The 15 Best Global Music Albums of 2011
The best global music albums of 2011 prove there’s energy surging everywhere around music, this human-made fight to find an approximation of the inexpressible.
Deanne Sole
Davila 666: Pocos Años, Muchos Daños
You're aware that they could defect into another sound at any moment.
Tinariwen: Inside/Outside: Joshua Tree Acoustic Sessions
This five-track, half-hour live set is an offshoot of the longer album Emmaar.
Garotas Suecas: Feras Míticas
Acid jazz was there before, but now it takes over.
Dona Onete: Feitiço Caboclo
Looking around for translations of the Portuguese lyrics, I find out that I've been listening to her request kisses from a beer-wet mouth.
Benyoro: Benyoro
A razor-sharp group of six instrumentalists founded by a Californian who plays djeli n'goni and guitar.
Da Cruz: Disco e Progresso
Mariana Da Cruz sounds as if she's having the time of her life on vocals.
Nawa: Ancient Sufi Invocations and Forgotten Songs from Aleppo
Not a long album, but potent.
Zongo Junction: No Discount
It's not surprising to see free jazz credited alongside Fela Kuti as one of the group's inspirations.
Tanya Tagaq: Animism
One of the most radically bewildering symbioses of voice and field recording I've ever heard.
Oumar Konate: Addoh
Plenty of grinding jangle on the debut solo album from this talented Malian guitarist.
Quraishi: Mountain Melodies
Exquisite, calm, unbudgeable, Quaraishi plucks his way through nine samples of ancient and modern folklore, some of it composed by himself.