Nga Han - David Stone (Self-published)

'David Stone' is the long-player debut of Rohan Palomino aka Nga Han, a Jamaican singer-songwriter from Saint Ann who, through his studies, ended up in California in 2007; the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with producer Max Rivera aka Roots Natty of Roots Natty Records.

Riptiders - Vol. 1 (Self-published)

We already knew the Sardinians of Train To Roots, but apparently there are more reggae bands active on the Italian island. Take Riptiders for example, a six-piece band from Tempio Pausania in the far north of the island, who, with the appropriately titled 'Vol. 1' make their long player debut.

Various Artists - Linval presents Dub Landing Vol. 1 & 2 (Greensleeves)

Back in 1996 Greensleeves reissued 'Linval Meets The Space Invaders' with 'Linval presents Space Invaders', an iconic 1981 dub album for which Linval Thompson drew inspiration from the world of computer games and science fiction. For the occasion, the ten original dub tracks were supplemented with a second disc with an equal number of vocal cuts over the same riddims, and the label now does the same for 'Dub Landing Vol. 1 & 2', two albums released after the great success of 'Linval Meets The Space Invaders' on the Starlight Records label of brothers Desmond and Ben Up and their cousin Popsy, who're still running their record business of the same name in Harlesden, in the north of London.

Ziggy Marley - Rebellion Rises (Tuff Gong/V2)

As a resident of the state of California, Ziggy Marley has had the "privilege" of experiencing the new Trump era first hand, and with 'Rebellion Rises' declares himself ready for the revolution.

The Congos & Pura Vida - Morning Star (Lost Ark Music/N.E.W.S.)

Ten years after 'Puraman' Bregt De Boever invited legendary Jamaican vocal trio The Congos - meanwhile supplemented by fourth man Kenroy Fyffe - to his Lost Ark Studio for the first time for 'We Nah Give Up', the first release on his own Lost Ark Music label, Poddington Krank got them to stop off at Mare Altar (Maria-Aalter) once more for successor 'Morning Star'.

Various Artists - BMN Ska & Rock Steady: Always Together 1964 - 1968 (Dub Store Records)

For 'BMN Ska & Rock Steady: Always Together 1964 - 1968' the Japanese Dub Store Records this time compiled a number of ska and rocksteady releases by early Jamaican producer Ronnie Nasralla.

Haji Mike - XXVIII (Power Of Words/Independent Distribution Collective)

Exactly twenty-eight years ago, Cypriot Haji Mike took his first steps in the music business with the release of his first 12inch 'As'ta /Modern Day Mankas'. Back then Haji's sound was still a mix of hip-hop, ragga and Greek Cypriot instrumentation, but meanwhile it's somewhere between reggae and dub poetry.

Brave Heart - Simple Love (JamFrench Records/Self-published)

Brave Heart is one of those Jamaican talents unjustly having hard time making it on the international stage, but perhaps things will finally change with the release of 'Simple Love'.

Cheikh Lô - Né La Thiass (World Circuit)

With 'Né La Thiass', World Circuit Records is re-issuing Cheikh Lô's 1995 Youssou N'Dour produced international debut album.

Dobet Gnahoré - Miziki (LA Café/Wagram)

It took no less thanfour years, for Ivorian singer Dobet Gnahoré to complete her new album 'Miziki'. This release also meant her farewell to Contre Jour, the Belgian label that until now had been her home base.

Colah Colah - Mission (Elevation Records/7 Worlds)

For previous albums, Colah Colah had always colaborated with Dutch producer Basco Sound, but for 'Mission' he decided to change tack and joined forces with Austrian House of Riddim.

Calypso Rose - So Calypso! (Because Music)

After 'Far From Home', her 2016 "comeback album" produced by Stonetree Records Ivan Duran and Kobo Town-front man Drew Gonsalves, Calypso Rose, the grande dame of calypso returns with 'So Calypso!'

The Sunvizors - Fire Inside (L'Autre Distribution)

A bit of a borderline case this 'Fire Inside' by The Sunvizors, a French five-piece band from Vannes in Brittany, as this is far from a straightforward reggae album.

Devi Reed - Ragga Libre (Khanti Records/Pias)

After 'Essence Of Life' his tasty solo EP from last year, ex-The Banyan front man Devi Reed travelled to Cuba for 'Ragga Libre'.

New Town Kings - Reach Out (Self-published)

New Town Kings is an eight-piece band from New Town, a neighbourhood in Colchester, a small town in the county of Essex in the east of England. We didn't know the band yet, but with 'Reach Out' New Town Kings certainly aren't newcomers.

4 Dub Vibes - This Is Not A War EP (Self-published)

4 Dub Vibes is a collective of producers and selectors from Larisa, a city in the central part of Greece, presenting a first self-produced EP.

Various Artists - Ketch A Fire (Reality Shock Records)

Amateurs of the digital eighties sound of producers like King Jammy, Steely & Clevie, Gussie Clarke and Bobby Digital pay attention, because this new compilation on Kris Kemist's Reality Shock Records label is right up your alley!

Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita - Soar (Bendigedig/ARC Music)

Five years after their first collaboration for 'Clychau Dibon', Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita took to the studio again for 'Soar'.

Maruja Limon - Mas De Ti (Kasba Music)

We're certainly no flamenco experts, and the Spanish music and dance genre usually attracts its own audience, but for 'Mas De Ti', the debut album of the five-piece women's ensemble Maruja Limon, we gladly made an exception.

Lio - Lio Canta Caymmi (Crammed Discs)

Yours truly could have never imagined crossing paths with Belgian-Portuguese popstar Lio on these pages.