Terakaft Akh Issudar (World Village, 2008) The Malian soul is rich and inescapably musical. You’d need no more proof than Terakaft’s second offering of Akh…
Sizzling Desert Blues
Category: Album reviews
What a Ball!
Various Artists Big Blue Ball (Real World, 2008) For several years, starting in 1992, Peter Gabriel invited numerous world music artists to record at Real World…
Sparking Passions
Various Artists The Rough Guide to the Music of Romanian Gypsies (World Music Network, 2008) Before you even lay a finger on the play button…
Unforgettable Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club Buena Vista Social Club At Carnegie Hall (World Circuit/Nonesuch, 2008) In 1998, the Buena Vista Social Club gave an unforgettable and…
Savagely Cool
Elsiane Hybrid (Nettwerk Records, 2008) The creative forces behind the Montreal project Elsiane, singer/songwriter/keyboardist Elsieanne Caplette and drummer Stephane Sotto, have hit the music scene’s…
Scottish Folk Discoveries
Various Artists Scottish Folk at Its Best (ARC Music, 2008) The Scottish Folk at Its Best compilation includes a selection of some of the finest…
Baaba Maal Unplugged
Baaba Maal On the Road – Edition "Bootleg" Live Acoustic (Palm Pictures, 2008) There is a whole array of simply wonderful African singers out there…
Let the Party Begin
In recent months, numerous world music compilations came out, many of which had party themes. Here is an overview of the latest anthologies. The…
When Africa Was Changing Its Tune
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…
Tasty Sofrito
Plena Libre Plena Al Salsero (GM Musica, 2008) Puerto Rican band Plena Libre specializes in contemporary Afro-Puerto Rican plena and bomba. Plena Libre’s latest CD…