Gorgeous sounds from Xenia Franca – a Brazilian soul singer with a sound and style that should make her huge, if the world has any justice – but who's also more than great enough as the kind of special discovery that keeps us searching for unusual music from around the globe! Xenia's got a voice that's incredible – every bit as rich and powerful as any American female soul singer in recent years, but set to arrangements and instrumentation that are more inventive than anything in the mainstream – and which seem to get a special sort of crispy crackle from the Portuguese in the lyrics. We loved her first album, but this one is even more amazing – with titles that include "Magica", "From The Heights", "Ancestral Infinito", "Futurivel", "Interstelar", and "Animus X Anima", which features a guest appearance from Arthur Verocai! (Brazil, Neo Soul) CD

A surprising second album from Erykah Badu – a live recording, coming right on the heels of her first studio set – and showing that the girl's equally great without any added production work! The feel is warm, earth, and wonderful – intimate, and richly spiritual – as Erykah reprises a few tracks from the Baduizm set, and runs through a few newer numbers as well! Titles include "Rimshot", "Otherside Of The Game", "Boogie Nights", "Stay", "Tyrone", and "Searchin". CD

A seminal set in helping shape the sound of Neo Soul for the 21st Century – the solo debut of Amel Larreiux, recorded after an initial rise to fame in Groove Theory! The set's got a simple, yet seductive groove – a mix of spare beats and keyboards that really gives Amel's sweet vocals plenty of space to open up and flow – a wonderful change from other contemporary R&B at the time – and a record that still sounds plenty darn fresh many years later! "Get Up" was a huge radio cut here, but there's so many smooth groovers on here, you'll never have to skip around, including "I N I", "Sweet Misery", "Even If", "Weather", "Shine", "Searching For My Soul", and "Make Me Whole". CD