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1 Dub Inc Paradise (Diversite DIV021) “Reggae but not as we know it” claims the press release. Hearts very much in the right place and the occasional North African influ- ence hints at something more interesting, but mostly this has been done often and better elsewhere.
Dub-inc.com
1 Adriano Adewale Group Raizes (Cabo- clo AAG01). Fine London-based Brazilian per- cussionist Adewale is joined by musical muck- ers including kora man Kadialy Kouyate for a set of light jazz and global influences. Fine playing throughout, but lacking in character.
www.adrianoadewale.co.uk
2 Andreas Aase Tre (Øra OFO51). Aase, known for fine work with Sturla Eide and others, plays a guitar bouzouki (eight-strung like a bouzouki but guitar-shaped with gui- tar’s deeper resonance) in elegant, articulate solo arrangements of traditional Norwegian tunes and some originals.
www.andreasaase.com has a beautifully-shot video of Jimbo.
www.orafonogram.no
1 Mark T & The Brickbats Middle East To Mid West Re-loaded (Circle Of Sound, no cat no). Timely, not-quite-complete reissue of trio’s 1987 second album, topped up with tracks from subsequent third (The Room) and an alternate mix. At best, superbly quirky boundary-shoving; at worst decidedly over- enthusiastic but joyously executed globally aware experimentalism. A product of its time, sure, but very worthy of reappraisal.
www.circleofsound.co.uk
1 Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha Lap- land-Balkan (Playground Music PMFI18). The band, from Lapland, have won a number of Finnish folk music awards, which is inter- esting given their devotion to the music of the Balkans. The melancholy new recording is all ruminative dance, in absorbing original songs about doomed romance and the global economic meltdown.
www.mrjaakko.com
1 Copperdollar The Back of Beyond (Freshly Squeezed ZESTCD058). Copperdollar are a “mixed media performance company inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead” and their resident DJ Mark Stylus has put together this hit and miss compilation of mostly Latin American inspired clubby sounds.
www.copperdollar.com
1 Driss El Maloumi Makan (Contre Jour CJ029). Moroccan oud player, joined by per- cussionists for a set of original material. Exe- cellent musicianship throughout and some attractive compositions, although it does descend into noodliness and endless percus- sion solos at times.
www.contrejour.com
1 Hunter Muskett That Was Then, This Is Now (Limefield LFCD018). Occasional reunion now solidified in agreeable acoustic roots and rock fashion by ’70s strumstrels, backed by the likes of Paul Burgess, Jerry Donahue, Ray Jackson. All told, it’s sunny, grin-inducing and a run through of Walk Away Renée adds the icing.
www.huntermuskett.com
1 Trio Samara Grandmother’s Dance (Footprint FRCD057). Houmous and herrings mix surprisingly well on this pleasingly delicate combination of Middle Eastern and Nordic music from a Swedish-based trio of oud, sax and bass.
www.footprintsrecords.com
1 Kyle Alden Down In The West Volume 1 (Watershed Productions WSPCD0113). San Francisco-based Kyle follows up his appealing and enterprising 2011 disc of Yeats settings with a further low-key but gently persuasive collection of acoustic Americana that includes treatments of Blake, Burns, three more Yeats, two decent covers (Richard Thompson, Fred Neil) and a couple of self-penned items.
www.kylealden.com
2 Johnny Coppin Borderland (Red Sky Records RSKCD 120). Johnny’s latest release is an eloquently sung and beautifully presented collection loosely connected by the title theme. He’s perfectly supported by Karen Tweed, Paul Burgess, Mike Silver and other fine musicians; result: a disc that’s both imme- diately accessible and thoroughly appealing in its characteristic gentle strength of expres- sion.
www.johnnycoppin.co.uk
1 Various Artists Folk Awards 2014 (Proper PROPERFOLK15). It’s that time of the year again! The typically comprehensive, rep- resentative selection of nominated artistes won’t disappoint the newbie-converts, but the main interest as ever is in the welcome ‘ones to watch’ bonus tracks showcasing the Young Folk Award nominees.
www.properdistribution.com
1 Railsplitters Railsplitters (Own label, no cat no). Bluegrass from Colorado, all origi- nal material well played and sung with first class lead vocalist Lauren Stovall.
www.therailsplitters.com
2 Paul Anderson Land Of The Standing Stones (Fingal FINCD505). A masterly show- case album from well-known Aberdeenshire fiddler and prolific composer: all the compo- sitions are Paul’s. Standout pieces are his beautiful soundtrack for the stage-dramatisa- tion of Sunset Song and the sweet, poignant slow air The Beauty of Cromar Before Me.
www.paulandersonscottishfiddler.com
1 Bulimundo Bulimundo/Djam Brancu Dja (Lusafrica 662812). A musical revolution after a political awakening – after Cape Verde won freedom from Portugal in 1975, the musical craze was funaná. Here, rere- leased, a CD of the two most important albums from the most important band – a likeable blend of dance, Western pop, folk- lore and the sentimentality of Portuguese balladry.
www.lusafrica.com
@ Warren James The Skiffle Sessions (Abard Music NABCD 1401). In the unlikely event that the world needs a Lonnie Done- gan tribute act, look no further. Not a hint of originality.
www.warrenjamesmusic.com
1 Tribecastan New Songs From The Old Country (Evergreen Music 008). More folky, rootsy, jazzy-style tunes with influences from all over the place, played on odd instruments by John Kruth and his New York-based band of buddies. Some fine moments, if a little uneven and sketchy.
www.tribecastan.tv
1 The Cat Empire Steal The Light (Two Shoes TCE009CD). Big, brassy (if oddly unimaginative) mix of funk, pop and global influences from Aussie eight-piece TCE. Fair to middling festival fun.
www.thecatempire.com
@ Duo Lagrange Rutkowski & Friends Cork By Night (Own label DUO02). The French duo of Lagrange (horribly-toned accordeon with plodding bass notes) and Rutkowski (frenzied uilleann pipes/low whis- tle/French bagpipes) conspire to murder Irish traditional music with the assistance of a homicidal cittern player and various ‘famous’ Irish guests. Truly, truly awful. No website, thankfully.
1 Manu Chao Clandestino (Because B00F2N3MU0) / Sibérie M’Etait Contée (Because B00F2N3MT6). Chao’s 1998 break- through solo debut, Clandestino still cuts the mustard. Its re-issue is accompanied by the release for the first time outside France of 2004’s Sibérie. This is Chao’s French album which couldn’t be more French if it came in riding a baguette in a stripey jersey. Not his finest hour.
www.manuchao.net
1 Omar Khorshid Guitar El Chark (Sub- lime Frequencies SF052CD). Typically well- packaged double CD from Sublime Frequen- cies featuring Egyptian electric guitarist Khorshid’s 1970s recordings made in Beirut. A little of this mix of rockin’ guitar, freaky- deaky Moog synth, Oriental percussion and accordeon goes a long way and in truth, 28 tracks is probably a little too much.
Sublimefrequencies.com
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