Dom La Nena’s ‘Tempo’ Feels Organic Even With Its Polished Perfection
On multilingual Tempo, the cosmopolitan experiences of Dominique Pinto’s life thus far come together in musings on the depths of time.
world music
4 Mars’ ‘Super Somali Sounds from the Gulf of Tadjoura’ Highlights Djiboutian Popular Music
These are recordings prematurely aged, but their grit belies fresh sounds that speak to Djibouti's history as a port region connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to the Horn of Africa.
The 10 Best World Music Albums of 2020
The 10 best world music albums of 2020 remind us that we are all part of the same global system, an understanding that we can imbue with endless possible meanings as, like the musicians named here, we find new ways to build connections.
Orchestra Baobab Celebrate 50 Years with Vinyl of ‘Specialist in All Styles’
As Orchestra Baobab turn 50, their comeback album Specialist in All Styles gets a vinyl reissue.
Masma Dream World Go Global and Trippy on “Sundown Forest” (premiere)
Dancer, healer, musician Devi Mambouka shares the trippy "Sundown Forest", which takes listeners deep into the subconscious and onto a healing path.
South Africa’s Phelimuncasi Thrill with Their Gqom Beats on ‘2013-2019’
A new Phelimuncasi anthology from Nyege Nyege Tapes introduces listeners to gqom and the dancefloors of Durban, South Africa.
Ethiopia’s Qwanqwa Go From Pastoral Folk to Somali Funk on ‘Volume Three’
Addis Ababa-based quintet Qwanqwa reinterpret everything from pastoral folk to Somali funk on Volume Three.
Mali’s Afel Bocoum Is at the Top of His Craft with Star-Studded ‘Lindé’
Malian singer-songwriter, Afel Bocoum's Lindé is a well-polished triumph of musicianship and craft.
Ghetto Kumbé’s First LP Is Roots Music From the Future
What sets Ghetto Kumbé apart is their ability to mix the traditional and modern so seamlessly in their music. One minute you're on a Colombian dance floor, and the next you're singing along with the tribes of West Africa.
Palestinian/Jordanian Shamstep Group 47SOUL Rail Against “Border Ctrl.”
Palestinian/Jordanian electronic ensemble 47SOUL have just released a timely song in "Border Ctrl." that compares the Israeli and US border walls that cruelly separate people, underpinned with infectious shamstep beats.