Rock Collection' unites some of the best releases of S & G Records, established in the early eighties by Milton 'Smitty' Smith.
Junior Kelly - Red Pond (VP Records)
Yours truly has always regarded Junior Kelly as a bit of an odd one out in the Jamaican music industry.
Fredy Massamba - Ethnophony (Self-published)
Judging from 'Ethnophony', Fredy Massamba clearly attended Marie Daulne's Zap Academy (see also Manou Gallo, Sally Nyolo.
Fool's Gold - Fool's Gold (I Am Sound Records/Wagram)
Fool's Gold started as a hobby project for vocalist/bassist Luke Top and guitarist Lewis Pesacov.
Amparo Sanchez - Tucson/Habana (Via Lactea Records/Pias/Wrasse Records)
With Amparanoia, Amparo Sanchez always produced music that fitted the musica mestiza genre,.
Dobet Gnahoré - Djekpa La You (Contre Jour)
Dobet Gnahoré belongs to a select group of artists, born to be on stage.
Rebelution - Bright Side Of Life (Discograph/Soulbeats Records)
The latest reggae revelation from the States is called Rebelution.
The Gladiators - Continuation (Médiacom)
The Gladiators are no longer The Gladiators: front man Albert Griffiths has retired for health reasons and is now replaced by son Al (hence the title of the album: 'Continuation') and the only remaining original member of The Gladiators, Gallimore Sutherland.
The Souljazz Orchestra - Rising Sun (Strut Records)
Yours truly got to know The Souljazz Orchestra as an infectious Canadian afrobeat band, but on 'Rising Sun' they let us down where that genre is concerned.
Various Artists - BalkanGrooves (Eastblok Music)
'BalkanGrooves' is a sort of Balkan Beats 2.
Naptali - Long Journey (Oneness Records)
As of now the German city of Munich is no longer only synonymous with football because it is also home to Oneness Records.
Don Carlos - Changes (Heartbeat Europe/Rounder)
Twelve years (!) after his last album release 'Seven Days A Week', Don Carlos finally returns with a new album.
Solo Banton - Walk Like Rasta (Reality Shock Records)
A reggae artist who calls himself after his favorite character from the Star Wars saga, it's different to say the least, but at the same time no more than a continuation of the movie tradition that deejays like Dillinger or Clint Eastwood already started years ago.
Tommy T - The Prester John Sessions (Easy Star Records)
A true music fanatic is always on the lookout for that one album that literally gives him goose bumps.
Various Artists - Harder Shade Of Black (Pressure Sounds)
With the reissue of 'Harder Shade Of Black' Pressure Sounds comes full circle, because this Leonard Chin produced album already appeared on the label under the title 'An Even Harder Shade Of Black' and was its very first release back in 1995.