Lee Perry - The Return Of Sound System Scratch (Pressure Sounds)
Barely six months after the release of 'Sound System Scratch' the Pressure Sounds label is already releasing a successor.
La Cherga - Revolve (Asphalt Tango Records)
With their mix of pop, Balkan beats, dub and reggae, La Cherga is pretty much yours truly's favorite Balkan fusion act.
Juana Fé - La Makinita (Oveja Negra)
Shakin' Weld has once again come out of hibernation and that is traditionally the time when Zjef likes to enrapture us with some of his newest world music discoveries.
Aurelio - Laru Beya (Real World Records)
The fact Aurelio Martinez (shortened to Aurelio by Real World Records) dedicates his new album to Andy Palacio, should come as no surprise.
Watcha Clan - Radio Babel (Piranha)
Three years after 'Diaspora Hi-Fi' Watcha Clan returns with 'Radio Babel' (not counting the remix album 'Diaspora Remixed'), an album which, as the title indicates, sounds even more eclectic than its predecessor.
Dub Colossus - Addis Through The Looking Glass (Real World Records)
For the successor to 2008's superb 'In A Town Called Addis', Nick Page aka Dubulah chose a somewhat different angle, making Dub Colossus' second album sound a lot more varied than its predecessor.
Michi Sarmiento Y Su Combo Bravo - Aqui Los Bravos! The Best Of Michi Sarmiento Y Su Combo Bravo 1967 - 77 (Soundway Records)
The Soundway Records label has no intention to leave Colombia yet, as after 'Cartagena! Curro Fuentes & The Big Band Cumbia And Descarga Sound Of Colombia, 1962 - 72', they are now celebrating the career of Colombian salsero Michi Sarmiento with 'Aqui Los Bravos! The Best Of Michi Sarmiento Y Su Combo Bravo 1967 - 77'.
Turbulence - The Journey (Saya Production)
Yours truly has never been a big fan of Turbulence, but with 'The Journey' he delivers a varied album, continuously alternating between neo soul, hip-hop, dancehall and new roots.
Groundation - The Gathering Of The Elders (Naïve/Soulbeats Records)
With 'The Gathering Of The Elders' Groundation signs off on a first 'Best Of' compilation, but of course Groundation wouldn't be Groundation if they hadn't turned this album into a bit of a novelty.
Warrior King - Love Is In The Air (Rootz Warrior Productions)
Fans of Warrior Kings' roots songs will hardly find what they are looking for on 'Love Is In The Air' (an album which already appeared with a different cover back in 2009), because as the title suggests, for his third album the singjay resolutely opted for a lovers rock touch.
Various Artists - Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira! (Mais Um Discos)
For those who, like yours truly, are already eagerly looking forward to the next edition of Europalia, putting Brazil in the spotlight this autumn, 'Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira!' might well offer the ideal warm-up.
Antwerp Gipsy-Ska Orkestra - I Lumia Mo Kher (Excelsior Recordings/V2)
Those who caught Jan Leyers' passage through the Romani ghetto of Krakow ('De Weg Naar Het Avondland', Episode 10, CANVAS/VPRO) know Romani people are quite fond of our little country and it would far from amaze us if the musical reputation of Antwerp Gipsy-Ska Orkestra had something to do with that.
Professor - Madness (Naïve/Soulbeats Records)
After a first side project, Rockamovya, in 2008, Groundation front man Harrison Stafford this time launches Professor.
Englishman & Shangoband - Wise Shepherd + Dubwise part 1 & 2 (Azikiwa Music/Self-published)
The internet has reduced the world to pocketsize, resulting, among other things, in the fact that yours truly these days is contacted by artists from just about anywhere wanting some promotion for their latest album.
Various Artists - Dub Zealand (Green Queen Music)
Green Queen Music is mostly known for its Balkan-related releases, but for 'Dub Zealand' the label explores totally different musical horizons.
Grupo Lokito - Ensengo Ya Ko Bina (Self-published)
Grupo Lokito, one of the best sounding Congolese projects in recent years, curiously enough wasn't formed in Congo, but in London by English salsa pianist Sara McGuinness.
Various Artists - Cartagena! Curro Fuentes & The Big Band Cumbia And Descarga Sound Of Colombia, 1962 - 72 (Soundway Records)
For this compilation Soundway Records returned to Colombia to focus on the works of José Maria 'Curro' Fuentes, a member of the Fuentes family, founders of Colombia's largest record label, Discos Fuentes, active in Colombia in the nineteen sixties and seventies, the golden era of orchestras with names like El Super Combo Curro or La Sonora Curro.
Various Artists - Balcanica! v1 & v2 (Green Queen Music)
Yours truly was under the impression the popularity of the Balkan genre was already on the decline, but with the 'Balcanica!' compilation series, the Green Queen Music label gets the fire starting again.
Kareyce Fotso - Kwegne + Aly Keïta - Farafinko (Contre Jour)
Kareyce Fotso is a new addition to the catalogue of the Contre Jour label and with her songs the Cameroonian singer-songwriter seems to want to go back to the basics.
Sergent Garcia - Una Y Otra Vez (Cumbancha)
Sergent Garcia's last album, 'Mascaras' already dates back to 2006.