There already are a couple of great new releases for the new year; one is from a well known Senegalese artist the other from a female Tuvan throat singer who’s remained a bit of a cult figure. Guitarist and vocalist Baaba Maal has not released a new album since his 2009 electronic heavy Television. His new one- The Traveller- features a mix of African roots sounds and western electro music.

The Guardian calls Like a Bird or a Spirit not a Face from experimental Tuvan throat singer Sainko Namtchylak the most unlikely fusion album of the year. That’s because she teams up with two members of Tuareg group Tinariwen. The result works very well with desert blues and sparse calabash percussion providing the perfect accompaniment to Namtchylak’s vocal variations- from child like cooing to eerie and beautiful wailing. This woman’s got a seven octave range! The year for global music is off to a good start.

Playlist

9PM

M’Fadel Fadoul- Sid Redad- Al Zman Said

Sainko Namtchylak- Erge Chokka To- Like a Bird or a Spirit not a Face

Here’s a bit of Sainko from a 2010 performance

Baaba Maal- Fulani Rock- The Traveller

Hafusa Abasi & Slim Hodi with the Yahoos Band- Sina Raha- Kenya Special: Selected East African Recordings From The 1970’s-80’s

The Good Ones- Dans L’oublie  (The World is in Chaos)- Rwanda is My Home

Grace Jones- Walking in the Rain- Nightclubbing

9:30PM

Aurelio- Nando- Landini

The Duke of Iron- Mambo Calypso- Mambo Calypso

Sylvie Vartan- Suzanne- Nouvelle Vague

Abida Parveen- Meri Bukkai De Vich- 50 Greatest Hits

Suba- Sereia- Sao Paulo Confessions

Jethro Tull – Fat Man- Stand Up

10PM

Jerusalem in My Heart- Lau Ridyou Bil Hijaz (What If The Hijaz Were Enough?)- If He Dies, If, If, If, If, If, If

Yorkston/Thorne/Kahn- Everything Sacred – Everything Sacred

Tunto - Couscous Music- Huvi

Fofoulah- Balou Nala- Bene Bop

Cecilia Noel- Cars- Havana Rocks

Hailu Mergia & the Walias- Tche Belew- Tche Belew

Hailu in Copenhagen. Maybe you saw him at Martyr’s.

10:30PM

Rabbits & Carrots- Las 4 Culturas- Soul Latino

Dick Khoza- African Jive- South African Funk Experience!

Bob Marley & the Wailers – Stir It Up- Catch A Fire

Stromae- Ave Cesaria- Racine Caree

Cesaria Evora- Consedjo- Cesaria Evora

Tony Allen- Morose- Lagos No Shaking