Groovy groovy sitar pop – played by Big Jim Sullivan, also known as Lord Sitar! This set is a great session of 60s pop tunes, turned Eastern, in the mode of work by Ananda Shankar or Vince Bell – with a blend of original compositions, mixing sitar, tabla, and all manner of baroque 60s arrangements. The tracks include some excellent originals – like "Ltts" and "The Koan" – plus groovery covers like "She's Leaving Home", "Sunshine Superman", and Donovan's great "Trans Love Airways"! (Now Sound, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

A killer album of Afro Funk – with a very unusual origin! In the wake of Manu Dibango's big hit (and some kind of failure to register the copyright), many many versions of "Soul Makossa" were recorded and released, some good, some bad. This album is a good example of that situation – kind of a quickie project issued by Mainstream Records to cash in on the hit – but it's also an amazing bit of lost funk, and a record that's lasted for years in the hearts of beatheads! The group's a studio combo headed by Richard Fritz – and includes funky drummer Paul Humphrey, organist Charles Kynard, and guitarist David T Walker – all players we can trust to keep things groovy. The record does include a version of "Soul Makossa" that's pretty great – but even better is the breakbeat classic "House Of The Rising Funk", apparently the same version of the track that was issued on a 45 under the name The Chubukos. Other nice ones include "Kissing My Love", "Hot Mud", "Get It", "Hot Doggin", and "Let Me Do My Thing". (Soul, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

A 70s treasure from Lebanese singer Fairuz – a vocalist who never broke big on our shores, but who gave the world this beautiful blend of traditional instrumentation and contemporary production! The music comes across in two different modes – side one has more acoustic elements, and uses compelling percussion alongside offbeat strings – and side two brings in some more contemporary elements, but never in a way that sounds pop or mainstream – thanks to the vocals of Fairuz. Ziad Rahbani arranged and composed the whole thing – and titles include "Ana Indi Hanine", "Al Bosta", "Wahdon", "Habeytak Tansit Al Nom", and "Baatilak". LP, Vinyl record album

The earliest work we've ever seen from this legendary South African group – and music that's got a much rawer, more stripped-down vibe than the albums that made them famous in the 80s! These tracks are mostly just group vocals with a bit of percussion and guitar – billed as "zulu vocal jive" or "zulu vocal" on the back cover – and with a romping, joyous quality that resonates with some of the bigger South African stars who were getting some global exposure in the mid 60s – upbeat, lively, and really positive in spirit, despite the struggles taking place on the scene. Titles include "Dinaka", "Kuqale Bani", "Niyi Gcine", "Inxeba Lendoda", "Izinyoni", "We Boy", "Umoya", and "Elidlubedu". LP, Vinyl record album

A wicked bit of 80s electro soul – one that's heavy on Yamaha keyboards and beats, but which was also recorded in Gabon – which gives the whole record a very different sound than New York material of the time! The rhythms are definitely in the funky soul side of the spectrum, but have different inflections and directions than big city beats from the street – maybe more complexity at points, but also a willingness to step back and allow some spots of bluesier inflections in the other instrumentation, which is mostly guitar – an instrument that has less of a rhythmic role here than on the usual soul album. Titles include "Butter Fly", "Ogoue", "We Gonna Have Some Fun", "Believe Me", "Back To LBV", and "Will Be The Only One". (Soul, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

A great set that moves towards the farther reaches of the Caribbean scene in the 80s – music that's much more underground than some of the bigger soca and tropical hits of the time! As you might expect from the Soundway label, the work here is a very unusual, very well-done presentation of a fresh slice of global music – Caribbean cuts that borrow bits from electro soul, house music, and other styles of the time – and weave the newer elements into island rhythms with a very forward-thinking feel! The tunes are heavy on keyboards and beats, yet still have a indie soul sort of charm – and as usual with Soundway, the whole thing comes with very detailed notes on the music. Most tunes are b-sides, dubs, or edits – and titles include "Last Days" by The Millers, "Wild Indian Band" by Andre Tanker, "Zion Gates (dub)" by Mohjah, "I Want Your Love" by Peter Britto, "Hotter & Hotter (dub edit)" by Juno D, "D'Jab Jab Dance (bad lad mix)" by Colin Jackman, "Fighting Soldier" by Cito Jarvis, "Stand Up & Rock Your Body (inst)" by Roger Bain, "Fire (ext dub edit)" by D Ivan, "Body Beat" by Bill Campbell, and "It's Alright" by Adonijah. LP, Vinyl record album

A revelatory selection of tracks recorded on a Nairobi music scene that was really overflowing with creative energy – so much so that the music here doesn't just come from Kenyan talents, but from Tanzania and the Congo as well! There's a positive spirit that imbues most of the grooves – sounds that are upbeat and pulsating with rhythm – yet also put together at a level that's never too commercial at all – especially resisting the temptations that over-polished so much other music from the continent during the big world music boom of the 80s. Instead, these tunes revel in long, open interplay between guitars, bass, percussion, and voice – on selections that include "Ochieng DJ Komoro" by Victoria Chomeka, "Maria" by Orchestra Moja One Band, "Remmy Belesa" by Biashara Jazz Band, "Gilbert Wambida" by International De Nelly, "Amemiki (part 2)" by Orchestra Bana Ekanga, and "Nakuomba" by Baba Ilunga Wa Ilunga – a lost archive track, which appears here for the first time ever. LP, Vinyl record album