Back catalogue:

Review: Bongo Joe and Sofa Records' third instalment of the Maghreb K7 Club Disco Single series dives deep into Algeria's vibrant 1980s scene, offering four tracks that shine a light on the region's overlooked gems. The A-side is led by two irresistible pop-boogie-funk tracks from Khaled Barkat: 'Galouli Enshara' and 'Zourini'. Self-taught and self-produced in 1983, Barkat's music was a hit at the time but got overshadowed by the rising tide of rai. His dynamic collaboration with Yazid Fentazi, Redouane Ayoub, and Mhenni Benlala resulted in a sound that blends infectious grooves with local flair. Now, for the first time, these tracks are on vinyl, offering fresh ears the chance to rediscover a key player in Algeria's pop history. Cheb Tati takes over on the B-side with 'Dub El Hammam', a heavyweight dub number that showcases his range as a rai vocalist. Tati was flown to London in 1989 to work with dub pioneer Denis Bovell, and this track is a standout from their sessions, merging the pulsating rhythms of reggae with a distinctly North African flavour. Closing out the release is the Kabyle band Asif, whose only known recording, 'Tafsut', serves as a fitting finale. Formed by three brothers in Lille during the late 70s, this beautifully crafted pop-boogie track captures the band's unique sound, bringing a sense of nostalgia and triumph to the collection.

Review: If you're into little-known South American gems from the dim and distant past, Mexico City's Discodelic label has got you covered. This limited-edition "45" marks the second instalment of their ongoing "Nicaraguan Afro-Latin" series and offers-up two deep cuts from the catalogue of tropical Afro-rock kings Bwama. Both tracks were originally featured on the band's second self-titled album in 1972. Our pick of the pair is A-side 'Ritmo Martizon', a richly percussive fusion of Guajira rhythms, salsa style pianos, gravelly funk-rock guitars and life-affirming vocals. That said, flipside 'Pa Goza' - a funky, shoulder-swinging affair featuring duelling organ and guitar lines atop a locked-in Latin beat - is also superb. In a word: essential!

Review: Together under the starry skies of the 70s, Arnaud Rodrigues and Chico Anysio made some of the most incredible music of that decade, under the name of Baiano & Os Novos Caetanos. Their legendary debut LP from 1974, under their own name, has become a Brazilian funk addict's must-have, not to mention a Holy Grail for contemporary sampling. Until now, it's been difficult to get a hold of it on viny format, so we're super psyched that the irresistibly reliable Far Out label has decided to reissue it. With 11 tracks to marvel at, there is a slice of funk for all walks of life and, of course, there is so much grooving to done! Quite simply, this is feel-good music for feel-good people, and this duo's vibes are just about the best thing we could ask on this June morning. Cop it before it's too late - we wouldn't want you to suffer at the hands of the online sharks, now!

Review: Now working under the alias Balaphonic, long serving Manchester artist Danny Ward steers his ear for percussion into something warm, rhythmically rich and hypnotic. He opens with 'Sunflowers in Dub (Deep Summer Mix)', where sitar, harmonica and fluttering keys glide across a humid dubscape, then folds in sun-dappled samba on 'Disorganics (All Strings Mix)', all brushed guitars and delicate groove. 'Six Fingers' leans deeper into Afro-Cuban melancholy, while 'Udders' chops South American drums into psychedelic loops, teasing out low-end heft. A standout collaboration with Ocean Waves Brasil, 'Oxum' blends gentle acid with dreamy textures and Afro-Brazilian swing, before closer 'Bloco Manco' lets off the brakes-delay-lashed, bass-heavy and totally locked-in. It's music built for dancefloors, but with the patience and touch of a drummer who knows when to let things breathe.

Review: Mande jazz ensemble Balimaya Project return with much anticipated second album When The Dust Settles on New Soil in partnership with Jazz re:freshed. The group has a magical big band sound that is expanded on here with plenty of personal expression running the emotional gamut from rage to love, grief to joy. Once again they combine the African rhythms of their roots with contemporary London jazz energy as they celebrate Black power and community togetherness. Composer, arranger and Djembe player Yahael Camara Onono leads the group with Afronaut Zu, Obongjayar and Fassara Sacko adding vocals over the advantageous folkloric rhythms.

Review: Spanish funk-rock group Barrabas formed in the 70s and had big success through that decade and the next. Drummer and producer Fernando Arbex lead the band and fomented a fusion of Latin rock and jazz-funk initially, before moving into a more disco orientated sound later on. Power was the band's second album and it came in 1973 with country-tinged tunes such as 'Boogie Rock', high speed funk workouts like 'Keep On Moving' and then more jazzy library sounds such as 'The Horse.' The second half of the album touches on busy dance floor funk like 'Casanova' and more stripped back and deep cuts like 'Children.'

Review: Craft Latino celebrates the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1975 salsa album by Ray Barretto with a deluxe reissue. This remastered edition of Barretto features the debut of Ruben Blades and Tito Gomez and includes iconic tracks like 'Guarare,' 'Ban Ban Quere' and 'Canto Abacua.' It has long been considered a cornerstone of the genre in which Barretto blends rich Afro-Cuban rhythms with lyrical depth and masterful musicianship from legends like Sly & Robbie and Augustus Pablo. It's a real bit of Latin music history that shines bright and is packed with shuffling rhythms and the sort of expressive percussion and horns that take you to a different continent in an instant.

Review: The indestructible Ray Barretto demonstrated superb skills on this record back in 1973. His band were at the forefront of the new Afro-Cuban musical movement that was emerging and became known as salsa. His composer skills were well known after he wrote 'Cocinando' and his band were also much loved in the live area though Johnny Rodriguez on bongo and cencerro, bassist Dave Perez, pianist Louis Cruz, along with trumpeter Rene Lopez and vocalist Adalberto Santiago all left him soon after. HIs Indestructible album is his most remarkable, with a constant sense of flow to the rhythms from front to back.

Review: Joe Bataan's 1968 sophomore album Riot! is considered a cornerstone of Latin soul and the record that truly cemented his reputation as the genre's king. Backed by the dynamic Latin Swingers band, Bataan masterfully blends Afro-Cuban rhythms, soul and funk with his signature streetwise flair. Tracks like 'It's a Good Feeling' and the title song capture the energy and emotion of late-1960s urban life while reflecting both personal and societal struggles. Its infectious grooves, raw vocal delivery and tight instrumentation mean that this one remains a timeless classic that continues to resonate across the generations.

Review: Bebo Valdes was born in Cuba but is now celebrated as a pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz and Latin jazz all around the globe. A trained pianist, arranger and conductor, he collaborated with legends like Olga Guillot, Celia Cruz, Josephine Baker and Nat King Cole and a trip to Haiti in the 1940s sparked his interest in African-rooted rhythms, which he then incorporated into his music while performing at Havana's Tropicana cabaret. After surviving a near-fatal bomb explosion during a performance, he left Tropicana to find success on Cuban television before emigrating to Mexico and eventually Sweden. Bebo Valdes Y Su Gran Orquesta is a wonderful window into his colourful rhythms and lively sounds.

Review: There is a near endless supply of music from Brazilian samba king Jorge Ben. He was a rule breaker back in his day and someone who challenged the conventions of the sound. His albums are in constant high demand and always getting reissued. This one, Samba Esquema Novo, is one of the best and not least because it is opened up by the legendary 'Mas, Que Nada' which will immediately bring sunshine to any setting. The other tunes are just as vibrant with his elastic vocals, delicate guitar work and generally good time vibes.

Review: Jorge Ben is one of the most influential Brazilian artists of his era. The so-called samba king brought all new rule-breaking style to the genre - both musically and lyrically - and fomented his own freeform acid-samba spin-off over the course of an impossibly high number of albums. One of the problems is that many of them were all given the same name, including this one, Ben. Fortunately which ever one you pick up there is joy to be had. Here there are plenty of psychedelic head twisters such as the opener 'Morre O Burro Fica O Homem' as well as deer, more soulful cuts like 'Fio Maravilha'.

Review: Funky Kromong Vol. 2 builds on the success of its predecessor with another bold and bright selection of tracks by legendary Indonesian artist Benyamin Suaeb for Lamunai Records. This volume highlights Suaeb's genius for fusing traditional Betawi music with infectious funk grooves and witty satire. Tracks like 'Kompor Meleduk', 'Cong-Cong Balicong', and 'Koboi Ngungsi' capture his signature humour and cultural insight while offering fresh energy for new generations. The seamless blend of traditional and modern instruments results in a timeless soundscape that honours Indonesia's musical heritage. Vol. 2 is both a nostalgic tribute and a bold, joyful celebration of innovation.

Review: Honest Jon's is back with another of those super stand compilations whose title alone is enough to prick the ears of any hardcore record collector. It delves deep into the world of Brazilian Dilson de Souza. He was a tropical jazz man who played leaves from the ficus tree - something people in China have been doing for 10000 years, apparently. With plenty of Afro influences, this is an album full of sunshine and chirpy electric organs and classical guitar. A single leaf is good for ten hours and Dilson used to play each end to get around eight tunes from each before he had to swap it. Amazing.

Review: Vapor is the fifth album from Sao Paulo Afro-Brazilian heavyweights Bixiga 70, breaking a four-year hiatus to bring you sizzling grooves played with an intensity which is all their own. There's a streak of 70s psych running through these full-bodied jams which splices with the rolling Afrobeat grooves and the piquant brass section - the results are as explosive as you would expect. It's worth noting the changes within the band and in the world around them since they last laid down recordings, so you can consider Vapour a re-birth of sorts for this nine-strong powerhouse.

Review: Ruben Blades is a singer but also a former Minister of Tourism of Panama, actor, activist and composer. He is a master of Latin jazz and for this album On Fotografias he reunites with the exceptional Roberto Delgado to continue a partnership that has defined his recent work. The Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning ensemble masterfully navigates an array of styles and bring fresh energy to eight of Blades' compositions. Their virtuosity shines through rich arrangements which are a colourful and sunny mix of salsa, jazz, and tropical rhythms with seamless precision. Blades' storytelling remains as compelling as ever as his lyrics are infused with nostalgia, social commentary and poetic depth.

Review: Should you stumble on an original copy of N'Draman Blintch's 1980 album Cosmic Sounds for sale, it would cost you upwards of 1,000 Pounds. This, then, is a much-needed reissue. It contains four fine cuts that showcase the Ivory Coast-born musician's distinctively intergalactic take on Afro-disco, where spacey electronics and mazy synth lines rise above bustling, high octane grooves. The album does contain one decidedly laidback and loved-up slow jam - closer "She Africa (Ton Tour Viendra)" - but it's the celebratory brilliance of the set's dancefloor workouts that most impress. Check, in particular, the anthem-like strut of title track "Cosmic Sounds" and the hot-to-trot, solo-laden Afro-disco explosion that is opener "Self Destruction".

Review: The Blue Rhythm Combo was a collective of musicians from Barbados including Bert "Panta" Brown, Clarence Thompson, Don Allamby, Jeff Grannum, Kurt Dallaway, Leroy Williams and more. They were active in the seventies and in 1972 dropped their Magumba album. It's a fiery fusion of funk, Latin and soul music that is a cult classic amongst collectors. As such, originals are hard to find and will cost upwards of 300 quid so this reissue is well timed. From the strident horns of 'BRC's Groove' to the ska-like swagger and reggae overtones of 'Mother And Child Reborn' this is a great summertime listen.

Review: Recorded between France and the volcanic island of La Reunion , beaten by the air of the Indian Ocean, the album, in the words as in the notes, transforms the French song into Creole succulence. On the spot, it is surrounded by musical figures of the island that the duet offered itself of the tasty subtlilities of the sega and the mayola. The notes of accordion of Rene Lacaille, the father of Oriane, the voice of Danyel Waro.

Review: The Bongo Hop's new album 'La Pata Coja' is a brass and percussion infused Coimbra/Afrobeat/Carib adventure where the pace of its rhythms reflects a sweetly limping groove. Particularly found in its title track, this echoes the translation of its title 'La Pata Coja', where laid backness conjures up a sometimes up sometimes down bounce, as a tonic to what life hurls at you and why a loved up bit of dancing can cure all. The Bongo Hop is French trumpeter Etienne Sevet's project with Colombian friends, vocalist Nidia Gongora (the voice of Ondatropica and Quantic), rapper Maikcel (Zalama crew) and also notable producer Patchworks, on Maxime Peron and Laurent Loudier's Underdog Records, who this year celebrate 20 years of supporting the melting pot that is France's rich musical heritage. Silky seductive vocals bring the brass together and Paul Charnay's lovely keys and break outs underlay and interject into the repetitive refrains of Boris Pakora and Oliver Granger's saxophones whilst Mario Vargas maintains a super syncopated percussive rhythm section on pretty much every track. If you love an easy funkiness you'll adore 'Dekonekte' or if you prefer a nice slowed down high life guitar rhythm 'Magica Bonita' is for you, add that to an infectious uptempo and downbeat West African grooviness and you won't be disappointed, making it a must-have.

Review: Tel Aviv-based band Boom Pan marks their 20th anniversary with an album that mixes up cinematic atmospherics and high-powered surf rock. It is their first for the Batov Records label and has eight tracks of global sonic tripping that go from Middle Eastern exotica to scores to an imagined Spaghetti Western and on to sandy beach parties by the Mediterranean. It's all made with a mix of catchy guitar riffs, tuba basslines and big drums that immerse you in engaging sounds and great musicianship that is always pushing at the traditional genre boundaries.

Review: Medellin-based American Bosq - a renowned musical fusionist with a passion for all things tropical - has been working with Benin-based Nigerian guitarist/vocalist Kaleta on and off for 12 years, with the pair delivering a series of sensational singles. No Be Today is the duo's first collaborative full length, with previous singles being joined by previously unheard cuts across two slabs of wax. As you'd expect given their previous work, much of the music joins the dots between various Afro-Latin styles and similarly vintage Black American dance music genres such as disco, funk and soul. It's an effervescent and effortlessly brilliant set all told, with highlights including pitched-down Afro-funk number 'Ose', glorious Afro-disco number 'Sonayon', Afrobeat update 'Ipade' and scorching Latin dancefloor workout 'Miselou'.

Review: As part of their 20th anniversary celebrations, Strut has decided to bring back the compilation series that first put the label on the map: "Nigeria 70". Curated by Duncan Brooker, this latest volume in the series is the first for eight years. It's another history lesson, with Brooker largely focusing on exposing the musical links between the music of Nigeria and Benin. You get a white-hot mixture of Highlife, Afro-Funk and Ju-Ju, mostly hand-picked from albums and singles that are near impossible for mere mortals to find. Interestingly, this edition doesn't just contain heavy cuts from the '70s, but also more synth-powered songs from the 1980s, too. As you'd expect, it makes for terrific listening.

Review: Brooklyn Sounds' legendary 1972 album epitomises raw Nuyorican salsa dura with powerful trombones, unconventional piano and electrifying percussion all colliding in a scintillating fashion. This reissue of the band's sophomore release includes rare photos and liner notes and displays a confident, mature sound honed through live gigs, Blending barrio grit with Caribbean rhythm, tracks like the anthemic 'Libre Soy' and 'Ha Llegado el Momento' feature a nod to 'Moliendo Cafe' and have become dancefloor classics. Though their career was short-lived, Brooklyn Sounds' music gained global acclaim and saw them cementing their place in salsa history as pioneers of the independent 1970s New York scene.

Review: Produced and sleeked out at Opal Studios in NYC, back in 1975, Buari's self-titled LP has been a cornerstone of international highlife music since it was first released. The original is now an arduous item to find at a decent price, so we thanks the Be With label for having repackaged an essential Afro LP that is a must have for anyone into anything outside a constant beat drum. "Karam Bani" opens with a forceful helping of funk, percussive to to the max, and this same hypnotic groove formula is present across the entirety of the A-side, making this a sampler's dream come true. On the flip, "Iro Le Pa" is the stand-out tune for us, a rhythm that makes Theo Parrish's Ugly Edits seems kinda tame! Recommended.

Review: The Budos Band's eponymous release on Daptone with psychedelic Afro Funk featuring members of the mighty Dap Kings and Antibalas.

Review: The Budos Band are the quintessence of Staten Island Soul. Since the release of the 2005 debut, their exciting new afro-influenced take on the instrumental music has been captivating listeners across the globe. "The Budos Band II" is an amazing release on Daptone.

Review: When it was first released a quarter of a century ago, the Buena Vista Social Club album - a concept album produced by Ry Cooder and Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, featuring veteran Cuban musicians recreating music that had been popular on the island nation in the 1940s and '50s - had a huge cultural impact. Not only did it sell like hotcakes around the World, leading to a US tour and documentary film, but it also raised interest in Cuban music, something that has sustained to this day. This 25th Anniversary edition, then, is fully justified. It boasts fully remastered vinyl and CD versions of the original album, each with bonus tracks, as well as partner discs entirely made up of previously unheard songs and alternate takes

Review: A reissue of a 1999 album by two Malian kora masters, New Ancient Strings is a beautiful collection of acoustic kora duets by Toumani Diabate and Ballake Sissoko - whom are both often popularly regarded (among West African critics and beyond) as the best kora players of their generation. Recorded in a single live take within a marble hallway of Bamako's conference centre on in 1997, the album is a landmark album in cementing the legacy and history of the instrument, with Diabete and Sissoko mutually inspired by the 1970 album of the same name, which was in turn released by each of their parents, Sidiki Diabate and Djelimadi Sissoko; many changes reflecting the meandering landscape of Malian music were made, not least the inclusion of flamenco flourishes and esoteric architectural recording techniques.