Global Grooves — In Stock — CDs 
Unusual grooves from around the globe -- Afro Funk, Bollywood soundtracks, Turkish rock, gamelan, ethnographic/field recordings, sitar sounds, and more!
CDs (185) new/used, Vinyl (359) new/used, LPs (347) new/used, 12-inch (8) new/used, 7-inch (4) new/used, All (544)
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Folkways, 1979. New Copy Gatefold ... $12.99 16.98
A beautifully poetic take on the transplantation of African sounds in the US scene – played on a variety of different instruments by Bilal Abdurahman! The tracks are mostly short, percussive ones – with the strongest focus on instrumentation, but with occasional vocal refrains from ... read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Folkways, 1976. New Copy Gatefold ... $12.99 16.98
A beautiful record – and one that definitely lives up to the "innovative" name in the title! The set's a bit more complex, and more jazz-based than some of the other Folkways albums from Bilal Abdurahman – still very much in the spare modes of his other records, but also with ... read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Habibi Funk, 1973. New Copy ... $14.99 15.98
Monstrous funk from Morocco – unreleased material recorded in 1973, with a sound that should have revolutionized North Africa at the time! The group works here in a really raw blend of heavy percussion and riffing guitar – produced with lots of edge and echo, and delivered with the ... read more CD
Also available Al Hadaoui ... LP 19.99
Nemi/Livingston (Nigeria), 1979. New Copy ... $12.99
A Nigerian soul classic from Gboyega Adelaja – an artist who spent a fair bit of time on the US scene in the mid 70s, where he clearly drank from the deep well of funk and soul! The album's got a vibe that's maybe a bit tighter and groovier than some of Adelaja's contemporaries – maybe ... read more CD
Folkways, 1954. New Copy Gatefold ... $12.99 16.98
A drum-heavy spectacular – recorded with a really rootsy feel! The first half of the material was recorded in Africa – not credited especially well, but done with a stripped-down sound that's very heavy on drums and other odd percussion instruments – recorded in that rough, loud ... read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Sonafric/Mr Bongo (UK), 1976. New Copy ... $10.99 11.98
A beautiful record from Akofa Akoussah – a singer from Togo who's equally gifted in funky and sweeter soul styles! Half the record is full-on funk, and we'd swear that Lafayette Afro Rock Band must have had a hand in some of the instrumentation (possible, as it was recorded in Paris) – ... read more CD
Also available Akofa Akoussah ... LP 23.99
Everland (Austria), 1977. New Copy ... $14.99
An interesting turning point for this funky Nigerian group of the 70s – as the set's still got the chunky rhythms of previous efforts, but also shows a touch of influence from reggae on some of the grooves – as well as some very cool use of keyboard touches that give the whole thing ... read more CD
A Chahine & Fils/BBE (UK), 1979. New Copy ... $16.99 18.99
A really fantastic little record – and one that's even better than you might expect from the title – which itself is already pretty darn fantastic! The set is upbeat and funky, but not entirely disco – more this very groovy blend of Mid-East elements and more familiar keyboards ... read more CD
Also available Belly Dance Disco – Ernest Chahoud Presents Middle Eastern Heavens ... LP 24.99
Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela —
Rejoice ... CD World Circuit, 2020. New Copy ... $12.99 13.98
A really fantastic collaboration between two pioneers of African music – and a set that nicely opens both into the jazziest side of their talents! Hugh Masekela blows flugelhorn, and Tony Allen handles drums and plenty of percussion – and although both artists sing a bit, the main ... read more CD
Also available Rejoice (180 gram pressing) ... LP 23.99
Folkways, 1956. New Copy ... $12.99 16.99
Not the usual sorts of Brazilian songs that you might expect – no tight samba or bossa, but instead a batch of rootsy music from Bahia – all with rhythmic qualities that strongly inspired both later genres! Percussion is the strongest element on most of these tunes, but there's also ... (Brazil, Global Grooves) read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Daptone, 2019. New Copy ... $12.99 13.99
Antibalas take a page from the Wu-Tang book, and add a little kung fu action to their music – with results that maybe make this set one of their freshest in years! All the core energy of the group is very firmly in place – that razor-sharp instrumentation that's made these guys one of ... read more CD
Also available Fu Chronicles (colored vinyl pressing – with download) ... LP 18.99
Big Crown, 2018. New Copy ... $15.99 17.98
Funky genius from a mighty unique group – one who've drunk deep on the classic steel band sounds of the 70s, but who've also refined that groove with a contemporary funk approach too! The group's the brainchild of Bjorn Wagner – who you might know from The Mighty Mocambos – and ... read more CD
Also available Serpent's Mouth ... LP 18.99
Tabansi/BBE (UK), Late 70s. New Copy ... $14.99 18.99
Excellent sounds from Ojo Balingo – a Nigerian juju artist from the same stretch as King Sunny Ade – but one whose music is much more obscure to audiences on this side of the Atlantic! Balingo's group here has the loose, spontaneous vibe that characterizes juju at its best – this ... read more CD
Also available Afrotunes – Best of Juju Vol 2 – Oba Mimo Olorun Ayo (180 gram pressing) ... LP 24.99
OK World (Norway), 2018. New Copy ... $9.99
Spare sounds get taken to the next dimension – as the music of Adama Barry is presented in both its original creation, and in a set of remixes by Henrik Schwarz, Bugge Wesseltoft, Prins Thomas, Mental Overdrive, and others! The album's got an unusual approach – as two-thirds of the ... read more CD
Pharaway Sounds (Spain), 1983. New Copy (reissue)... $9.99
A wonderful conflation of grooves all taking place in a single space – some of the West African modes of the late 70s, coming into play with more contemporary soul elements – all spun out over a quartet of long tracks that are filled with unusual grooves! Instrumentation is electric ... read more CD
Numero, 1982. New Copy ... $13.99 16.98
A record that's got to be one of the coolest recorded in Calgary during the early 80s – as it offers up a really unusual blend of modes that definitely lives up to its title, and which also borrows a bit from Indian music as well! Singer Rupa Biswas fronts a group that's equally strong on ... read more CD
Also available Disco Jazz ... LP 18.99
PMG (Austria), 1979. New Copy ... $8.99 16.99
An album that definitely lives up to its title – thanks to a strong embrace of funky boogie styles, but served up here with a sweet Nigerian twist! Some cuts are heavy funk right from the start – clearly inspired by Kool & The Gang and other sharp-edged American groups of the 70s ... read more CD
Colemine, 2020. New Copy ... $11.99
Beautifully heavy sounds from Black Market Brass – a group who started out with more of a global funk approach, but who emerge here with the intensity of some lost funky soundtrack – all with the sort of edge you might expect from the cover! The style here is really revolutionary ... read more CD
Mr Bongo (UK), 1980. New Copy (reissue)... $10.99 11.98
A rare one from Ghanaian legend Gyedu Blay Ambolley – fully in control of a far-reaching funky trip with his Zantoda Mark III group! Control carries on with the most treasured aspects of Ambolley's mid 70s work – the raw percussion, punchy horns and charismatic vocals – but it's ... read more CD
Also available Control ... LP 23.99
Precious/BBE (UK), Early 80s. New Copy ... $13.99 16.99
A pair of rare records by Sidiku Buari – issued back to back on a single CD! Feelings is a record that was issued on the tiny Precious label – home to only two Buari albums in its tiny catalog – and the set follows strongly on the work that Sidiku recorded in New York during the ... read more CD
BBE (UK), 1979. New Copy ... $14.99 16.99
One of the coolest records ever issued by Sidiku Buari – the Ghanian musician who also recorded just as Buari – stepping out here in a very unusual performance recorded live at a club in New York at the end of the 70s! Side one begins with this great crowd frenzy and very cool energy ... read more CD
PMG (Austria), 1975. New Copy ... $6.99 16.99
Seminal sounds from Segun Bucknor – one of the most soulful singers on the Nigerian scene of the 70s, and an artist who can mix funky grooves with some of the deeper currents and moodier themes that you'll hear in Zamrock recordings of the time! The album begins with some excellent upbeat ... read more CD
Cook, 1961. New Copy Gatefold ... $12.99 16.98
Nothing primitif about this jazz, because the music has a really haunting feel – one that's filled with sophisticated changes and compelling instrumentation – served up in ways that are unlike anything else we can think of! Side one of the record features the combo of percussionist ... (Jazz, Global Grooves) read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Xtra Mile (UK), 2019. New Copy ... $10.99 11.98
Nicola Cruz has a very unusual style here – one that mixes percussion, wooden flutes, and some occasional contemporary production touches – almost in a way that bridges ancient musical modes and 21st Century spirits – but at a level that's always far less gimmicky than that ... (New Grooves, Global Grooves) read more CD
Analog Africa (Germany), Late 70s/Early 80s. New Copy ... $15.99 16.99
An incredible compilation of material by Mestre Cupijo and the musicians of Cameta – the Amazonian town where the Siria style was born! The always-great Analog Africa label turns to Brazil for this one – a nice step after their rich range of African reissues – given the nature ... (Brazil, Global Grooves) read more CD
Dawn/Esoteric (UK), 1970. New Copy ... Just Sold Out!
Messed-up funky jazz from an obscure early 70s UK group – and an album that really lives up to its trippy cover! The tracks are all long and stretched out – with lots of organ, sax, and spaced out drums – and the overall style is a mix of dub-heavy funk, Afro jazz, and a bit of ... (Soul, Global Grooves) read more CD
Also available Afreaka! ... LP 11.99
Folkways, 1985. New Copy ... $12.99 16.99
Mindblowing sounds at a level we've never heard before – a really unique combination of electronics and Persian music, done in a way that's quite different from any other recording of its nature! The electronics are used in a way that's relatively spare, but which definitely sets a sonic ... (Out Sound, Global Grooves) read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Awesome Tapes From Africa, Early 80s. New Copy ... $12.99 14.99
There's nothing quite like the voice of Nahawa Doumbi – a sound that's lean and powerful at once, haunting and heartfelt, and served up here on a set of tunes that were originally only issued on cassette in her homeland of Mali! The music features really deft guitar work from N'Gou Bagayoko ... read more CD
Also available La Grande Cantatrice Malienne – Vol 1 ... LP 18.99
PMG (Austria), 1980. New Copy ... $6.99 16.99
A sweet bit of Afro Funk from Effi Duke & The Love Family – a set that's got some great touches that make the whole album pretty darn unique! There's a lot more groove here than you might expect from the "love" in the title – long tracks that build up in a flurry of ... read more CD
Analog Africa (Germany), 1986/1987. New Copy 2CD ... $18.99 19.99
80s sounds from the Somali scene – but served up with a lean, raw quality that feels a lot more like 70s funk overall! In a decade where some of the other scenes on the continent were using more beats, electronics, and keyboards – Dur Dur Band still keep things plenty live, and plenty ... read more CD
Also available Dur Dur Of Somalia – Vols 1 & 2 (3LP set – with bonus tracks) ... LP 34.99
Tabansi/BBE (UK), Early 80s. New Copy ... $14.99 16.99
That's "Dytomite", not "dynamite" – and don't ask us what it means, either! But we can tell you that the set's a great bit of highlife, recorded with a lean, breezy feel – a bit more heft than just the duo pictured on the cover – with criss-crossing guitars, ... read more CD
Also available Dytomite Starlite Band of Ghana ... LP 24.99
Asch/Folkways, 1969. New Copy Gatefold ... $12.99 16.98
One of the darkest field recordings on the Folkways label – a set of Ichicha music – music traditionally performed during the wake of a funeral – actually recorded during a funeral! Some of the songs are just Ediigwu, but the others are call and response with a full chorus and ... read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Sahel Sounds, 1994. New Copy ... $12.99 14.98
A fantastic album from a West Saharan group dedicated to political independence of the Sahrawi people, but who also work with a great blend of older acoustic styles and a few contemporary electric elements! The music has maybe a touch of Tuareg guitar in the mix, but there's also some powerful ... read more CD
Also available Tiris ... LP 18.99
Pura Vida (France), 2019. New Copy ... $16.99
That's a pretty darn striking image on the cover – and the sounds within are pretty darn striking too – a fantastic mix of Cuban roots and contemporary hip hop production! French producer Al Quetz works here with El Tipo Este of Cuban hip hop group Obsesion – and the style is far ... (Latin, Global Grooves) read more CD
Evritiki Zygia —
Ormenion ... CD Teranga Beat (Senegal), 2020. New Copy ... $15.99
The ancient styles of Thrace, filtered through a psychedelic sensibility – with a result that's completely unlike anything we've ever heard! Imagine fuzzy guitars and trippy keyboards mixing with exotic reeds and rootsy percussion – all to rework the sorts of styles you might have ... read more CD
Tabansi/BBE (UK), Late 70s. New Copy ... $14.99 19.99
One of the most rootsy albums ever issued by the Tabansi label – a set that's quite different than their more familiar electric modes, and which features very raw, tribal sounds by a percussion group that is tied to the Niri Kingdom in Nigeria! As you'd guess from their name, the ensemble is ... read more CD
Also available Eze Nri Royal Drummers Vol 1 (180 gram pressing) ... LP 24.99
Meta, 2019. New Copy 2 CDs ... $13.99
A beautiful little project, and one that's better even than you'd guess from the outset – as the work is put together by percussionist Adam Randolph, and may well be one of the best things he's ever given us! Randolph composed the songs on the set, but they're performed with a very ... read more CD
Heavenly Sweetness (France), 2019. New Copy ... $16.99
Guts bills this set as "an Afro-Tropical experiment" – but to us, the album's just a further expansion of his wonderful talents as a producer – which have really come a long way in just a few years! Guts maybe got his start in hip hop, but he's able to embrace a globe's worth ... (New Grooves, Global Grooves) read more CD
Everland (Austria), 1979. New Copy ... $14.99
A fantastic groover from Kiki Gyan – a singer from Ghana who worked in Osibisa during the early 70s – but one who's also got a really universal club vibe here on this overlooked gem from the end of the 70s! The record's got a bubbling, upbeat vibe that really lives up to its title ... read more CD
Habibi Funk (UK), 1977. New Copy ... $14.99
A really mindblowing set of music from late 70s Lebanon – an ambitious blend of jazzy instrumentation, poetic vocals, and larger instrumental impulses – all with this soaring sort of energy that reminds us of some of the more complex Brazilian records of the 70s, or of some of our ... read more CD
Also available Mouasalat Ila Jacad El Ard ... LP 19.99
Third Man, Late 20s/Early 30s. New Copy ... $10.99 15.00
Clarinet music, but unlike anything else you might have heard before – as Greek musician Kitsos Harisiadis uses the instrument in a style that's quite far from American jazz and swing! Instead, the clarinet here is used on a series of folkloric tunes – music from the northwestern ... read more CD
PMG (Austria), 1975. New Copy ... $8.99 16.99
Great work from this cool Nigerian funk combo of the 70s – a group who bore strong ties to the equally-great Akwassa, and who work here with an equally righteous groove! Lyrics are mostly in English, and have some political currents that give the music a social sort of edge – but the ... read more CD
PMG (Austria), 1980. New Copy ... $6.99 16.99
Sweet funky sounds from east Nigeria, circa 1980 – a great little set that's got a laidback groove, and a style that's clearly learned plenty from the hipper corners of the American funk universe! The approach is a bit like funky club at times, a bit more like some of the larger funk acts of ... read more CD
Colemine, 2019. New Copy ... $11.99 14.98
It's hard to imagine these kings being left behind, as the sound of Ikebe Shakedown just keeps getting bolder and more majestic with each new release – a very special strand of deep funk, with a blend of horns that you might find in a more Afro-styled band, mixed with tighter rhythms at the ... (Deep Funk, Global Grooves) read more CD
Also available Kings Left Behind ... LP 18.99
Olindo (UK), 2019. New Copy ... $11.99
A Venezuelan group, one who are living in Paris – and work here with a criss-crossing of styles that really reflect that global journey! The music definitely has echoes of older Venezuelan styles, but maybe served up in a more impressionistic version – with a dream-like quality at ... read more CD
Tabansi/BBE (UK), Mid 80s. New Copy ... $14.99 16.99
Tight Nigerian boogie from Ben Jagga – done with a lean groove that really represents the change in styles during the 80s, while still holding onto modes that reference some of the funk from before! Ben's got this bright style of singing, and at times the record almost has a Caribbean vibe ... read more CD
Also available Hold On Pretty Woman (180 gram pressing) ... LP 24.99
Fremeaux & Associates (France), 1990s/2000s/Early 2010s. New Copy 4CD ... $19.99 29.99
A wonderful package – one that brings together five excellent albums from pianist Alan Jean-Marie – an important player on the French scene, but one who never full gets his due on this side of the Atlantic! The set begins with Jean-Marie's first album of Biguine Reflections – a ... (Jazz, Global Grooves) read more CD
Lyncell/BBE (UK), 1982. New Copy ... $16.99 19.99
A sweet Soweto group from the start of the 80s – one who have a nice current of funk in their mix, but who also serve up some well-crafted solos on both guitar and flute! The vocals are often warmly in that more familiar South African style of the period – but the record's nicely ... read more CD
Also available African Sunset ... LP 24.99
Ubiquity, 2019. New Copy ... $11.99 14.98
That's a pretty trippy cover on the front, and an image that really sums up the vibe of this excellent record from Kaleta – a set that's even sharper and funkier than any of his previous efforts – yet which has some nicely way out qualities too! The instrumentation is heavy on elements ... read more CD
Also available Medaho ... LP 12.99
Favorite (France), 2018. New Copy ... $13.99
A great little album from French singer Pat Kalla – an artist whose "Super Mojo" here is really the genius of producer Bruno "Patchworks" Hovart! The set is a collaboration between Pat and Patchworks – and uses the great vocals of Kalla to bring new focus to the ... read more CD
PMG (Austria), 1980. New Copy ... $6.99 16.99
A really unique project from the end of the 70s – a set that takes some of the Afro Funk energy that was bubbling in West Africa during the decade, then mixes it with some funky jazz touches arranged by the great William S Fischer! The mix of cultures comes out perfectly – with no ... read more CD
Kapingbdi —
Born In The Night – African Jazz/Trikont/Sonorama (Germany), Late 70s/Early 80s. New Copy ... $18.99 20.98
Fantastic work from Kapingbdi – a group who hail from Liberia, but who recorded all of these tracks for a label in Germany – all at a level that makes for a wonderfully open, criss-crossing sort of sound! These tracks aren't cleaned up or polished world music for the post-colonial ... read more CD
Also available Born In The Night – African Jazz/
Everland (Netherlands), 1976. New Copy ... $14.99
A really unique project from guitarist Osamu Kitajima – a player you might know from his smoother fusion sets at the end of the 70s – but who works here in a very trippy blend of Japanese instrumentation and electric jazz! Kitajima handles a heck of a lot of strings – both ... (Jazz, Global Grooves) read more CD
Everland (Netherlands), 1977. New Copy ... $14.99
A great mix of modes from Osamu Kitajima – a set that's still got some of the exotic elements of his other material, but which also brings in a stronger fusion component too – mixing Kitajima's work on guitar and koto with plenty of Fender Rhodes and other great electric touches! The ... (Jazz, Global Grooves) read more CD
Heavenly Sweetness/Pura Vida (France), 2019. New Copy ... $16.99
Really driving percussion, and some great horns as well – the former served up by KOG, who also delivers some fantastic vocals on the set – the latter from The Zongo Brigade, who work in a great mix of funky rhythms, jazzy horns, and some sweet keyboards too! The set's very different ... read more CD
Also available Wahala Wahala – Joy From The Struggle ... LP 26.99
Tabansi/BBE (UK), Early 80s. New Copy ... $14.99 16.99
Nigerian singer Eric Kol reclines on the cover like a hip American soul singer of the early 80s – and he sounds a fair bit like one too, given the mix of boogie styles on the album! The record's got that lean vibe from the time when Nigerian groups really trimmed down their style from the ... read more CD
Leaf (UK), 2019. New Copy ... $10.99 11.99
A very different album than the previous effort from drummer/percussionist Saratha Korwar – a lot more political, as you might guess from the title – and a set that has the London musician working with performers from the hip hop scenes in Mumbai and New Delhi! Most of the tunes have a ... (Jazz, Global Grooves) read more CD
Tramp (Germany), 2019. New Copy ... $14.99
The Kutimangoes keep on refining their groove with each new release – and really open up with a nice sense of variety from the usual Afro Funk mode! The horn section still has a strong role – two saxes, one trombone – but there are also both instrumental and rhythmic shifts from ... read more CD
Also available Afrotropism ... LP 18.99
Kindred Spirits (Netherlands), 1977. New Copy ... $12.99
One of the coolest records we've ever heard from the Mali scene of the 70s – a set that's got lots of unusual rhythmic impulses and vocal inflections – with a style that moves way beyond anything we might have expected! One of the best elements of the record is this really cool use of ... read more CD
Aparte (France), 2018. New Copy ... $13.99 21.99
Lionel Loueke, standing nicely on the borders of his styles – playing jazzily, to be sure – but also opening up with plenty of global elements too – in a lineup that includes the musician on a bit of percussion, alongside other percussion from Cyro Baptista and Christi Joza Orisha ... (Jazz, Global Grooves) read more CD
Sahel Sounds, 2019. New Copy ... $12.99 14.98
Luka Productions is a showcase for the fantastic voice of Luka Guindo – a singer with this raspy charm that grabs you right away and really conveys the power of the tunes – so much so, you hardly need the English translations of the lyrics in the notes! The music is a blend of acoustic ... read more CD
Gallo/Mr Bongo (UK), 1982. New Copy ... $10.99 11.98
A really unusual album from the South African scene of the 80s – served up by a blind quartet who partly echo the styles of other vocal ensembles of the period, but done with a mish-mash of styles that really keeps the whole thing interesting! The album's maybe best-remembered for a few ... read more CD
Also available Modiehi ... LP 20.99
Jazzland (Norway), 2018. New Copy ... $12.99
A beautifully dynamic set from Mohamed Issa Haji – aka Matona – a musician from Zanzibar with a specialty in Taarab, which is an unusual hybrid of African, Arabic, and Indian musical styles! The group here features Matona on oud, vocals, and percussion – illuminated by very ... read more CD
Hailu Mergia —
Yene Mircha ... CD Awesome Tapes From Africa, 2020. New Copy ... $12.99
A great new recording from Hailu Mergia – the Ethiopian keyboardist who's given us some great records over the years! This set has Hailu working on both of his strengths – using keyboards in the lead on some tracks, accordion on others – plus a bit of melodica, and just a slight ... read more CD
Also available Yene Mircha ... LP 18.99
Soundway (UK), 2017. New Copy ... $9.99
The Meridian Brothers have been making music for quite a few years now – and with each new release, they seem to open up another fresh corner of southern hemisphere sounds, and continue to find a way to weave them together into something quite fresh and unique! Few other folks could navigate ... read more CD
Also available Donde Estas Maria ... LP 22.99
Kim Jung Mi —
Now ... CD Lion, Early 70s. New Copy ... $9.99
A folk funk masterpiece from Korea – sung with breathy brilliance by female singer Kim Jung Mi, and featuring some great fuzzy backgrounds from guitarist Shin Jung Hyun! Although not in English, the record has a very similar feel to some of the hippest British female work of the same period ... (Rock, Global Grooves) read more CD
PMG (Austria), 1978. New Copy ... $8.99 16.99
The Mighty Flames never sound too metallic here – at least not in any way that's cold or harsh, or heavy metal too! Instead, these guys have a warm groove that's on the tighter side of African funk – that point when the sound was getting a stronger influence from American soul and club ... read more CD
National/Modern Harmonic, 1963. New Copy ... $13.99 14.99
A great 60s record from Mighty Sparrow – and the kind of set that shows just how different calypso music could sound when you got away from Harry Belafonte and the hits! The music here is every bit as political and socially conscious as earlier recordings of the genre – but you can ... read more CD
Also available Slave (red vinyl pressing) ... LP 23.99
PMG (Austria), 1979. New Copy ... $6.99 16.99
Bala Miller's got a great pan-African group here – one that's more from the western side of the scene, despite the pyramids mentioned in their name – with players hailing from Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon – all coming together in a mighty righteous style! The music is fairly ... read more CD
Sahel Sounds, 2019. New Copy ... $12.99 15.99
An album titled after the creator, and a set that's maybe the most spiritual to date from Tuareg guitar genius Mdou Moctar – a record that comes across with a strong sense of focus right from the start, and which seems to have Mdou's guitar sounding even better than ever! The drums are maybe ... read more CD
Cree (Germany), 1981. New Copy ... $10.99 11.99
The rough-cut image on the front cover is a perfect accompaniment to the music on the disc – the first-ever issue of recordings made by Namibian guitarist/singer Ben Molatzi – tracks recorded both in the studio and out in the field, with a wonderfully stripped-down sound overall! ... read more CD
PMG (Austria), 1978. New Copy ... $8.99 16.99
Sweet grooves from Harry Mosco – once the leader of The Funkees, but stepping out here with some wicked work from the London scene at the end of the 70s! The album's got a snapping electric vibe – sometimes clubby, but with more of a funk feel overall – thanks to some heavy ... read more CD
El (UK), Late 50s/Early 60s. New Copy 3 CDs ... $9.99
A huge amount of early work from Nana Mouskouri – a singer who looked a bit like a librarian, with glasses to match – but who managed to catapult to huge global fame in the 60s and 70s! Part of that fame was due to the fact that Nana was not only a great singer, but also graced with a ... (Vocalists, Global Grooves) read more CD
Worthy/Strut (UK), 1966. New Copy ... $12.99 15.99
A pair of rare albums from the legendary Mulatu Astatke – back to back on a single CD! First up is Afro Latin Soul Vol 1 – pure insanity from the mighty Mulatu – one of his few American albums from the 60s! The record's an incredible blend of New York Latin and some of the more ... read more CD
Tabansi/BBE (UK), Late 70s. New Copy ... $14.99 18.99
A great combination of Congo grooves and Nigerian 70s – served up here by vocalist Ondigui and his Bota Tabansi ensemble! Ondigui already has a fantastic sound himself – this vocal range and ability to inflect his notes that has the singer cascading up and down the spectrum – in ... read more CD
Also available Ewondo Rhythm (180 gram pressing) ... LP 24.99
Tabansi/BBE (UK), 1975. New Copy ... $14.99 18.98
Zeal Onyia is definitely the trumpet king here – at least of the Nigerian scene in which this album was recorded – as he blows strong solos throughout, and really brings a lot of jazz-based energy to the highlife rhythms! The use of trumpet in a smaller combo mode is really great ... read more CD
Also available Trumpet King Zeal Onyia Returns (180 gram pressing) ... LP 24.99
PMG (Austria), 1981. New Copy ... $6.99 16.99
Oby Onyioha has a very 80s look on the cover – and the album's got a strong 80s sound, too – almost in the hipper spectrum of underground soul on the New York scene during the post-disco generation! The best cuts are the groovers – like the snapping title cut and a few others, ... read more CD
Sublime Frequencies, Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy ... $15.99
You might not be able to understand the lyrics, but you'll definitely be moved by the instant charm of Malaysian rocker Adnan Othman – a singer who works here in a groovy blend of fuzzy guitar, mod rhythms, and all the other great sounds we love from late 60s French and British tracks of the ... read more CD
PMG (Austria), 1978. New Copy ... $6.99 16.99
Late 70s work from Geraldo Pino – the artist who was credited as being one of the first musicians to bring the styles of James Brown to play in West Africa – still grooving hard here at the other end of the decade! The album's got a clubby vibe in parts – the "boogie" ... read more CD
PMG (Austria), 1974. New Copy ... $6.99 16.99
Let's Have A Party, indeed – as it's hard not to celebrate when a record sounds this great! The album's a boiling batch of Afro Funk numbers from the legendary Geraldo Pino – a key influence on the sound of Fela, and an artist with a sound that's got a bit more James Brown in his ... read more CD
Also available Let's Have A Party ... LP 22.99
Folkways, 1975. New Copy Gatefold ... $12.99 16.98
A rare solo album from Nadi Qamar – an artist who's probably best known for his brief piano appearance with Charles Mingus, but who's working here on the Mama Likembi – an instrument of his own creation that's kind of like a big kalimba! From the information in the notes, it appears ... read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Dureco/P-Vine (Japan), 1972. New Copy ... $14.99
Massive grooves from a very unique group! These guys play guitar and percussion all at once – in a flurry of fast grooves that rip away tremendously, but with a style that's still plenty darn earthy! There's definitely a bit of a global influence in the music overall, but the sound comes ... (Soul, Global Grooves) read more CD
Be! (Germany), 1984. New Copy 2CD ... $24.99
Unreleased work from Terry Riley – recorded in the WDR studios of German Radio, and a tremendous addition to his catalog! The first half of the music here features Riley on piano and electronics, in duet with Krishna Bhatt on sitar and tabla – in a mode that further unlocks the ... (Out Sound, Global Grooves) read more CD
Essiebons/Mr Bongo (UK), 1977. New Copy ... $10.99 11.98
The funky Rob way is a massive one at that – a new path into Afro Funk modes for the 70s, with a groove that's made this set a collectors classic for decades! The group is tighter than most, yet more skittish too – percussion rattling alongside basslines that have these echoey ... read more CD
Also available Rob (aka Funky Rob Way) ... LP 20.99
PMG (Austria), 1976. New Copy ... Just Sold Out!
One of the funkiest combos we've heard from the African scene of the 70s – and that's saying a lot, given how much great music was going on at the time! These guys really know how to lean into a long song, and open it up with incredible instrumental sharpness – a way of coming together ... read more CD
Also available Sahara All Star Band Of Jos ... LP 22.99
Ropeadope, 2019. New Copy ... $8.99 14.99
One of the most compelling mixes of steel pans and jazz we've ever heard – played by a group led by percussionist Jonathan Scales, and featuring a number of other differently-tuned steel drums in the mix! The instrumentation just features bass and drums alongside all the pans – which ... (Jazz, Global Grooves) read more CD
Also available Mindstate Music ... CD 6.99
Folkways, Mid 50s. New Copy ... $12.99 16.99
A very cool document of New York in the 50s! Tony Schwartz turns the Folkways ethnographic microphone to the streets of the city – and comes up with amazing sounds and audio documents of life in the Big Apple – specifically, all material recorded in postal zone 19 – hence the ... (Spoken Word, Global Grooves) read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Teranga Beat (Senegal), 1977. New Copy ... $16.99
Totally wonderful sounds from an artist who mixes Greek musical styles with tight 70s jazz modes – not the electric fusion that you'd guess from the title, but instead a really unique criss-crossing of two different cultures! There's plenty to love here if you love soulful 70s jazz – ... (Jazz, Global Grooves) read more CD
Also available Greek Fusion Orchestra Vol 2 (with bonus download) ... LP 24.99
Gallo/Mr Bongo (UK), 1976. New Copy ... Just Sold Out!
A fantastic set from 70s South Africa – and a record that maybe has a lot more of an American funk vibe than you'd expect! The style is nice and lean, and is often in a mode that echoes some of the cooler underground disco of the late 70s on the east coast – almost as if these cuts ... read more CD
Also available Star Beams Play Disco Specials ... LP 20.99
BBE (UK), Late 70s. New Copy ... $14.99 19.99
Fantastic longform grooves from the Tabansi Studio Band – a cool combo who worked to support Nigerian artists on the Tabansi label, but who have a sound here that's very much their own! These tracks are a lot wilder and more freewheeling than any of the group's music behind a singer – ... read more CD
Tabansi/BBE (UK), 1980. New Copy ... $14.99 16.99
A never-issued session from the legendary Ebo Taylor – recorded right at a time when Taylor was really hitting on all burners! The sessions were done for the Nigerian Tabansi label, but feature Ebo's touring band from Ghana – a tight combo whose crackling rhythms are perfect for his ... read more CD
Also available Palaver (180 gram pressing) ... LP 24.99
Phonogram/Mr Bongo (UK), 1978. New Copy (reissue)... $10.99 11.98
The son of the legendary Ebo Taylor serves up a great record of his own – a sweet blend of funky highlife and other 70s-styled grooves – set to short cuts with a nicely compact vibe, and a cool style of production that almost owes a bit to the style of Jamaican music! There's lots of ... read more CD
Also available Gotta Take It Cool ... LP 23.99
Mr Bongo (UK), 1982. New Copy ... $10.99 11.98
Not the Hitsville of Motown fame – but instead a fantastic album of upbeat, hard-grooving highlife – served up by the collaborative efforts of Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, and Uhuru Yenzu! Taylor is kind of the guiding force here – as he handles arrangements, and uses his guitar to ... read more CD
Also available Hitsville Re-Visited ... LP 20.99
Strut (UK), 2019. New Copy ... $12.99
Pat Thomas is one of the few Afro Funk legends of the 70s who's still going strong – and on this wonderful set, he gives us sounds and styles that show that his genius is fresher than ever! Pat's working with a younger group, but in a style that's free from any attempt to sound too ... read more CD
Also available Obiaa ... LP 28.99
Cook, Late 50s. New Copy Gatefold ... $12.99 16.99
A stone classic from this legendary percussionist – a raw and rootsy set that's one of the standouts from the catalog of Cook Records! Like some of the best Cook titles, this one's recorded in a no-nonsense format that's quite live – as if you're happening upon a performance by Tiroro ... read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
Born Bad (France), 1970s/1980s. New Copy ... $13.99
A really great selection of work from a French singer with a wide and interesting resume – one that definitely warrants the voyages mentioned in the title! Pierre Vassiliu is maybe best known to our ears as a member of Les Masques – that groovy French vocal group who cut a great bossa ... (French, Global Grooves) read more CD
BBE (UK), Early 70s. New Copy ... $14.99 18.98
A pair of albums from this Guyana group – both recorded overseas, and with a really unique sort of vibe! Young Ones Of Guyana On Tour was recorded in 1970, while the group was in London – at the legendary Landsdowne Studios, home to some really groundbreaking jazz at the time – a ... read more CD
Tabansi/BBE (UK), 1980. New Copy ... $14.99 18.99
Catchy, clubby grooves from the team of Zack Roberts and Gebah Swary – a Liberian duo who issued this very catchy record at the start of the 80s! The pair have an 80s look on the cover, and definitely bring that into their music too – with early electro touches used in very spare ways, ... read more CD
Also available For The Love Of Money (180 gram pressing) ... LP 24.99
Various —
12 Bombazos Bailables ... CD Discos Fuentes/Vampi Soul (Spain), Late 60s/Early 70s. New Copy ... Just Sold Out!
A dozen heavy groovers from the legendary Discos Fuentes – pulled from a time when the Colombian label was really finding its sound and strengths – mixing together older strands of Afro Cuban inspiration with a special vibe that would soon make their scene rival the Latin music power of ... (Latin, Global Grooves) read more CD
Folkways, 1978. New Copy ... $12.99 16.98
Spare and haunting flute work – recorded by Samuel Charters in the Gambia River basin in the mid 70s, but with a timeless sound that's really compelling! The music was recorded in two different villages, and some of the tracks feature just one or two flutes, played together with a snakey, ... read more CD
(Special limited CD – pressed up for us by the Smithsonian Folkways label. Comes with original cover artwork, and the CD also features a PDF file with the original liner notes and other materials from the original record release.)
