Global Grooves — All Formats  

Ten years in for the Tabou Combo – and the group's sounding funkier than ever! The album's got a groove that's even tighter than some of their earliest records – and there's a definite funky feel to the music at times – not just Haitian styles, but a nice US influence too – yet one that's filtered through some really unique global influences too! Despite the date of the record, the instrumentation is mostly in a late 70s ensemble funk mode – with harder edges than usual from the combo, and almost a Kool & The Gang influence going on – but, with the Haitian elements thrown in, an overall sound that comes across with the vibe of Banda Black Rio. Really great stuff – with cuts that include "Hoola Hoop Disco", "Let Me Play That Funky Music", "Tabou Disco", "Tania", "Let's Do The Groove", and "Fausse Conception". CD also features bonus extended mixes of "Hoola Hoop Disco" and "Tabou Disco".

Field recordings of Western Sahelian guitar music – recorded by Christopher Kirkley from 2009-2011 – and an evocative aural trip to the region, courtesy Sahel Sounds and Mississippi! Like the other great Sahel Sounds release, it's beautifully done – and impeccably well recorded – the sound is excellent! There's a number of different styles here captured in a number of different areas in the region – including Mauritania, Senegal and Mali. There's some great songs here that feature just guitars and voices, and others that are done by larger groups. Includes "Laila, Je T'Aime" by Le Marchand Du Soleil, "Kaounare" by Alkibar Gignor, "Vielle Terre" and "Penda" by Le Dental Orchestra, "Sudan" by Amanar, "Yooro" by Hamadth Kah, "Bambara" by Soueyman Niafounke, "Ce Weeti" by Hamadth Kah and more.