This is Beta’s first release since he moved to France in 1999 and dropped out of music to become a farmer. His welcome return to the studio was helped by Tiken Jah Fakoly and this was recorded with Fakoly’s band in Mali to become the first release on his new album. Delightful spiritual roots reggae from Africa – mighty fine.

Graham Radley

Another terrific Network discovery, this time from Azerbaijan and with a voice, that is beautiful, moving and deeply expressive. Listen to ‘Alvida’ seven minutes of emotive expression with just piano and voice and the pain of separation, then listen to ‘Goy-Gol’ and you’ve got a romping Azeri salsa track or ‘Mahur’ a classical Mugham improvisation with tar, kemancha and voice or the CD closer ‘Lolo, Lolo’ which takes us at speed through African, flamenco and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Top stuff.

Graham Radley

Third release for Fiona Lander and Paul Mason, their North East roots are displayed on ‘Dance To Your Daddy’ but most of the rest of the fifteen tracks are self penned. Described as a mix of folk and jazz you’d maybe need to think on the lighter side of both to get a better idea of where they are coming from.

Graham Radley

Good to hear that sweet voice again, 10 new tracks all written and produced by Ijahman and recorded at Anchor & Channel One in Jamaica. The laidback style picks up from the classic albums of the late 70s (Hail I Hymn and Are We has Warrior) again spreading the word on Rastafarianism and humanity in general. Check out ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘Witness’. Superb – highly recommended.

Graham Radley

11 top selling tracks from across the years, which includes Peter Tosh with Mick Jagger, Youssou N’Dour with Neneh Cherry, Jimmy Cliff, Miriam Makeba, Manu Dibango, Gipsy Kings and Mongo Santamaria. You’ll know them all, this neatly packages them up ready for you to sing and dance away to.

Graham Radley

The title means water is life and when you’re desert nomads then the significance is all the greater. Third album, with Justin Adams on production duties again and it’s a don’t mess with what doesn’t need fixing philosophy, allowing the music to roll along, drawing you in, evoking the spirit of the desert and using the blues to provide the shading to the landscape. They even managed to get onto the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage which was brilliant especially when you consider the vast numbers of artists there (witness Africa Express as one very special example) who the BBC ignored. Excellent.

Graham Radley

Recorded when she was 16 (18 now) Sonya draws here influences from much older music forms especially acoustic blues, folk and jazz. These twelve self penned tracks make this a notable debut which has drawn a lot of comparisons to Norah Jones although I’m not sure that’s altogether valid as her style is probably more widely influenced than that, so think classic songwriters from Joni Mitchell to Van Morrison. You’re going to be hearing a lot more about and from Sonya Kitchell.

Graham Radley

A new label born from the wonderful Ether this is as you might guess a highly varied compilation demonstrating some of the influences the great man soaks up. Good to hear the Massive Attack remix of Nusrat again, they also appear with their own ‘Teardrop’ . There’s a couple of Nitin’s own tracks (Fragile Wind and a Zero ID remix of ‘Songbird) among 14 tracks in total all ending with Bob Dylan & ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’. Nice mixture.

Graham Radley

Mostly centred around USA, Cuba and Puerto Rico (although Iceland is represented!) we get ten great tracks, here’s a few of those names: Machito with Cannonball Adderley, Poncho Sanchez, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Hilton Ruiz and my favourite here-The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmierir Project with the 8mins 51 secs of joy that is ‘Guajira Dubois’. Tasty.

Graham Radley

His previous four CDs have been recorded with his full band but for this one he’s taken a more laid back approach to the blues with gospel and soul influences mixed in and recorded with friends and fellow musicians he has met on the road. Amongst the guests are Lucky Oceans from ‘Asleep At The Wheel’ who plays some superb pedal steel on three tracks while Ray Wylie Hubbard delivers some great slide guitar on ‘I Can’t Wait.’ The full line up is Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges (bass guitar); Ian Moss (guitar); Ray Wylie Hubbard (slide guitar); Lucky Oceans (pedal steel guitar); Clayton Doley (Hammond b-3 organ); Robin Clayton (bass guitar); Declan Kelly (hand claps); Pat Manske (percussion).

Graham Radley