One of the hippest sets ever issued during the roots reggae wave of the 70s – and one of the most spiritual, too! The album's got a very special acoustic vibe at the core – earthy drumming that goes back to a pan-African tradition, these beautiful acoustic basslines that link the music strongly with underground jazz, and even some wicked sax and reed passages that make that link even stronger – especially when tied to the more message-oriented lyrics of the vocals! The album's hardly a straight roots album – and instead goes deep into the more spiritual side of Rastafari, with a personal, acoustic style that's instantly captivating – and which also has strong appeal to fans of other global sounds, and 70s spiritual jazz as well. A stunning classic – with tracks that include "Lock Stock & Barrel", "Selam Nna Wadada", "Tales Of Mozambique", "Let Freedom Reign", "Nigerian Reggae" and "Run One Mile". Features two bonus tracks too – "Rasta Reggae" and "Samia". (Reggae, Global Grooves) CD

One of the wildest albums ever recorded by sitar genius Ravi Shankar – a set done for the Dark Horse label of George Harrison – who also plays guitar and autoharp on the record too! Yet Harrison is just one of many friends hinted at in the title – as Shankar brings in a host of other Indian musicians and singers – including vocalist Lakshmi Shankar, tabla player Alla Rakha, and violinist L Subramanian – next to work from more familiar LA musicians who include Billy Preston on organ, Emil Richards on percussion, Paul Beaver on moog, and Tom Scott on saxes and flute! The result is a majestic LA flowering of ideas that Shankar first showed the world many years before – all filtered through the imagination of George Harrison, who supported Ravi often over the years, and brought his creative genius to a much larger audience. Titles include the long "Dream Nightmare & Dawn" suite – plus "I Am Missing You"," Jaya Jagadish Hare", and "Kahan Gayelava Shyam Salone". 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

One of the best Tuareg guitar records we've ever heard – and the Saharan psych soul soundtrack to Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai, billed as the first ever Tuareg language fiction movie – loosely inspired by Purple Rain! The film, like Prince's, focuses on the life of a struggling, motorcycle riding, soulful electric guitar genius, but Mdou Moctar wisely doesn't try to be deliver Saharan riff on the Minneapolis sound. His epic, hypnotic to the point of trancelike electric guitars are front and center, but never in a self-indulgent way, always in service of the moody compositions. Backed only by rhythm guitarist Ahmoudou Madassane and drummer Mahmoud "Achcouscous" Ahmed Jabre, the trio delivers an appropriately cinematic Saharan sound. Amazing! Titles include "Sibidoul", "Rhaicha's Theme", "Iblis Amghar", "Tahoultine", "Adounia", "Chimoumounin", "Jagwa", "Mdou's Theme" and "Tada Dounia". LP, Vinyl record album

Highly percussive sounds from the kingdom of Buganda – an area that predates the formation of modern day Uganda, and which has an equally ancient sound to its music! The work here is served up on a variety of instruments – percussion, drums, flutes, and stringed instruments – but there seems to be a unifying approach throughout, as all of the cuts have a fast-moving sort of intensity, which also seems to inspire the vocals with similar energy – very different than most other East African work that we've heard, and with a special quality that feels very timeless, even though most of these recordings are from the postwar years! A great discovery of this overlooked tradition – with selections from Albert Bisao Sssempke, Erusana Lutwana & Budo African Music Club, Evaristo Muyinda, Kopolyano Kyobo, Kalema Hassan Katipa, and Semuwemba George William. LP, Vinyl record album