Argentina quite rightly gets four of the eleven tracks (Melingo with Florencia Bonadeo, Federico Aubele, Jose Marmol y Tarija and Hugo Diaz) but to show the global spread of tango we also get tracks from Finland, Norway, Brazil, Serbia, Portugal, Greece and the very classy Ousmane Toure from Senegal, good stuff.

Graham Radley

Makasound’s  Inna de Yard series is well suited to the The Mighty Diamonds with a stripped down collection of 10 of their best (although I was disappointed that "Pass the Kouchie" wasn’t covered) included are ‘Country Living, I Need A Roof, Have Mercy and When The Right Time Come. Very good.

Graham Radley

From Wodaabe and Tuareg tribes but now based in Niger this follow up to ‘Introducing’  features several songs which deal with their desire to get back to the nomadic lifestyle of their roots. A raw edged recording style brings the desert blues to life in vivid fashion to create a moving and powerful medium for their message. Very good.

Graham Radley

Brazilian music late night style with an unplugged approach and artists that include Orquestra Imperial, Mongol, Maria Bethania, Chico Buarque, Marcos Sacramento and Paulo Moura. The CD is released in association with Oxfam giving a voice to end poverty and defend human rights, let’s see the major record companies lend their weight to the campaign as well.

Graham Radley

Second release for Nels recorded with a brilliant line up of musicians including producer Todd Sickafoose , Adam Levy (Norah Jones), Michael Jorgensen (Wilco) and Ben Perowsky instruments. This is by way of a musical journey for Nels as he incorporates a subtle range of diverse sounds into the core of his country folk songwriting, the result is excellent.

Graham Radley

From the cultural melting pot of Marseille this release (their third) with songs in French, Arabic, Hebrew, Yiddish , English and Spanish is a vibrant mix of Arab, Balkan and Mediterranean influences that are further evolved through a mix of various dance beats from dub to electronic which includes amongst the  samples Fanfare Ciocarlia and The Klezmatics. There’s a lot going on here so repeat listenings are required to get the full range and feel of things but the more you find the more you enjoy, I bet they are equally good live.

Graham Radley

Thirteen tracks that open up brilliantly with Cuban Cowboys (El Capitan) and closes equally brilliantly with Dengue Fever’s ‘We Were Gonna’  Along the way there are tracks from Ravi Bal & Daljit Mattu, Francis Beeby, Ozomatli, Wayne Gorbea, Rhany, Sami ali, Idan Raichel’s Project, Jolly Mukherjee & Sridevi, Tribali, Geraldo Pino & The Heart Breaks and Corey Harris with Ali Farka Toure – now that’s what you call a compilation CD!

Graham Radley

Those of you who might have seen the wonderful Amparanoia will get an idea where this collection is coming from. The CD starts with a great ska flavoured track from Spain’s Muchachito Bombo Infierno, indeed the Spanish influence is strong here with tracks from Macao, Radio Malanga , Black Gandhi and Go Lem System as well. Another fine Putumayo collection.

Graham Radley

Third solo release since his days as songwriter for Simentera. ‘Badyo’  but the first one to get an International release. On this he takes his Cape Verdean roots back to the arrival of the African slaves and the styles and influences they brought with them (he wears a chain around his neck instead of a tie on the cover image). It’s a grower this one with a subtle but telling rawness that soon involves you and brings you back for more, very good.

Graham Radley

You’ll likely recognise samples from the brothers 60’s and 70’s Hindi soundtracks and cult exploitation movies with Black Eyed Peas (CD One kicks off with Asha Bosle with Aye Naujawan Sab Kuchh Yahan’ which formed the basis for ‘Don’t Phunk With My Heart’) and Danger Mouse two of the more ‘high profile users.  This is music of it’s time but also way beyond its time, creatively mixing new instrumentation of the time like the claviolin to create a mix of funky, jazzed up psychedelia.  Great collection.

Graham Radley