The third installment is here and boy you should be getting excited. I’ve been thinking for a few weeks about what to say on “Ma Fleur” and I cannot come up with a better description than that when I met up with Simon S from Futuristica Music and was chatting to him about this album:The first time you hear “To Build A Home” it makes you wonder if you’ve just turned on Cold Play but in reality this is just simply beautiful music with wonderful vocals from Patrick Watson. We have more of those stunning arrangements and the added extra of another pairing with Fontella Bass. It was sad to read in the press notes that Fontella is ill but if you need your spirits lifting, just play the amazing “Breathe” and “Familiar Ground”. There is a chance that a specially commissioned screenplay for a film might be made to accompany this release and I so hope Swincoe gets the chance to fully complete this project. Like both previous albums, just buy!

Volume One was full of real quality but the problem for me was that I had bought most of the tracks on there. Volume Two is somewhat different: yes there are a few tracks that I have, but if you don’t they are essential, like tracks by Marcina Arnold, Nicola Kramer and Grand Union. The other thirteen artists were mostly unknown to me until recently and myspace has been great getting more information. It’s so good to see the excellent “Tea Leaf Dancers” by Flying Lotus with beautiful vocals by Andreya Triana finally see the light of day because it’s been on most peoples’ wants list for months. You also need to hear tracks by Boomclap Bachelors, Matsi, Middlewood Sessions, Sarah Ann Webb and Daisuke Tanabe’s remix of Elan Mehler. Truly essential.

Originally released in 1973 Gary Marks’ ‘Gathering’ gets a welcome reissue by Kindred Spirits. Gary has a gentle yet mesmerizing quality to his voice and together with his band, featuring amongst others guitarist John Scofield and David Samuels on vibes, he delivers a stunning collection of folk-jazz compositions. ‘Sailing’, a tranquil piece, the blissful ‘We Free’, the funky fusion instrumental title track and ‘Him Sometimes’, a superb modal outing are all exceptional but this album is a pleasure to listen to from beginning to end.

When Adriana Evans’ self-titled debut was released in 1997 it impacted greatly on the newly emerging neo/organic soul scene. Although her follow up ‘Nomadic’ failed to spark the same level of interest this, her third set sees a return to form. It features all the traits of her first, strong beats, infectious horn arrangements and of course Adriana’s delectable vocal tones. She particularly shines on ‘Hey Now’, ‘Calling Me’ and ‘Undercover’ along with the mellow samba ‘Blue Bird In Bahia’ and the Latin flavoured ‘All For Love’, all of which are like a breath of fresh air.

A best of from 1998 to 2003 on Anonym Records, The Lion Of Zimbabwe developed his Chimurenga Music (music of struggle) style to voice his concerns over political and social issues in Zimbabwe. At the core of the music is the spiritual sound of the mbira but there’s some jit jive and wider influences contributing too to his powerful vocal style and delivery. The CD starts with a track from his latest release ‘Toi Toi’. taking us back it time to ‘Chimurenga ’98’. Good collection.

The Red Flags are songwriter Keith Mouland (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, whistling) and K.C. (Harry) O’ Shea (upright bass, accordion, piano) here they bring us a very classy collection of Americana/alt. country that stands it fairly and squarely against most others of its ilk. The songs are stories of life, try and listen to ‘Down Across he Border’ to hear them at their best. Very good.

Excellent new CD from Candido after a too long five year absence, vocally some of the smoothness has gone but developed a rawer edge which fires the music onto the dance floor. His reputation as a songwriter has led to his material being covered by Isaac Delgado, Los Van Van, Oscar D’Leon while his reputation as an improviser means he can rip it up on tracks like ‘El Granmy’. Very Good

Quite chilled and melodic with varied influences that move from west to East via African and reggae touches along the way. I especially like his version of ‘Road’ the Nick Drake track which here features viola and piano from Brendan and works really well. Worth checking.

From Trenchtown in the dancehall days this has six tracks each from Ranking Dread (two featuring Horace Andy) & Massive Dread recorded at Channel one and mixed at King Tubbys with Sly & Robbie providing the rhythm. Two rudeboys with both of them meeting untimely deaths so this is a reminder both of how good things were and how much we missed.

Terrific CD this, fast and hard from the streets and clubs of Brooklyn, Spanish Harlem and the Bronx with dance floor attitude. There can be no better way to start things off than Eddie Palmieri and ‘L Que Traigo Es Sabroso II’ with tracks following in hot pusuit from Wayne Gorbea, Los Soneros Del Barrio, Jimmy Delgado, Chino Nunez, Chico Alvarez, Jimmy Bosch, George Delgado, Las Estrellas Cobo, Ricky Gonzalez and ending with Joe Quijano & his Conjunto Cachana winding things down with ‘I Get a Kick Out Of You’ Excellent.

Eleven tracks that start with French film star Sandrine Kiberlan and ends with Canada’s Wailin’ Jennys. A nice mixture, with the acoustic approach being the common thread and demonstrating the superb range of female voices out there, the release is timed to tie in with International Women’s Day. This range and quality is illustrated nicely by Kaissa from Cameroon and the equally delightful Mona from Algeria who shows another side to her from the more often heard rap. Good collection.