New Music CDs

Trio Joubran pay homage to poet Mahmoud Darwish with a collection of skillful and heartfelt musical improvisations.

Few pop artists of the past fifty years have achieved such global recognition as the Egyptian Greek singer and performer Demis Roussos, who died earlier this year at age 68. Roussos had several international hit records as a solo performer in the 1970s after having been a member of Aphrodite's Child, a progressive rock group that also included Vangelis. This Dutton release combines two albums.

Julieta Venegas is known as one of the most prominent songwriters in Latin pop, with five Latin Grammys to her credit. Here she showcases not only her talent as a writer, but as a vocalist as well.

“'Desert Blues', the usual tag for Saharan Tuareg bands like Terakaft and Tinariwen, doesn’t do justice to their diversity. Terakaft have stretched into new sonic territory, helped by the deft production of Justin Adams. The familiar handclaps, drones and sinuous guitar lines are all present, but Alone has a rockier sound and an angrier tone, fuelled by bloody events in northern Mali. Opener Anabayou lopes along to a reggae rhythm, Oulhin asnin evolves into psychedelic workout, and the skipping acoustic drive of Amidinin Senta aniflas recalls 1920s delta blues."
- The Guardian

Carla Morrison returns with her most intimate album yet with the first single- the haunting 'Un Beso,' which was earmarked by tastemaker Zane Lowe on Beats One. Making Carla one of the first Latin artists to receive WORLDRECORD promotional status.

Before being joined by fellow musical travelers, it was alone in his home studio that Breton Celtic harpist Alan Stivell crafted this beautiful tribute to time, the change of seasons and poetry. Vocals, flutes, and percussion build the base for this contemplative music, a kind of avant-garde folk with an innovative take on electronic. On AMzer past and present come together in this harmonious expression of the passage of time.

Serenata Guayanesa is a musical ensemble, but much more, it is a living treasure of Venezuela's musical and cultural heritage.

Celtic Thunder pays homage to cherished holiday favorites featuring all-time favorites such as "Winter Wonderland", "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" and "Let It Snow", original compositions such as "Christmas Morning Donegal", "Christmas Overture" and of course the Celtic Thunder fan favorites the a cappella "Amazing Grace" the poignant "Christmas 1915" and the Gaelic version of "Silent Night" amongst others.

Originating from Afro-American rhythms of the Caribbean and Latin America, salsa has become one of the world's most popular dance forms. This 'sauce' is hot and spicy, a mixture of ingredients which gives it great versatility. Elements of jazz, funk, rap, as well as further Caribbean influences such as soca and merengue, have recently been included, forming a newly distinctive and further adaptively resilient salsa.

Together for the first time, Remigio Pereira and Pavlo co-wrote every song on this album (instrumental guitar compositions that fuse various styles). The music truly represents their passion for the guitar and their ability to write melodic compositions intertwined with their command of the instrument.

A tribute to legendary outsider Yiddish troubadour Nathen Prince Nazaroff, recorder of the mysterious 1954 Folkways Jewish Freilach songs. Uniting as his spiritual heirs, the Brothers Nazaroff celebrate the discordant, obscure, jubilant, ecstatic legacy of their inspiration.

Vibrant, tremendously danceable and so very Cape-Verdean, Lura's new album focuses on the archipelago's energizing up-tempo funana beat. It features contributions from three remarkable guests.

The story of two sisters: their relationship, their origins, their shared history and their musical chemistry.

"The Diaz twins create a world of intoxicating beauty, in songs that are smart, sweet and emotionally cracked wide open." - NPR Music
"... music fuses French, Cuban and Yoruba culture - may be diametric opposites on stage, but they combine spellbindingly." - The Guardian

Dokkerman and The Turkeying Fellaz is the lone Hungarian representative of the deep funk revival movement. In their music they recycle the gritty grooves only DJs spin nowadays, breathing new life into old funk, afrobeat, trash and garage beats. Dirty guitar riffs, no-budget organ, one sentence chants.

Percussive strings and maracas, dynamic vocal expression, and full-throttle pace earned the joropo of the Orinoco plains of Colombia and Venezuela its place among the most exciting regional music of Latin America. On this, its second Smithsonian Folkways album, the internationally acclaimed Colombian ensemble distills this excitement into a tightly arranged, even more explosive rendition of their tropical tradition.

The singer/songwriter, guitarist and Garifuna activist Aurelio Martinez first learned music at his mother's knee. At work-day's end, villagers returned home and gathered to hear paranda, the guitar-driven music of Garifuna troubadours who teased, taught, bemoaned and praised community life. Martinez joined in at a very early age. After spending time in politics, he decided to go back to music. His album is a swaying, bittersweet homage to his beloved home and people.

Keeping an ear to the ground for today's Malian sounds, these tunes were specially recorded for this release and feature inspirational new artists yet to be heard outside their homeland.

Monoswezi is a collective of musicians originally from Mozambique, Norway, Sweden and Zimbabwe. With a common passion for traditional African music in general, and music from Zimbabwe and Mozambique in particular, Monoswezi seeks a musical expression, where respect for tradition is combined with different references and experiences from jazz and modern Western music. In addition to traditional music, Monoswezi performs music composed by the band members, with a strong improvisational approach.

Hillborg Romtveit has taken poems written by a great-uncle who immigrated to the U.S. (Alaska) in 1927 to tell his story, using traditional folk music and Norwegian singing techniques and native instruments

The exciting sound of Nigeria in the 1970s is captured in a bold collection that includes many rare tracks.

The hottest reggae artists and trends with the past year's best Dancehall, Lover's Rock and Roots & Culture. New music from Beres Hammond, Gyptian, Eddie Murphy, Inner Circle featuring Chronixx. Includes a bonus mix disc performed by Seani B from BBC Radio 1Xtra.

In its 66th year the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is stronger than ever, selling out every performance totaling for more than 200,000 audience members. This is a spine tingling presentation that includes pipers, drummers, and singers as well as one of the world's most sensational percussions groups, Switzerland's Top Secret Drum Corps.

The sixth release and the hottest recording to date, with tracks that will liven up dance parties for years to come.

Mirabai Ceiba explores the celebration of life in the experience of death. This is celebration is beautifully presented in Sanskrit mantras, ancient native chants, and songs featuring Spanish and English lyrics.

Fifteen new recordings in Laura Pausini's native Italian language, including the first radio single 'Lato Destro del Cuore.' Once again, this production showcases one of the most beautiful and captivating voices in the world. It was recorded throughout Europe and with some of the most talented musicians from the region.