Mali
DIMANCHE A BAMAKO showcases the talents of married couple Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia who met at a Malian institute for the blind. While they have been making music together for decades, this album is their first high-profile international release, and they take full advantage of the attention with a buoyant set of French-language tunes mixing traditional Malian sounds with Latin, folk, blues, and reggae.
North Africa
The 'Secret Museum of Mankind: Music of North Africa' is a stunning compilation of North African music. The album allows us to sample a variety of North Africa’s greatest performances from countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan and others creating an eclectic mix of indigenous, emotive and inspiring music. We are given a glimpse into each country’s musical climax in which a sense of discovery is captured and communicated.
India
Classical temperament & electronic sensibility. Eastern timelessness & Western change. These juxtapositions and others are found in the new Chateau Benares, the fifth CD release by Sanjay Mishra. As in his earlier collaborations with Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia and Dennis Chambers, Mishra’s Chateau Benares continues to break new ground fusing traditional roots of East and West with modern music of today.
Wales
'Rockferry' is the debut album from the Welsh singer Duffy. It was written and produced in collaboration with Bernard Butler. The album is a stunning showcase of her voice, which brings to mind great singers such as Dusty Springfield, Lulu and Sandie Shaw. The album includes the delightful singles of 'Rockferry' and 'Mercy'. Duffy is a soulful breath of fresh air and a return to better times in music.
Israel
One of the biggest stars in Israel today, Idan Raichel has made inroads with American audiences with his studio-savvy sound. What’s really striking, however, is Raichel’s choice to work with musicians from other cultures (even including those who sing in Arabic) to make a universal pop music that’s creative, intelligent and inspiring while earnestly seeking to uplift. Now he’s poised to release his second album in the U.S.
Turkey
On Tree of Patience acclaimed Turkish virtuoso Omar Faruk Tekbilek expands his “Mediterranean sound” beyond political and religious boundaries. Tekbilek applies his unity-in-diversity approach to a collection of songs colored with traditional Sufi melodies, Middle Eastern flavors and distinct traces of folk and flamenco. The result: a contemporary world music/Middle Eastern sound that is uplifting, exuberant and spiritual.