13 tracks that includes salsa heavyweights like Jimmy Bosch and Wayne Gorbea, African influenced son from Kekele and Ricardo Lemva, contemporary beat influences from Alex Wilson and full on dance floor from Fruko Y Sus Tesos. Tracks also from Macolla, Cubanoson, Sonora Carruseles, Angel Melendez, Grupo Caribe, Yumuri Y Sus Hermanos and Bio Ritmo. Good collection.

A lot of new music to me here and so very varied including Huong Thanh who gently infuses jazz into Vietnamees traditional music while Thanh Quy keeps it traditional with a quan ho song illustrating Vietnam’s oldest singing tradition. Taking us in an entirely different direction is Blue Asia, featuring dan bao player Thuy Hanh getting down and dirty with the blues – wonderful and the truly wild closing track – a live version of Ghost Riders In The Sky by Dan Bao Vietnam (remember when you listen to this that the dan bao only has one string!). Highly recommended.

Seventh album time and TGU move ever onwards mixing it up across the continents, opening with ‘Dancehall Operator’, an excellent way to set their stall out with a catchy mix of Brazilian and Indian , the title track follows including the brilliant Hungarian MC Rise and Shugmonkey (UK), Natacha Atlas with Iraqi rapper Naufalle guest on ‘Awal’ and on we roll.Look out especially for ‘Total Rebellion’ a collaboration with Portugal’s Blasted Mechanism and the stunning ‘Spice Garden’ featuring legendary Bulgarian vocalist Yanka Rupkina. Superb.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

My mind told me ‘re-issue’, my mind expected to hear a bright, sharp sounding album full of 60’s and 70’s discoloured and poorly recorded batch of MPB… how wrong it was. I popped the album into the player and sat back wondering why I had overlooked this artist and how Far Out were to play such a significant roll in my musical life.

WOW! – the first track made way for an abundance of wonderful Brasilian music.. so I decided to then read the sleeve notes. Simply said this album is the way Far Out Recordings allowed Antonio Adolfo a means to record brand new music in the style he was best known for in a modern day studio. A fresh clear beautiful sound was the product and the release. I love this album and “Luizao” is just one of the outstanding pieces on here. Great music.

Spanning a most significant period in jazz, Trilok’s fusion with the likes of Don Cherry, Pharaoh Sanders, Jan Garbarek and John McLaughlin are just some of the amazing musicians he has worked with and presented in this milestone release.

Trilok’s Tabla work on this release does not highlight his excellence but rather shows how he compliments other musicians creating a soundscape of jazz rather than indo-jazz as found with other musicians. For those of you unfamiliar with his work this would make for a great window into his world. Other recommended releases by Trilok are 1990’s ‘Living Magic’, ‘African Fantasy’ from 2000 and my particular fave ‘Miles_Gurtu’ from 2004. Either way you play it, there is some great music with this man behind it and in front – go explore the world that is Trilok Gurtu.

Expansion’s latest offering draws together a host of in-demand modern soul tracks. Compiled by Geoff Bingham it features tracks which only appeared as bonus cuts on the Japanese editions of artists’ albums, promo only remixes plus previously unreleased material. Although much of what’s on offer here is a little smooth for my current tastes there are some fine moments, particularly on the more organic tracks such as the beautifully orchestrated ‘For Goodness Sake’ from K. Fox, Jack Herrera’s dreamy ‘For You’, the DJ Spinna remix of Donnie’s Cloud 9 and what’s described as a rare remix of ‘Sweet Misery’ by the angel voiced Amel Larrieux. Also present is the superb feel good dancer ‘No Matter What I’ll Do’ from Donald McCollum.

Compiled by Philadelphia’s DJ Junior ‘Excursions’ shines the spot light on some of the hottest broken-soul tracks of recent times. It opens with DJ Day’s gorgeous ‘A Place To Go’ before touching down on gems such as ‘Talking Me Down’ (Domu Remix) by The Rebirth, Electric Conversation’s ‘Dancing’, ‘You Don’t Know’ by Part Time Heroes & Monday Michiru, Black Pocket’s (Steve Spacek) ‘Thank You And Credits’, ‘Rise’ from Kamara featuring Deborah Jordan and ending with Malena Perez’ ‘What Do I Do’. Also included are some tasty moments which were previously un-issued or only available as down loads. Of which I’m pleased to see the stunning cuts ‘Blue Skies from OK_MA featuring Nanar Vorperian and Donn’s ‘All The Beauty’ plus Jonny Miller’s killer broken-beat excursion ‘Starz’ included.

Under the guise of Black Jazz Consortium Fred Peterkin comes with an outstanding debut set. Although there are subtle jazz influences ‘RE:Actions Of Light’ is a journey into deep house. Heavy beats are built upon with layers of percussion, swirling synths, and occasional vocal snippets to create a heady and atmospheric listening experience. ‘Blessings’ and ‘More Love Please pt.1’ really hit the spot but pay particular attention to the broken rhythms of ‘Seeing The Way Through’ which should reach anthem status at the likes of Liquid Fusion and Co Op.

Cro-Magnon’s ‘Great Triangle’ continues the cosmic disco vibe established on their self titled debut album but touches on other elements along the way to create a far stronger set throughout. The fusion/boogie gems such as ‘La Fusion’ and ‘New Horizon’, the down-tempo ‘Eclipse’ with its rock steady bass line, the Acid House influenced ‘Take Me Higher’ and the Balearic ‘Keep Me Satisfied’ all sound good to these ears. Even better though is the monster jazz-funk workout ‘Chase After The Storm’ which features Soil & Pimp Sessions’ Tabu Zombie and Motoharu on trumpet and sax respectively. Think Lonnie Liston Smith’s ‘Expansions’ and you won’t be far off the mark!