Haydamaky - Kobzar (Eastblok Music)

Not an easy one this 'Kobzar' by Haydamaky. Musically speaking there's nothing wrong with this Ukrainian folk-punk rock on the aptly named Eastblok Music label, but the Ukrainian language will not be everyone's cup of tea and 'Kobzar' sounds a lot heavier than the Gypsy music or folk melodies that most enthusiasts of Eastern European music are used to.

Hugo Westerdahl - Western Sahara, Remixing Saharauis (Nubenegra)

Artists like Tinariwen, Toumast and Mariem Hassan prove that the Western Sahara is hotter than ever! The ideal opportunity to give their, often traditional, music a remix treatment.

Grupo Fantasma - Comes Alive (Me & My Records)

Grupo Fantasma is just about the best Latin band yours truly had the pleasure of discovering the past few years and on 'Comes Alive' the Texans (maybe Tejanos would be more suitable?) prove that they're also a mean live act.

Luis Delgado - As-Sirr (Nubenegra)

On 'As-Sirr' ("the secret") Arabo-Andalusian culture aficionado and multi-instrumentalist Luis Delgado tries to fathom the secret of medieval muwaxahas poetry.

Various Artists - Long Way Down: Music From The TV Series (Real World Records)

If the title of this album means nothing to you, you have missed one of the best road movies/travel documentaries in times.

Joe Higgs - Life Of Contradiction (Pressure Sounds)

Most reggae fans will probably know Joe Higgs as being the mentor of the late Bob Marley, but his music is far less known, so Pressure Sounds' idea to re-release 'Life Of Contradiction' gets yours truly's full support.

Junior Murvin - Muggers In The Street (Greensleeves)

Even though Junior Murvin has several albums to his name, until now CD-lovers had to content themselves with one, the name of which I do not even have to mention.

Boban I Marko Markovic Orkestar - Go Marko Go! (Piranha)

Balkan music is above all about setting a certain mood and Serbian trumpet player Boban Markovic is an absolute legend in the genre.

Mahmoud Fadl - For Oriental Dancers (Piranha)

This could well be the ideal belly dance soundtrack, with rousing darbukas and classical Arabic violins evoking the vibe of a smoky nightclub somewhere in downtown Cairo.

Sevara - Sen (Real World Records)

Where Azeri Sevda sounds soulful and jazzy, Uzbek Sevara experiments with an ethereal ambient/dance sound.

Toumast - Ishumar (Real World Records)

Toumast arose from the collaboration of Tuareg musician Moussa Ag Keyna, singer Aminatou Goumar and French producer Dan Levy.

Kasba - ZigZag (LC Music)

Notwithstanding Belgium has an important Islamic community, where raï music is concerned we tend to focus on France (Khaled, Rachid Taha, Faudel, Cheb Mami...). Time to introduce Dutch band Kasba!

Sevda - Gül Açdi/A Flower In Bloom (Network)

Where Azerbaijan music is concerned, yours truly is far from a specialist, but for Sevda’s 'Gül Açdi/A Flower In Bloom' that actually proves quite unnecessary.

Orchestra Baobab - Made In Dakar (World Circuit)

All the members of Orchestra Baobab - the African (Senegalese) equivalent of Cuban Buena Vista Social Club - have already exceeded the age of 60, so it's no wonder they do things at their own pace.

Aly Keita - Akwaba Iniséné (Contre Jour)

For yours truly, 'Akwaba Iniséné' was the first introduction to Aly Keita, but the album of this master of the balafon (the West African version of the xylophone or marimba) is a true revelation.

Omar Perry - Man Free (No Direction Home/Corner Shop/Nocturne)

It has cost him blood, sweat and tears, but Omar Perry has finally managed to get his debut album in stores.

Irie Bash - Little John (Maba Music)

As a foretaste for an album that should appear in the coming months, Maba Music presents the 'Little John' EP by Ivorian reggae singer Irie Bash.

Rootman J. & The Zionyouth Crew - Destined Destination (Maba Music)

It doesn't happen every day that yours truly is asked to write a review of an album containing two self-penned tracks ('Culture Shock', 'No Entry For Illegal Refugee'), but let's start at the beginning...

Lorna Asher - Education (Reality Sound)

Yours truly has a soft spot for female voices in reggae and with 'Education' Lorna Asher really delivers a gem of an album!

Bishob - Get Up And Try: Bishob Meets Manjul (Makasound)

With Bishob Makasound and producer Manjul are yet again introducing us to a new African revelation.