Che Sudaka - Tudo É Possible (Kasba Music)

With their new album, 'Tudo É Possible', the ragtag bunch known as Che Sudaka once again provides the usual musical "mezcla" we've become accustomed to in the musica mestiza genre.

Toto La Momposina y Sus Tambores - La Bodega (Astar)

What Miriam Makeba was to South Africa and Celia Cruz to Cuba, a kind of mother figure of national music so to speak, Toto La Momposina is to Colombia.

Perfect Giddimani - French Connection (Irievibrations Records/Grooveattack/Tiger Records)

Perfect is not afraid to stick his neck out, because instead of delivering a good reggae album every so often, he likes to experiment with other genres.

The Congos - Back In The Black Ark (Médiacom)

A title like 'Back In The Black Ark' creates high expectations and a real return to Lee Perry's Black Ark studio was of course out of the question; in fact this album was recorded in The Congos' own Lions Den Recording Studio and finished at Mixing Lab by none other than Clive Hunt.

Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate - Ali And Toumani (World Circuit)

Even though Ali Farka Toure passed away several years ago, the World Circuit label doesn't seem ready to say goodbye to the man, proven by this new album for which they used recordings Ali made in the company of his musical soul mate Toumani Diabate back in 2005.

LéOparleur - Faut Du Rêve (Self-published)

To call LéOparleur (pronounced "les haut-parleurs", "the loud speakers") a Rupa & The April Fishes clone is probably going a bit too far, but both bands are clearly fishing in the same pond.

YEW - White Swan On Black Water (Self-published)

World music doesn't always need a tropical sound.

State Radio - Let It Go (Nettwerk)

State Radio are Chadwick Stokes (guitar & vocals), Chuck Fay (bass & vocals) and Mike Najarian (drums & vocals), three committed Bostonians who with their music, a mix of punk rock, reggae and ska, want to jolt the world's conscience or at least want to deliver a moral head-butt to their listening audience.

Ibrahim Maalouf - Diachronism (Discograph)

The Franco-Lebanese trumpet player Ibrahim Maalouf doesn't like labels, but the ingredients of his music are unmistakable.

Puerto Plata - Casita De Campo (iASO Records)

Now that most Cuban soneros have disappeared from the scene, the attention of the music industry is shifting to other Spanish-speaking islands in the Caribbean area.

Dinamo - Desequilibro + Zoo Digital (Punkaway Records)

Shakin' Weld, our loyal purveyor of ska-music from the most unexpected places this time introduces us to Majorcan band Dinamo.

Sojah - Modern Revolution (Irievibrations Records)

'Modern Revolution', the debut effort of Sojah (not to be confused with the American SOJA or Soldiers of Jah Army) or brothers Konshens and Delus, is undoubtedly one of the revelations of 2009.

Suga Roy & Conrad Crystal - Suga Roy & Conrad Crystal And The Great Reggae Icons (Fire Ball Records/Musicast Distribution)

Suga Roy and Conrad Crystal for the first time performed as a duo back in 2002 when they recorded 'True Love' (an older hit of Crystal) together.

Various Artists - Reggae Anthology: Winston Riley, Quintessential Techniques (17 North Parade/VP Records)

As the title suggests 'Winston Riley, Quintessential Techniques' offers an overview of the biggest hits of Techniques, the label still run by Winston Riley (a founding member of The Techniques himself, hence the name choice for his label).

The Rastafarians - Orthodox (Makasound)

With the 'Orthodox' album by The Rastafarians, a roots band from Los Angeles around Haile Maskel (Michael Ashley aka Mikey Ras Starr, of which Makasound already released the great 'Fire & Rain' last year), Shaka Man (Patrick Houchen) and Herb Daly, Makasound signs for one of the best rereleases of 2009.

Morgan Heritage - The Journey Thus Far (VP Records)

Just about all members of Morgan Heritage have started working on solo projects over the past year, so it will probably still be a while before we're treated to a new Morgan Heritage album.

Various Artists - Joe Gibbs 12" Reggae Discomix Showcase Volume 1, 2 & 3 (17 North Parade/VP Records)

17 North Parade/VP Records continues to plunder the archives of the late Joe Gibbs, but as long as that yields treasures like the 12-inch versions collected on this three-part series 'Joe Gibbs 12" Reggae Discomix Showcase Volume 1, 2 & 3', you won't hear us complain.

Bass Culture - Guantanamo (Vocation Records)

Bass Culture is a multicultural band which for over two decades has been operating from the French commune of Sartrouville (Île-de-France) and shouldn't be confused with the Brussels sound system of the same name.

Tommy Tornado - Sunrise (Rude Rich Records)

Even though the name Tommy Tornado (born Thomas Streutgers) might not mean much to most reggae lovers yet, some of you might already have seen him at work playing with the fantastic High Notes.

Ras Zacharri - Herbs Man (Shem Ha Boreh Records)

Fantastic debut effort this 'Herbs Man' from Border born (a small town on the border between St.