Guitars from the desert by Tinariwen – a group with Malian roots, and a sound that's all their own – certainly one of the most distinct approaches in the global music scene of the early 21st Century! The album's got production that's tighter than some of their previous efforts, but a feel that's far from slick – just a haunting, hypnotic blend of the band's many guitars – built up into wonderful rhythms that start slow, then really take off – which then seems to have the guitars sounding even more wonderful than at the start! Almost all numbers have vocals, which slide into the blend beautifully – and titles include "Assouf", "Mano Dayak", "Cler Achel", "Soixante Trois", "Awa Didjen", "Imidiwan Winakalin", and "Izarharh Tenere". CD

Maybe the greatest record so far from Tinariwen – and a set that definitely has them really honing their amazing guitar-based skills, yet all without sounding commercial or crossover at all! The album's got a fullness that we've never heard before from the group – kind of a righteous power that really pushes their sounds and social agenda forward very strongly – at a level that really descends regional boundaries, and really lives up to the globe-trotting spirit of the group in recent years. The sound is wonderful – completely evocative right from the start, yet still very much focused on the core energy of the group, without any attempts to ever overproduce anything at all. Titles include "Emajer", "Koud Edhaz Emin", Tahalamot", "Sendad Eghlalan", "Toumast Tincha", and "Timadrit In Sahara". CD

Music from Compagnie Jellouli & Gdih, Malouma, Tinariwen, Hasna El Becharia, Chet Fewet, Aziza Brahim, Nayim Alal, Mariem Hassan, Tartit Ensemble, Seckou Maiga, Groupe Oyiwane, Kel Tin Lokiene, and Sahraoui Bachir. CD

Music from Dengue Fever, Les Boukakes, Tinariwen, Ba Cissoko, Hip Hop Hoodios, Balkan Beat Box, Albert Kuvezin & Yat-Kha, Alms For Shanti, Yela, Donna Maria, and more. CD