A fantastic look at the groundbreaking sounds of the Disques Debs label – one of the most important companies producing music in the French Caribbean – and an imprint whose impact was strongly felt on the other side of the Atlantic as well! The core of these grooves is that compelling biguine rhythm that flowed from Guadeloupe – almost a mix of Latin and jazz, but with a different sort of vibe of its own – which was then interwoven with elements from Cuban, European, and African styles amidst the initial decade or so of recordings on this set! Debs had strong ties with Paris, and a bit with the West African scene – and their recorded legacy almost follows old colonial paths, but in reverse – creating this wonderful criss-crossing of cultures amidst their grooves. The package is wonderful – loads of vintage photos and great notes in the best Strut Records way – and titles include "Douce Kombass" by Henri Debs Quintet, "Mr Morin" by Joseph Lacides, "Lan Mise" by Geno Exilie, "Feeling Happy" by Cyril Dias Et Son Orchestre, "Ces P'Tits Je T'Aime" by Daniel Forestal Et Sa Guitare, "Assez Fait Cancan" by Guy Conquette, "Stanislas" by Eric Virgal, "Meringue Mondey" by Remy Mondey, "Si I Bon Di I Bon" by Le Ry-Co Jazz, "Salvana" by Dolor Et Les Diables Du Rhythme, and "Van Van" by Henri Guedon Et Les Contesta. LP, Vinyl record album

A crucial record in the early days of the global scene in the 80s – a set that lifts the music of King Sunny Ade from its roots in Nigeria, and mixes it up with some fresh elements that really open things up for a world's worth of ears! The approach isn't commercial – at least not in the modes of the later world music years – but there's occasional elements that echo the beat culture rising up in New York and London, mixed with the warmer sounds that were always at Sunny's music – especially that way of making the acoustic percussion and basslines come together in flowing waves of completely sublime sound! All tracks are nice and long – and titles include "Gboromiro", "Oremi", "Ire", "Iro", "Ogunja", and "Ase". LP, Vinyl record album

A funky gem from reedman Manu Dibango – a set recorded hot on the heels of his huge Soul Makossa hit, and done with a similar blend of African roots and 70s funk! The main focus here is on the instrumentation – not just Manu's saxophone lines, but also some great keyboards too – and some especially nice guitar that both riffs along with the rhythms, then takes off on solo moments that often have some cool processing that makes the sound nice and flangey! The production is a bit tighter than before, but that only seems to sharpen up all the elements even more – making for a massive groove that rolls all the way through cuts that include "Big Blow", "Baobab Sun 7", "Afrovision", "Aloko Party", and "Dakar Streets". LP, Vinyl record album

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One of Island's ventures into the disco realm, where they took one of their Carribbean acts and married them to modern disco-fied production. The combination's a winner here, and leans much more heavily on the disco side, with some occasional salsa sounding elements peeking through the slick facade. 6 tracks in all: "Cuba", "Ooh, What A Life. . .", "West Indies", "Better Do It Salsa!", "You" and "Que Sera Mi Vida (If You Should Go)". (Soul, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

A really funky set from the UK scene of the 70s – an album that mixes West African roots with some of the hipper elements going on in London at the time – a city where Remi Kabaka had been lending his talents to a variety of different records over the years! The set was issued by Island Records, and has the kind of cross-cultural groove the label did so well – and at some level, the record's sort of a second chapter in some of the African-influenced funk that was bubbling over on the London scene in the early 70s – maybe a bit sharper and tighter overall, but no less funky! The basslines are especially nice – nice and deep, with maybe an influence from Jamaican music, even though there's no reggae at all on the set. Titles include "Future Of 1000 Years", "All Black Festival", "African Hustle", "Blue Lagos", "Meteorite", "Sure Thing", and "Kabaka". LP, Vinyl record album

Later material from Osibisa, who have lost some of their harder Afro-Funk edge, and are working here more as an ensemble funk outfit, with a sound that's similar to some of the bigger American groups of the time. Titles include "Do It (Like It Is)", "Uhuru", "Sunshine Day", "Chooboi", and "Right Now". LP, Vinyl record album

Great early work from King Sunny Ade – billed as "volume 12" – but a set that's way before his bigger 80s fame on Island Records! The title cut takes up all of side one – and side two features shorter tracks that include "Gbogbo Wa L'Ope", "Asiko Ni", and "Ori Olowo". LP, Vinyl record album

A collection of work from one of the biggest bands on the scene in Sao Tome & Principe years ago – combo who rocked the small island nation with a great blend of West African modes and more tropical sounds! The guitar work is often very lively, and percolating strongly with the rhythms – which themselves maybe have a bit more punch than usual, almost hitting funky drummer moments at times – while the larger ensemble top the sound with these gently cascading horn parts that have the same unified feel as the vocals! Given that the group never got much circulation at the time, and that some of the cuts here were only issued on cassette, the well-done collection is a great addition to our ever-growing knowledge of sounds from this part of the globe – served up on titles that include "Saozinha", "Vence Vitoria", "Carambola", "Ple Can", "Zun Zon Pedelelu", "San Tome Plodozu", "Pedlelo", and "12 De Julho". LP, Vinyl record album

An obscure later album from Wally Badarou, but one that still continues the wonderful vibe he served up on his Island Records material in the early 80s – a blend of Caribbean roots, funky soul, and some sweet electronic touches! The album is all instrumental, and blends percussion – both electric and acoustic – with basslines, keyboards, and some other instrumental touches along the way – all shaped with some global inspirations, but mostly groove-heavy, although in a nicely laidback way! If you dug Wally's work in years past, you'll find plenty to love here – on titles that include "The Lights Of Kinshasa", "Pictures Of You", "Keep On Tryin", "Dance In The Dust", "Amber Whispers", "Crystal Falls", and "Purple Lines". (Soul, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

Very cool work from Mighty Sparrow – a calypso set, but one cut at a time when the music was fading from the mainstream – which allows Sparrow to keep things nice and raw, and deliver lyrics that have the same sort of bite as some of the best island sounds from the early days! Many tracks here are originals, and Sparrow also delivers some cool covers too – all with jazzy instrumentation that echoes some of the styles of early mento, as saxes come into a blend of romping piano, percussion, and the singer's own guitar. Titles include "Unto Negro", "English Diplomacy", "Tattoo Woman", "Jack", "Under My Skin", "El Reloj", and "Big Bamboo". LP, Vinyl record album

A set recorded in both Jamaica and Trinidad, and one that shows a great combination of both locations – with straighter reggae cuts at some points, and some more Caribbean flavored club at others! The music has some of the message that you'd guess from the cover and title, but the overall vibe is lighter and more aimed at the dancefloor – with some especially great cuts that almost lean more towards a jazz/funk sort of vibe than some of the other island disco records of the time! One of these gems is the wicked "Let's Party", which has a massive bassline and some cool keyboard bubbles – and other cuts include "Foreign Journalists", "Burning Eyes & Hungry Bellies", "Dancing", "Music Is Music", "Song Of Love", and "Power Struggle". (Reggae, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album