Groundation - The Gathering Of The Elders (Naïve/Soulbeats Records)

With 'The Gathering Of The Elders' Groundation signs off on a first 'Best Of' compilation, but of course Groundation wouldn't be Groundation if they hadn't turned this album into a bit of a novelty.

Warrior King - Love Is In The Air (Rootz Warrior Productions)

Fans of Warrior Kings' roots songs will hardly find what they are looking for on 'Love Is In The Air' (an album which already appeared with a different cover back in 2009), because as the title suggests, for his third album the singjay resolutely opted for a lovers rock touch.

Various Artists - Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira! (Mais Um Discos)

For those who, like yours truly, are already eagerly looking forward to the next edition of Europalia, putting Brazil in the spotlight this autumn, 'Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira!' might well offer the ideal warm-up.

Antwerp Gipsy-Ska Orkestra - I Lumia Mo Kher (Excelsior Recordings/V2)

Those who caught Jan Leyers' passage through the Romani ghetto of Krakow ('De Weg Naar Het Avondland', Episode 10, CANVAS/VPRO) know Romani people are quite fond of our little country and it would far from amaze us if the musical reputation of Antwerp Gipsy-Ska Orkestra had something to do with that.

Professor - Madness (Naïve/Soulbeats Records)

After a first side project, Rockamovya, in 2008, Groundation front man Harrison Stafford this time launches Professor.

Englishman & Shangoband - Wise Shepherd + Dubwise part 1 & 2 (Azikiwa Music/Self-published)

The internet has reduced the world to pocketsize, resulting, among other things, in the fact that yours truly these days is contacted by artists from just about anywhere wanting some promotion for their latest album.

Various Artists - Dub Zealand (Green Queen Music)

Green Queen Music is mostly known for its Balkan-related releases, but for 'Dub Zealand' the label explores totally different musical horizons.

Grupo Lokito - Ensengo Ya Ko Bina (Self-published)

Grupo Lokito, one of the best sounding Congolese projects in recent years, curiously enough wasn't formed in Congo, but in London by English salsa pianist Sara McGuinness.

Various Artists - Cartagena! Curro Fuentes & The Big Band Cumbia And Descarga Sound Of Colombia, 1962 - 72 (Soundway Records)

For this compilation Soundway Records returned to Colombia to focus on the works of José Maria 'Curro' Fuentes, a member of the Fuentes family, founders of Colombia's largest record label, Discos Fuentes, active in Colombia in the nineteen sixties and seventies, the golden era of orchestras with names like El Super Combo Curro or La Sonora Curro.

Various Artists - Balcanica! v1 & v2 (Green Queen Music)

Yours truly was under the impression the popularity of the Balkan genre was already on the decline, but with the 'Balcanica!' compilation series, the Green Queen Music label gets the fire starting again.

Kareyce Fotso - Kwegne + Aly Keïta - Farafinko (Contre Jour)

Kareyce Fotso is a new addition to the catalogue of the Contre Jour label and with her songs the Cameroonian singer-songwriter seems to want to go back to the basics.

Sergent Garcia - Una Y Otra Vez (Cumbancha)

Sergent Garcia's last album, 'Mascaras' already dates back to 2006.

Balaxy Orchestra - Wilky May Trip (Self-published) + Orchestre International Du Vetex - Le Beau Bazar (Via Lactea Records)

In the absence of a solid bio (the only thing that we found out about the band is that they arose from the ashes of The Milleniums) we're forced to judge Balaxy Orchestra's debut album purely on its musical merits.

Various Artists - Songs For Reggae Lovers 4 (Greensleeves)

'Songs For Reggae Lovers', Greensleeves' annual valentine's soundtrack is already at its fourth edition meaning it's getting harder to fill the track list with decent lovers tunes.

Richie Spice - Book Of Job (VP Records)

When discussing yet another album of an artist it pays to re-read all earlier reviews to keep from repeating oneself, but 'Book Of Job', the new album by Richie Spice gives us little other choice.

Etana - Free Expressions (VP Records)

The concept of "free expression", reminded yours truly of the eponymous weekly class in high school; for many the probably the first (and only) time to "star" on a stage.

Bombino - Agadez (Cumbancha)

Bombino could have been the name of a hardcore reggaeton artist, but is, in fact, the pseudonym of the young Tuareg musician Omara Moctar debuting with 'Agadez' on the Cumbancha Discovery sub-label.

Various Artists - Bossa Nova And The Rise Of Brazilian Music In The 1960s (Soul Jazz Records)

If, like yours truly, you're a fan of the subtle sensual charms of bossa nova, but never got beyond Astrud Gilberto's 'Girl From Ipanema' (originally 'Garota De Ipanema') or Antonio Carlos Jobim's 'Desafinado', the Soul Jazz Records compilation 'Bossa Nova And The Rise Of Brazilian Music In The 1960s' might well be a godsend.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Songs From A Zulu Farm (Razor & Tie/Proper Records)

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was founded in 1964 after Joseph Shabalala got a vision in a dream.

Debademba - Debademba (Chapa Blues/Naïve)

With 'Debademba' we might already be looking at one of the best African releases for 2011.