Timeless sounds from this legendary group – a Somalian combo who issued all this music only on cassette back in the 80s, and who finally get a proper presentation in a much more durable format! The music is at once ancient and contemporary – with plenty of echoes of older East African rhythms and unusual horn inflections – blended with occasional use of electric guitars or keyboards, but still at a level that never overwhelms the music in the sort of way that certain West African groups were hitting at the time – which leaves the cuts here nice and raw, and with an energy that really holds up brilliantly after all these years. In addition to providing the first proper format for this work, the set's also got some great notes too – and presents tracks that include "War Wayneey", "Umaayey Iyo Abo", "Wiilkii Aan Ku Waashee", "Shavdan Buulow", "Haba Ley Habaaree", and "Ruuney". CD

Timeless sounds from this legendary group – a Somalian combo who issued all this music only on cassette back in the 80s, and who finally get a proper presentation in a much more durable format! The music is at once ancient and contemporary – with plenty of echoes of older East African rhythms and unusual horn inflections – blended with occasional use of electric guitars or keyboards, but still at a level that never overwhelms the music in the sort of way that certain West African groups were hitting at the time – which leaves the cuts here nice and raw, and with an energy that really holds up brilliantly after all these years. In addition to providing the first proper format for this work, the set's also got some great notes too – and presents tracks that include "War Wayneey", "Umaayey Iyo Abo", "Wiilkii Aan Ku Waashee", "Shavdan Buulow", "Haba Ley Habaaree", and "Ruuney". LP, Vinyl record album

Mad funk from Ethiopia – classic work by the legendary Mulatu, one of Africa's heaviest artists of the 70s! Mulatu's been kind of a beathead secret for years – as most of his exotic grooves were never issued properly outside of Africa, and have only been the province of collectors who had the money and cash to get their hands on the work. The music's got a strange, other-worldly feel – a mix of bass-heavy dubby rhythms and spaced-out jazzy solos played on saxophone and electric piano – all coming together in a unique style that will blow your mind! The LP is the first-ever proper vinyl reissue of Mulatu's work – and collects together the best tracks from the recent Ethiopiques CD series, 9 titles that include "Yekatit", "Nesanet", "Sabye", "Ykermo Sew", "Asmarina", "Gubelye", "Dewel", and "Ene Alantchi Alnorem". LP, Vinyl record album

The music of Lebanon never got much global exposure during the 70s – but it's clear that Ferkat Al Ard was bringing plenty of the globe's influences to play on this amazing record – mixing together bits of electric funk, Brazilian jazz, and soulful strings at a level that completely transcends the boundaries of language! The set's a bit like the classic self-titled set by Arthur Verocai from the 70s – music that's completely in a space that's all its own, and which has legendary properties, but also opens up to the listener with charms of its own that require no history or introduction at all – a set that's both personal and majestic at the same time, and which has charms that are impossible to put in words, but which grab you the moment you first give the set a listen. Titles include "Matar Naem", "Juma'A 6 Hziran", "Oghneya", "Matar Al Sabah", "Entazerni", and "Lahnon Lemra'Ati Wa Beladi". CD

The music of Lebanon never got much global exposure during the 70s – but it's clear that Ferkat Al Ard was bringing plenty of the globe's influences to play on this amazing record – mixing together bits of electric funk, Brazilian jazz, and soulful strings at a level that completely transcends the boundaries of language! The set's a bit like the classic self-titled set by Arthur Verocai from the 70s – music that's completely in a space that's all its own, and which has legendary properties, but also opens up to the listener with charms of its own that require no history or introduction at all – a set that's both personal and majestic at the same time, and which has charms that are impossible to put in words, but which grab you the moment you first give the set a listen. Titles include "Matar Naem", "Juma'A 6 Hziran", "Oghneya", "Matar Al Sabah", "Entazerni", and "Lahnon Lemra'Ati Wa Beladi". LP, Vinyl record album

Mad funk from Ethiopia – classic work by the legendary Mulatu, one of Africa's heaviest artists of the 70s! Mulatu's been kind of a beathead secret for years – as most of his exotic grooves were never issued properly outside of Africa, and have only been the province of collectors who had the money and cash to get their hands on the work. The music's got a strange, other-worldly feel – a mix of bass-heavy dubby rhythms and spaced-out jazzy solos played on saxophone and electric piano – all coming together in a unique style that will blow your mind! Titles include "Yekatit", "Nesanet", "Sabye", "Ykermo Sew", "Asmarina", "Gubelye", "Dewel", and "Ene Alantchi Alnorem". CD