Colah Colah - One Love Unity Network Volume 1 (Elevation Records/Basco Record Production)
As this is already the third long player of his hand ending up on our desk in less than a year, Colah Colah can most definitely be considered a busy bee (nod to Colah Colah's most recent hit 'The Bees' which also pops up in the track list of this album).
Bixiga 70 - Ocupai (Mais Um Discos)
The releases on the Mais Um Discos label keep on coming and this time it's the turn of Bixiga 70, a ten piece band from the eponymous São Paulo neighborhood or bairro.
Dr. Joe Ferry - Connected: Mob Stories & Reggae Riddims (Joe Ferry LLC/Self-published)
New Yorker Dr.
Hollie Cook - Twice (Mr Bongo)
After listening to only three songs, yours truly was already convinced this second long player by Hollie Cook would end up in our list of favorite albums for 2014.
Sound Dynamik - Reste A L'Ecoute (Sound Dynamik/Musicast Distribution)
Although Sound Dynamik, a trio from the French city of Le Mans, evolved from the One Vibe collective formed in 1999, have already been active since 2005, 'Reste A L'Ecoute' is actually their first long player (in 2006 Don Pako, Puppa Nadem and Singa Melody already released a first mixtape, followed by Pako's solo album 'Présent Pour L'Avenir' and the 'L'Etau Se Reserre' EP by Nadem).
Island Jazz featuring Monika Njava & Linley Marthe - Island Jazz (Anio Records)
For this 'Island Jazz' Malagasy singer Monika Njava, together with her sister Lala the face of popular band Njava for years, surrounded herself with a number of excellent jazz musicians (Mauritian Linley Marthe on bass, Mozambican drummer Deodato Siquir and compatriot Joel Rabesolo on guitar).
Subajah - Voice Of Freedom EP (Self-published)
With this 'Voice Of Freedom' EP Subajah ("suba" is Creole for against-the-grain or rebellious), an Martinican artist residing in the British capital since 2007, presents his first calling card.
Rasga Rasga - Anhelo EP (Self-published)
Rasga Rasga is a colorful band from the German town of Nürtingen, a location which apparently did not immediately evoke much exoticism, making the different band members opt for a more tropical sounding alias than their own name.
Alpheus - Good Prevails (Liquidator Music)
'Good Prevails', the new album by Alpheus, is really nothing more than the logical sequel to 'From Creation', the ska/rocksteady album he recorded for Spanish producer Roberto Sanchez' Lone Ark label in 2011.
Malawi Mouse Boys - Dirt Is Good (Independent Records Ltd)
Do you remember Malawi Mouse Boys, the Malawian band named after the mouse on a stick snack popular in that country? Their 2012 debut album, 'He Is # 1', was apparently such a success that a successor had to follow.
Chupacabras - Palante (Self-published)
Cologne based band Chupacabras was formed after a chance encounter between rappers Richard Guerra Medina (Peru) and Miguel Igler (Spain) with Mexican busker Josué Avalos.
Mamani Keïta - Kanou (World Village/Harmonia Mundi)
Since for her previous albums Mamani Keïta always collaborated with musicians like Nicolas Repac ('Yelema', 'Gagner L'Argent Français') or Marc Minelli ('Electro Bamako'), one could argue that 'Kanou' ("love") is her first real solo effort.
Rodrigo Amarante - Cavalo + Metá Metá - MetaL MetaL (Mais Um Discos)
In February of this year we reviewed Orquestra Imperial's new album and now Rodrigo Amarante presents his solo debut 'Cavalo' ("horse").
Perfect Giddimani - Better Off Dread (Jah Youth Productions)
With 'Better Off Dread' the energetic singjay Perfect Giddimani is turning out his ninth long player! For the album, he collaborated with a number of producers (House Of Riddim, Weedy G Sound Force, Sly & Robbie, Drew Keys, Jimmy Cui.
Ginjah - Urge To Love (Funky Dividends)
Ginjah's 'Urge To Love' is one of those albums where the title already gives away its content somewhat, so the fact the track list of this long player contains mostly lovers tunes should come as no surprise.
Natanja - Reggae Provider EP (Juh Sound/Self-published)
Natanja is a Guadeloupean singjay based in the small city of Evreux in northern France.
Volga - Kumushki Pjut (Asphalt Tango Records)
The Volga River is the lifeblood of Russia and, just as that river unites hundreds of smaller streams, for this project singer Angela Manukian combines different genres and even eras.
Timmi Burrell - A Small Town Boy Story (New Sound Records/MacLes Music Factory Productions)
Let's get straight to the point: this debut album by Timmi Burrell, a young artist born in Spanish Town, but now based in Negril, should count as one of the big surprises of 2014.
Debademba - Souleymane (World Village/Harmonia Mundi)
Debademba, a collaboration between Burkinabe guitarist Abdoulaye Traoré guitarist and the Ivorian singer Mohamed Diaby, first appeared on our radar in 2011, when they impressed with their eponymous debut album.
Black Flower - Abyssinia Afterlife (Zephyrus Records)
For this album debut by Black Flower, the Ethio-jazz project of and around saxophonist Nathan Daems, we were already waiting since heard the five tracks on their self-titled EP from 2013.