A very cool group from Mali – one who have some of the older currents that you'd associate with the scene, but served up with a nicely contemporary crackle! The vocals often have those bluesy inflections that have risen up strongly in west Africa – but the instrumentation also has a nicely electrified current alongside rootsy percussion – especially when moments of distortion come in to play, almost with the blown-out quality you'd know from Konono, although maybe less processed overall. There's also a lot of vocal interplay between lead singer Fassara Sacko and other members of the group – on titles that include "Tangwanana", "Salia", "Stange Koreduga", "Dirty Donso", "From Segou To Nightmare", and "Rougeot" – plus the very funky "Mali Liberela", which almost has some James Brown-ish guitar! LP, Vinyl record album

Amazing 70s recordings from Ethiopian singer Alemayehu Eshete – one of the greatest stars of the Ethiopiques series next to Mulatu! The style here is often quite funky at times – a strong James Brown influence in some of the rhythms, hitting hard with a heavy funk groove at the bottom, and topped by some sharp-edged, angular horns that further freshen up the sound. Other tracks are a bit more soul-based, and make great use of Eshete's amazing vocal style – kind of a back of the throat style of singing, and one that's quite a change from other expectations you might have of African funk from the 70s! Vinyl-only collection features some of the best tracks by Alemayehu from the Ethiopiques CD series – titles that include "Yeweb Dar", "Tashamanaletch", "Telantena Zare", "Feqer Feqer New", "Hameta", "Tey Gedyeleshem", "Eskegizew Bertchi", and "Quondjit". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning set of vocal recordings by Tlahoun Gessesse – one of the most important singers during the golden age of Ethiopian Music – caught here on a set of sides that sadly saw that period coming to an end! The tracks on the set are mostly from the early 70s, a time that saw great political changes in Ethiopia – and tremendous censorship and restrictions on cultural production. Gessesse's vocals during this time are perhaps even more melancholy and heartfelt than before, and he's working here on a number of sides with the legendary Mulatu – with arrangements that have a angular, almost modernist edge. Despite the language barriers that keep us from understanding what Gessesse's singing about, there's an incredibly evocative quality to the work that transcends time and place – and titles include "Alegntaye", "Aykedashem Iebe", "Ene Negn Wey Antchi", "Yene Felagote", "Beyet New Mengedu", "Lantchi Biye", "Tchuheten Betsemu", and two versions of "Kulun Mankwalesh". First time on reissue vinyl for this material – which originally appeared on the 17th volume of the Ethiopiques series. LP, Vinyl record album

A special vinyl release of one of the most striking volumes of the legendary Ethiopiques series – a set that focuses on the mad saxophone work of Getachew Makurya! The recordings on this collection are all from 1972 – and they feature the deep-toned Mekurya blowing in a strange and otherworldly tone, usually over spare backings that include percussion, piano, and/or organ – making for a sound that's almost like some of Pat Patrick's work for Sun Ra, but with a decidedly more ethnic feel! The compositions are all very basic, and very rhythmic – and Makurya's sax work snakes over the top in a really magical way. Titles include "Akale Wube", "Tizita", "Shemonmwanaye", "Yene Hassab Gwadegna", "Ambassel", "Almaz Yeharerwa", and "Yegenet Muziqa". Note – all tracks are from the Volume 14 CD of Ethiopiques – but appear here on vinyl reissue for the first time! LP, Vinyl record album

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Amazing music from the golden years of Ethiopian Music – a set of tracks that will take you beyond the music of Mulatu, into a wealth of other talents from the scene at the same time! The sound here is incredible – a mix of heavy funk, spacey jazz, and other exotic touches all coming together – a unique sort of sound that's beyond referent, and which is easily some of the freshest music on the planet back in the 70s! The vinyl-only collection pulls tracks from different volumes of the Ethiopiques CD titles – and offers up a strong focus on the funkiest and grooviest numbers from that legendary series. Tracks include "Muziqawi Silt" by Wallias Band, "Hasabe" by Ayalew Mesfin, "Antchin Yagegnulet" by Tamrat Ferendji, "Amlak Abet Abet" by Asselfetch Ashine & Getenesh Kebret, "Temeles" by Alemayehu Eshete & Hirut Bequele, and "Aynotchesh Yerefu" by Samuel Belay. LP, Vinyl record album

Prepare to be blown away! The second volume of the excellent new Zanzibara series focuses on taraab music recorded on the tiny island-city of Momabasa – off the Kenyan coast – for the Mzuri label between 1965-1975. Unlike the more traditional, languorous taraab made in nearby Zanzibar, Mombasa taraab reveals a stronger African rhythmic attack and a diminished Arabic feel. But the real charm is the strong Bollywood influence! Indian cinema was a popular attraction beginning in the 30s, and some of the songs here are loose interpretations of certain film scenes. Each group prominently features either accordion or harmonium, but the most ingenious sound is provided by the tashkota, a Japanese string instrument the musicians amplified for a dazzling, twangy tone – in addition to the usual violins, hand percussion, oud, and fantastic, soulful vocals. The booklet includes great liner notes and wonderful photographs, too. Sixteen tracks in all by Matano Juma & Morning Star Orchestra, Yasseen Mohamed, Zuhura & Party, Ali Mkali & Mvita Orchestra, Zein Musical Party, Maulidi Musical Party, and Bin Brek. CD

Mad music that's unlike anything else we can think of – a killer collection of funky grooves from the Ethiopian scene of the 70s – offered up here on a vinyl-only compilation! The set's a great one if you've heard the music of Mulatu, but want to dig a lot deeper – as the cats included on this set are most of his contemporaries from the golden years of Ethiopian music – and most of them work in a similar offbeat, other-worldly sort of style! Rhythms are skittish, horns are hypnotic, and the vocals on some of the tracks have a weird appeal that really transcends the boundaries of language – almost like another instrumental element that fits in wonderfully with the heavy grooves underneath. Titles on the collection are pulled from various volumes of the Ethiopiques series – making this set kind of a distillation of all its greatness. Tracks include "Yebeqagnal" and "Ene Negn Bay Manesh" by Girma Beyene, "Queresh Endewaza" by Samuel Belay, "Ewnetegna Feqer" by Hirut Bequele, "Lomiwen Teqebeletch" by Mahmoud Ahmed, "Gedamay" by Getatchew Mekurya, and "Metche New" by Asselefetch Ashine & Getenesh Kebret. LP, Vinyl record album

Another striking volume in the always-great Ethiopiques series – this one a recent concert, done in honor of, and in the style of, the music on the previous volumes! The set was recorded in Addis Ababa in 2001, and is filled with some really great rhythms, snakey grooves, and some ultra-cool sax work that really sets a great tone for the album. Most tracks have vocals, either by solo singers or ensembles – trading back and forth in a call/response style that also adds a lot to the evocative feel of the record. Titles include "Bati", "Segota 1", "Segota 2", "Koko", "Belomi Benna", "Medo Hane", and "Ambassel". CD

A fantastic series from the folks behind the great Ethiopiques collection. Zanzibara focuses on the rich mother lode of neglected music from Swahili east Africa – Tanzania, Zanzibar,and the Comoros Islands. This first volume features gorgeous new recordings by the Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club, Zanibar's oldest taraab orchestra, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2005! When the group – which is really a kind of social club as its title suggests – formed, Zanzibar was a bustling international city, and while taraab draws most heavily from classic Egyptian music, there are also heady traces of Indian and Turkish music, with more lively African rhythms and Swahili poetry. It's a beautiful, hypnotic sound unlike anything else – lush strings, accordion, oud, hand percussion, and qanun percolate with stately grace, providing wonderful instrumental support for a raft of dazzling singers with decades of experience. Tracks include "Cheo Chako", "Hofu Yako Iondoe", "Zinduna", "Mpenzi Wangu Hawerzi", and "Naomba Kwako Bibiye". CD

Zanzibar dance grooves from the nation-building Ujamaa years of the late 60s – all done in a style that's somewhat different and a bit more laidback than work from neighboring scenes at the time! Most of the numbers here build up a base with percussion, bass, and a handful of guitars – all rumbling together in a gently earthy sort of way – never too harsh or too sharp, and often with the guitars ringing alongside each other nicely, as one player steps out with an occasionally more pronounced line. Lyrics also show a strong sense of teamwork – mostly sung by the group together at once, creating more melodic force on top of the rhythms on the bottom. As always with this series, the CD comes with a great set of notes that includes a history of the scene and the artists – and the package features 17 tracks that include "Nipeleke Kwa Baba", "Dada Nihurumie", "Maneno Niliyokwambia", and "Mpenzi Nakukanya" by Nuta jazz Band; "Kaka Umenishinda", "Mpenzi Ya Kijinga", and "Salamu Zako Nimezipata" by Atomic Jazz Band; "Likembe Ya Moro" and "Nimechoka" by Morogoro Jazz Band; and "Usiwaamini Shemeji" and "Shangazi Naomba Taiti" by Jamhuri Jazz Band. CD

One of our favorite entries so far in the Zanzibara series – a great set of grooves from the late 70s and early 80s – warmly laidback material, with a bubbling undercurrent of funk, and a sound that's somewhat different from other African material we've heard from the time! The rhythms often dip and turn slowly – almost with a watery feel, as the basslines groove up and down in midtempo waves of sound – often woven together with some tighter guitar parts, which also dance along nicely – topped by vocals that have a sweet undercurrent of sadness, too. The package is a great way to sample some of these lesser-heard gems – and it's put together with the same level of care you'd expect from Buda's Ethiopiques series. Titles include "Uzuri Wa Asili", "Baba Anna", "Rufani Ya Kifo", and "Mwana Acha Ujinga" by Dar International Orchestre; "Talaka Ya Hasira", "Nawashukuru Wazazi Wangu", "Taxi Driver", and "Kassim Amefilisika" by Mlimani Park Orchestra; and "Nilitaka Iwe Siri" by Vijana Dance Band. CD

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Keith Jarrett in our favorite side of his talents – playing the long, improvised style that first made him a breakthrough artist on ECM in the 70s – and which still remains one of his most important contributions to the history of jazz! Even later years, Jarrett's sense of imagination on the keys is amazing – and here, you'll hear very few echoes of other improvisations – long tracks that show that Keith is always able to create spontaneously, at a level that few others can match – especially as he never goes too far outside, or seems to lose a sense of melody in his music. The work is divided up into shorter passages – the older Jarrett sometimes needs a break on the keys, but never in his cognition – and as with other concert recordings of this type, the encores are older standards – "Answer Me My Love" and "It's A Lonesome Old Town" – but both given a very free, open Keith Jarrett approach! CD

Includes the songs "Bunny", "Atlantic Hop", "Power Steering", "Blue Lou", "Jubilee Jump", "Moods", "Budandy", "Deep Purple", "Southern Fried", "Charleston Alley", "The Gal From Joe's", "Rockin' In Rhythm", "Pompton Turnpike", "Cherokee", "Skyliner", "St. Louis Blues", "Swingin' Down The Lane", "Who's Sorry Now?", "Let's Blow The Blues", "Fur Trapper's Boogie", "Rhubarb", and "Wosie Posie". CD

A really great solo project from Charles Prest of Flamingods – a set that's got a completely compelling mix of psychedelic elements, contemporary beats, and some of the fuzzier sounds of the UK scene in the 80s! There's definitely a resonance here with that 80s moment when folks started to re-embrace psych after the punk years – but Charles also filters it through a more 21st Century vibe – creating these cool little songs that are very personal, and with a quirky vibe that really fits his image on the cover! Prest wrote, performed, and produced the whole album himself – and titles include "Annapura Guest House", "Blue Jurdab", "Villa", "Desiree", "Budaiya", "Decca Divine", "Beulah Spa", and "Dud Day". CD

A really great solo project from Charles Prest of Flamingods – a set that's got a completely compelling mix of psychedelic elements, contemporary beats, and some of the fuzzier sounds of the UK scene in the 80s! There's definitely a resonance here with that 80s moment when folks started to re-embrace psych after the punk years – but Charles also filters it through a more 21st Century vibe – creating these cool little songs that are very personal, and with a quirky vibe that really fits his image on the cover! Prest wrote, performed, and produced the whole album himself – and titles include "Annapura Guest House", "Blue Jurdab", "Villa", "Desiree", "Budaiya", "Decca Divine", "Beulah Spa", and "Dud Day". LP, Vinyl record album

A set that pretends to be a vintage soundtrack – but one that we can completely forgive for its gimmick, given that the music is so great! This isn't the first time that a contemporary funk group has tried to pass off its music as coming from a rare cinematic source – but the Whatitdo Archive Group maybe do a better job than most here – not only getting the right sort of sound for the arrangements and instrumentation, but also putting the whole thing together at a level that has the funk first, and the cinematic elements second – lots of great drums and basslines amidst the usual small combo funk instrumentation – then topped with some very compelling flairs that are more soundtrack-styled. Titles include "The Black Stone Affair", "Ethiopian Airlines", "Blood Chief", "Last Train To Budapest", "The Return Of Beaumont Jenkins", "Farewell Lola", and "Il Furto Di Africa". LP, Vinyl record album