Mighty raw work on thumb piano from Ekuka Morris Sirikiti – mostly pulled from radio broadcasts in northern Uganda, and served up here with a very timeless vibe! Most tracks feature vocals and percussion alongside Ekuka's lead instrument – which itself has some of the chromatic warmth as on other recordings of kalimba and other variations – but also a much rougher edge, too – certainly more percussive than melodic at most moments, but in a really hypnotic way. Titles include "Omaro Cil Pacu", "Peko Me Kin Calo", "In Balonyo For Ayinet", "Jo Ame Aparo Loc", "Acoc Acoc Twol Iye Akayi", "Pwan En Obalo Gum Waa", and "Wilo Koti Me Kwalo Orango". LP, Vinyl record album

Sitar madness galore – and another fantastic entry in the Sitar Beat series – low on packaging, but heavy on exotic grooves! This volume may be one of the coolest in the run so far – as it's got 5 tracks that really go past the obvious – and offer up some great unusual variations on the grooviest sound of Bollywood in the old days! There's a bit of electronics on some of these tunes, making for an especially great sound – and titles include "Disco Cammata (edit)" by Kalyanji Anandji, "Pyar Karnewale (edit)" by RD Burman, "YOGA (edit)" by Kalyanji Anandji, "The Burning Train Theme (edit)" by RD Burman, and "Disco 82" by an unknown artist! (Funky Compilations, Global Grooves) LP, Vinyl record album

A mindblowing tribute to the work of Egyptian composer Mohamad Abdel Wahab – served up here on a record that was maybe one of the first chances a larger global audience got to hear his music! Simon Shaheen plays oud, viola, and violin amidst a set of larger arrangements that add in other stringed instruments, plenty of percussion, reeds, and some occasional vocals – and although the set was produced by Bill Laswell, it's got a very respectful vibe – an acoustic presentation that feels much more midcentury than any other release on the Axiom label, in a way that feels very true to the inspiration of the original compositions. Titles include "Hanil Widd", "Ibnil Balad", "Bortuqal", "Mudnaka", "Theme & Variations", and "Al Hinna". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most unusual fusions of styles you're ever likely to hear – as the set has Indian musician Magid Khan playing sitar over a set of Egyptian tunes composed by Baligh Hamdi – all in this amazing criss-crossing of cultural modes! The record features some larger arrangements from Abdel Halim Hafez – but the individual instruments really take the lead – not just Khan's sitar, but also work on tambura and tabla – balanced with Arabic instruments that include the ney, arghoul, darbuka, and qanun – all of which get these solo moments amidst the earthy rhythms that really drive the set! The album was issued by a French label at the start of the 80s, but the sound is all acoustic, and far more ancient in approach – almost as if the record takes us back to a secret meeting between musicians on the spice trail, on titles that include "Lahore", "Ennai", "Magnouna", "Achark", and "Sahara". LP, Vinyl record album

Wonderful explorations of the sound of the didjeridu – done at a level that's quite different than any other use of the instrument we've ever heard – no surprise, given that the music here is all created by AACM legend Douglas Ewart! The performances bridge Ewart's two worlds of organic improvisation and more serious tonal composition – both of which prove to be perfect settings for the instrument – which is used here at a level that's completely respectful, and without any sense of gimmick at all. Different variations on the didjeridu are used on different tracks – mostly solo in the lead, but with occasional accompaniment on string bass, bells, and electronics. Titles include "Walk & Drop", "Ginep", "Seeds Of War", "Mud Bath III", and "Dancing Inside Of Soul". (Jazz, Global Grooves) CD

Beautiful sounds from a very unique label – one started in Paris by a Malian merchant in the 80s, in order to both present sounds from his homeland, and all of the wonderful new variations that were taking place on the cross-cultural scene in France! The body of work is partly a compelling document of culture in diaspora, but more importantly presents a nice range of grooves with a vibe that's very different than mainstream music from the time – especially some of the too-commercialized records that were shifting big numbers on the world music scene. Most of these tracks have a very down to earth presentation – professional, but never overdone – mixing older styles with electric instrumentation and just a touch of studio sweetening, but hardly much at all. Titles include "Duna" by Halima Kissima Toure, "Ayebo" by Hadja Soumano, "Bolinaame" by Diaby Doua, "Tenedo" by Ami Traore, "Alla Da Fo Na" by Halima Kissima Toure, "Soso" by Mah Kouyate, "Nogome" by Lassana Hawa Cissokho, and "Kori" by Mamadou Tangoudia. Most tracks originally issued on cassette or digital – and appear here on vinyl for the first time ever! LP, Vinyl record album