A magnificent set from the Chicago Afrobeat Project – the kind of group that makes us plenty proud we live in the Windy City! The record's got a quality that's a bit more ambitious than you might guess – a complicated style that's still plenty grooving, but which really features some sophisticated instrumentation overall – mostly in familiar Afrobeat modes, but served up with a freshness that we really love! The group's quite large – with instrumentation that's heavy on horns and percussion, but also features some killer keyboards too – snaking through the mix with a soulful vibe that really hits home, especially on the more righteous numbers in the set. Ugochi sings on one track, but the main focus is instrumental – and the great Bobby Broom also plays guitar on one cut too! Titles include "Superstar (part 7)", "Chupacabra", "Carcass", "Fix & Release", "Media Man", "Cloister", and "BSCG2". CD

Two early calypso albums on Capitol Records – both pretty unique! First up are some of the first-ever recordings by Harry Belafonte – material recorded in 1949, with Pete Rugolo backings that are really amazing – as jazzy and modern as anything Rugolo did for other singers of the time, with only a hint of calypso in the rhythms. Belafonte sounds quite different on the sides than in later years – still with those tremendous vocals, but almost more of a jazz singer at points – which is a really surprising discovery! This aspect's supported strongly by the choice of tunes – which includes "Deep As The River", "Farewell To Arms", "Close Your Eyes", "The Didn't Believe Me", and "I Still Get A Thrill". Next up is a full album of straighter calypso material by Lord Flea & His Calypsonians – but one that also has a bit of a Capitol Records groove! Flea plays acoustic guitar and sings, and percussion is nice and tight – but there's also a fuller sense of space on the record, one that really sets it apart from other 50s efforts of this type – kind of a Capitol clarity that really adds a lot of charm. Titles include "Out De Fire", "Mister Give Me De Rent", "It All Began With Adam & Eve", "Jump In The Line", "Run Run Run", "Love", and "Monkey". (Vocalists, Global Grooves) CD

Haunting guitar work from Branko Mataja – a player with roots in Belgrade, but who recorded these tracks while living in California during his later years – all in a mode that's filled with longing for his homeland! The material is pulled from two different albums – one recorded in the 70s, one in the 80s – both of which focus on older traditional songs from Yugoslavia, but handled by Branko in an otherworldly style that often uses electric guitar and echo to really break with any sense of tradition! The tunes are lovely – often mixing very deft work on the strings with the nicely atmospheric mood created by the production – all at a level that's unlike anything you might have expected to hear coming from the SoCal scene in the 70s. Titles include "Tesko Mi Je Zaboravit Tebe", "Tamo Daleko", "Cija Li Je Livada", "Kafu Mi Draga Ispeci", "Duboko Je More", "Zapletnicki Cacak", and "Susti Bagrem Beli". LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing sounds made from very little at all – mostly focused on the Kenyan nyatiti instrument, set up next to spare percussion and chanted vocals – all with a very hypnotic sound! The nyatiti has this very resonant quality – lute-like, but with a depth that almost feels gong-like at times – played fast alongside equally quick percussion, which then urges the vocals on with amazing energy! The set features both a-sides and b-sides of singles – work that includes "Akida" by Olon, "J Nayau" by Tito Omondi, "Ohala" by Okelo Mugubi, "Odhiambo Otieno" by Opondo Mugoye, "Onyiego Obara" by Nyawaga Mgele, and "Aduor" by Captain Oluoch. LP, Vinyl record album