Highlife Time: Nigerian and Ghanaian Sounds from the ‘60s and Early ‘70s (Vampisoul VAMPI CD 101, 2008) Fela Ransome Kuti – 1963-1969 Lagos Baby (Vampisoul…
When Africa Was Changing Its Tune
Author: Tom Orr
Tom Orr is a California-based writer whose talent and mental stability are of an equally questionable nature. His hobbies include ignoring trends, striking dramatic poses in front of his ever-tolerant wife and watching helplessly as his kids surpass him in all desirable traits.
Horny Reggae
Vin Gordon – Gordon in de Garden Vol. 1 (Masaya Records, 2008) David Hillyard and the Rocksteady 7 – Way Out East: Live at the…
Into the Mystic
Sufi Soul: The Mystic Music of Islam (Riverboat Records TUGDVD001, 2008) Wijdan: The Mystery of Gnawa Trance Music (Possible Pictures/Mondomix MO103, 2007) The fanatical dark…
Latin Grooves Sidestepped and Spammed
Sidestepper – The Buena Vibra Sound System (Palm Pictures PALMCD2138, 2008) Spam Allstars – Introducing Spam Allstars (World Music Network INTRO110CD, 2008) I count myself…
The Proof is in the Picking
Jayme Stone & Mansa Sissoko Africa to Appalachia (Jayme Stone, 2008) When Canadian banjo player Jayme Stone wanted to dig deep into his instrument’s origins,…
Canonized Atrocity and Untold Musical History
Christopher Hedge featuring David Grisman & R. Carlos Nakai Andrew Jackson – The Atrocious Saint (That’s That Productions TTCD 12272, 2008) The fairly strange title…
Cape Crusaders
Mayra Andrade – Navega (Sony BMG 886971005642, 2007) Tcheka – Lonji (Times Square/Four Quarters Entertainment FQT-CD-1809, 2008) How can a country like Cape Verde- a…
Ubiquitous Grooves
NOMO – Ghost Rock (Ubiquity Recordings URCD230, 2008) The Lions – Jungle Struttin’ (Ubiquity Recordings URCD222, 2008) Headquartered just down the road from me in…
African Deluge
Balla et Ses Balladins – The Syliphone Years (Sterns Africa STCD3035/3036, 2008) Samba Mapangala & Virunga – African Classics (Sheer Sound SLCD 149, 2008) Fallou…
Reggae Roots Rediscovered, Revitalized and Reality-Checked
Claudius Linton – Roots Master: The Vintage Roots Reggae Singles Volume 1 (Sun King Records SUNK224, 2007) Taj Weekes and Adowa – Deidem (Jatta Records,…