Alma Afrobeat Ensemble - Life No Get Dublicate (Slow Walk Music)
Alma Afrobeat Ensemble is the brainchild of Aaron Feder a guitarist from Chicago.
Prodi - Voice Of The People EP (Radikal Yawd Music/Self-published)
Those who, upon hearing the name Prodi, like yours truly, automatically thought of the Italian politician Romano Prodi, can now also link it to Calvin Whilby, as it is the stage name of this young Jamaican artist from Saint Catherine, initially still calling himself Prodigal Son and later Prodigal, but now shortening it to Prodi.
Octopizzo - Chocolate City (Out Here Records)
German label Out Here Records this time ventured into Kenya where they bumped into rapper Octopizzo (not the label's first visit to the East African country, as for the 2011 compilation, 'BLNRB, Welcome To The Madhouse' they already visited Nairobi).
Alborosie - Specialist presents Alborosie & Friends (VP Records)
The fact 'Specialist presents Alborosie & Friends' isn't really a new Alborosie album (this compilation was already released in limited edition back in 2010 on Alborosie's own Forward Recordings label), shouldn't really keep you from buying this excellent double compilation.
Maxi Priest - Easy To Love (VP Records)
'Easy To Love' signals the return of British-Jamaican lovers rock veteran Maxi Priest.
Sergio Mendes - Magic (Okeh/Sony Music)
The FIFA World Cup circus is now running at full speed, so we might as well linger in Brazil a bit longer to.
Jalilah's Raks Sharki - Stage Cuts (Piranha)
In recent years, six volumes of raqs sharqi, in the West simply known as belly dance music, appeared on the Piranha label; all compiled by reputed belly dancer Jalilah (born Lorraine Zamora Mutke Chamas), who collaborated with Mokhtar Al-Said (conductor of the Egyptian El Ferka Mesaya Orchestra), Hossam Shaker (graduate from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music in Cairo and now a much sought-after conductor and composer in the world of Arabic music) and Ihsan Al-Mounzer (student at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music and the Cairo Conservatory and, like Hossam Shaker a much sought-after composer in the world of Arabic music).
Rebelution - Count Me In (Easy Star Records)
Those who didn't quite enjoy the un-reggae-like and poppy voice of Eric Rachmany on the previous albums by Californian band Rebelution, probably won't enjoy 'Count Me In' either.
Bad Baadia - Mama (Self-published)
The fact North African genres like chaabi and raï are rhythmical cousins of reggae was already proven by Hakim 'Bouchkour' Meridja, singer with French band Dub Incorporation, and Jimmy Oihid.
Raging Fyah - Judgement Day + Destiny (Soulbeats Records/Harmonia Mundi)
When talking about new bands coming out of Jamaica - think Pentateuch, Rootz Underground or Dubtonic Kru - we certainly can't forget Raging Fyah.
Tiken Jah Fakoly - Dernier Appel (Barclay/Universal)
After a hiatus of just over a year, time he spent at his family's farm in Ivory Coast, Tiken Jah Fakoly returns with 'Dernier Appel', an album for which he continued along the path he had already taken for 'L'Africain' (2007) and even more for 'African Revolution' (2010): African instrumentation, more English-language songs and producers Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby are also present again.
Jahmali - We I Open (Reggaeland Records)
At the turn of the century Jahmali was still hailed as one of the big promises in the new roots scene.
Skarra Mucci - Greater Than Great (Undisputed Records)
Skarra Mucci (born Calvin Davis) is one of those Jamaican musicians who haven't been able to distinguish themselves in their home country, but have managed to build a nice career in Europe.
Ziggi Recado - Therapeutic (Zion High Productions)
For his fourth album and the first long player since the break with producer Berteaut 'Mr.
Mellow Mood - Twinz (La Tempesta Dischi)
As the title of this album suggests, apart from a soft drink brand run by the Marley family, Mellow Mood is also the name of a band around identical twins Jacopo and Lorenzo 'L.
Citizen Sound - Myrtle Forest Sessions (Self-published)
Citizen Sound is the alter ego of Canadian producer Aram Scaram.
Palenke Soultribe - Mar (Self-published)
For Palenke Soultribe producer/bassist Juan Diego Borda (also known as Insectosound) and producer/keyboardist Andres 'Popa' Erazo combine electronic music with Afro-Colombian rhythms and melodies.
Ashanti Roy, Pablo Moses & Winston Jarrett - Natty Will Fly Again (Soulbeats Records)
For 'Natty Will Fly Again' Harrison Stafford once again traveled to Jamaica; this time not to take place behind the microphone himself, but as a producer and musician (Stafford plays bass, drum and guitar on the album) to collaborate with three roots Veterans: 'Congo' Ashanti Roy, Pablo Moses and Winston Jarrett.
Ras Mc Bean - Inlightment (Union World Music/Irievibrations Records/Grooveattack)
For 'Inlightment' Guyanese boboshanti Ras Mc Bean (sometimes also spelled Mac Bean) joined hands with Union World Music, the Austrian label that/which/who already presented Deliman's new EP earlier this year.
Aedo Time - Aedo Time EP (Self-published)
Aedo Time is a six-piece band from Lille in the north of France, making their recording debut with this self-titled five track EP.