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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Good collection for this ‘dance of the Orient,’ things crack off with Hossam Ramzy’s percussion driven ‘Aziza’ among 15 tracks with my picks being the Cairo Orchestra with ‘Ghannli Shwayyi, Shwayii’ and Harem with ‘Solo’. Good collection which will suits fans and newcomers alike.

Return of the gypsy Queen with her first recording for 8 years and she does not disappoint. This remarkable woman who has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and who has adopted (with Stevo her late husband and the person who discovered her) 47 Roma orphans comes into her own on slower tracks like Javera Cumingan where she tells of the lament of an abandoned girl or the CD closer ‘Tut ka Pajravan’ – ‘I’ll get my own back’ . A true star.

Catalyst were a Philadelphia based quartet who recorded a total of four albums together before going their separate ways. This reissue of their 2nd set was originally released in 1972 and is firmly rooted in jazz-fusion. It kicks off with the funk driven ‘Ain’t It The Truth’ before embarking on an ethereal journey with the majestic ‘East’. Other highlights include the deep swing of ‘Catalyst Is Coming’ and the beautiful melody of ‘New-Found Truths’. If you’re into The Visitors (Earl & Carl Grubbs) then this is for you.

After releasing the singles, ‘Reflection/Bird Mess’ and ‘The Itch/13:6:35’ on their own Hippoflex label, Belleruche have now found a perfect home for their debut album with Tru Thoughts. Their style combines hip hop beats and funk and jazz breaks with the smoky blues vocals of Kathrin deBoer. Think of a UK version of Erykah Badu and you won’t be too far off the mark. This is a consistent set throughout but for me it lacks a particular standout moment. Well worth investigating though.

Elektrons are Justin Crawford and Luke Cowdrey, AKA The Unabombers of Manchester’s famed Electric Chair club night and acclaimed Electric Souls re-edit series. As with Electric Chair, ‘Red Light Don’t Stop’ incorporates a variety of dance-floor styles taking influence from the rich heritage of UK underground club culture but giving it a unique modern twist. The talented but under recorded vocalist Pete Simpson graces five tracks including the hip hop/funk of ‘Get Up’ which also features Soup of Jurassic 5, ‘The Source’, an infectious nu disco cut and the brilliant house track ‘Joy’ with its old school piano chords. Other guests include Eska who fronts ‘Dirty Basement’ and the superb electro soul of ‘Be With You’, Mpho Skeef on the catchy R&B flavoured ‘Classic Cliche’ and Holy Backler who has worked with Secret Stealth. With the right airplay this album could well see some commercial success.

Released on Victor Records in Japan earlier this year, Soil & Pimp Sessions’ ‘Pimpoint’ now gets a UK issue via Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label. There are no real surprises here just the kind of quality furious horn driven jazz we’ve come to expect from this sextet. Their version of Freddie Hubbard’s ‘Red Clay’ is certainly one of the highlights but check ‘Makuroke’ with its twisted cosmic keys making it sound like a 70s cop show theme and the feel-good funk of ‘Funky Goldman’. Also included as a bonus track is the brilliant ‘Sahara’ from their ‘Pimp Of The Year’ set. Look out for the track on 12” with a remix from Zed Bias.