Fairuz is a singer with a legendary voice – already one of the most important vocalists in Lebanon by the time of this album – with a way of soaring and stretching a note that's completely breathtaking, even if you can't understand the language! And while Fairuz had previously recorded in more conventional modes, she works here with the amazing arranger Ziad Rahbani, who blends together ancient and contemporary styles at once – sometimes letting her voice hang out in the open, unadorned – other times casting it with these arch-modern edges that you'd hear on the brilliant albums he issued under his own name. The whole thing is a massive pairing of two key Lebanese musical talents – on titles that include "Kifak Inta", "Something Is Happening", "Indi Thika Fik", "It's Not A Problem", "Prova", "Ya Leili Leili Leili", and "Farewell Song". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the coolest music we've ever heard from Ethiopian keyboard legend Hailu Mergia – a late 70s session that has his organ lines sounding even groovier than ever, on some sweet tracks that also bring in a fair bit of funk to the grooves! The style is much more in an Ethiopiques vein than some of Mergia's later music – with his own floating keyboard lines wrapped nicely around bolder notes on trumpet and sax, and some additional electric piano too – all moving in this moody, soulful territory that's really wonderful! Most of the record is instrumental, but there's some occasional vocals too – more in a chorus mode that goes along with the grooves beautifully – on titles that include "Bati Bati", "Embuwa Bey Lamitu", "Wede Harer Guzo", "Minilbelsh", "Anchin Kifu Ayinkash", "Sintayehu", and "Yenenesh Wey". LP, Vinyl record album

Really cool work on shakuhachi – and a set that's way more than just the ballads you might expect from the title! Japanese reed player Kifu Mitsuhashi definitely uses some older modes here, and begins the set as such – but as the record moves on, more contemporary instrumentation comes into play, with some great funky jazz moments on a number of cuts – great drums, keyboards, and guitar mixed alongside the acoustic instrument – creating a vibe that's wonderful throughout, and a lot groovier than you might expect. There's some great cuts here that resonate with the best work from Hozan Yamamoto – hidden here under a package that's maybe a bit more subtle, but equally great! (Japanese, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

A great blend of funky jazz and wooden flute – the Japanese shakuhachi reed instrument, blown by Kifu Mitsuhashi here – then mixed with some larger backings that almost have a CTI Records sort of groove! The approach is similar to some of the best 70s projects from Hozan Yamamoto – and like those, updates older Japanese styles with just the right dose of jazz – never getting in the way of the soulful lines from the lead instrument, but also really warming things up nicely with Fender Rhodes, bass, guitar, and drums – in wonderful arrangements put together by Kiyoshi Yamaya. Titles include "Yagi Bushi", "Yosakoi Bushi", "Hokkai Bon Uta", "Kuroda Bushi", "Otemoyan", and "Mamuro Gawa Ondo". (Japanese, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album