1. Balimaya Project - Balimaya (album Wolo So)
« The long-awaited debut release from the London-based West African-jazz big band is a hugely exciting and potent mix of instrumentation and styles. »
2. Joseph Tawadros - Smoke & Mirrors (album Hope in an Empty City)
« The Australian-Egyptian “oud” player is one of London’s most charismatic musical figures and this is the opening track from his latest album, recorded in New York with a new ensemble. »
3. Natalia Lafourcade - La Llorona (album Un Canto por México Vol II)
« The Grammy award-winning Mexican singer gives a spine-tingling performance of this classic Latin-American ballad, covered by the likes of other luminary artists such as Chavela Vargas, Joan Baez, Lhasa de Sela and Lila Downs. »
4. Piers Faccini - All Aboard (album Shapes of the Fall)
« Moroccan “maalem” Abdelkebir Merchane and American singer-songwriter Ben Harper join the musical polymath Piers Faccini on this Gnawa groove-heavy song. »
5. Arooj Aftab - Mohabbat (album Vulture Prince)
« The Pakistan-born, New York-based singer’s third album features this beautiful “ghazal” – a transportive and minimalist song that showcases Aftab’s beguiling vocals.
6. Lakou Mizik & Joseph Ray - Lamizè Pa Dous (album Leave the Bones)
« The Haitian collective join forces with the electronic producer Joseph Ray on their latest album that includes this song featuring the soaring and haunting vocals of Nadine Remy. »
7. San Salvador - Fai Sautar (album La Grande Folie)
« The debut album from the Occitan sextet is definitely one of my albums of the year and this track and quirky video serves as a reminder of what an exciting live act they are. I can’t wait for them to come to the UK and perform! »
8. Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi - Calling Me Home (album Calling Me Home)
« Giddens and her partner Turrisi give a beautifully moving rendition of this meditation on death, originally written by American bluegrass singer Alice Gerrard. »
9. Les Filles de Illighadad - Inssegh Inssegh (album At Pioneer Works)
« Fronted by Fatou Seidi Ghali, one of the first professional female Touareg guitarists, Les Filles de Illighadad provide a refreshing take on the desert blues sound, so often dominated by male bands. »
10. Toumani Diabaté & the LSO - Mamadou Kanda Keita (album Kôrôlén)
« Mali’s kora maestro Toumani Diabaté joins forces with the London Symphony Orchestra for this special album recorded live in 2008 at the Barbican in London. This track features one of Mali’s greatest singers Kassé Mady Diabaté who passed away in 2018. »
