World Circuit レコード& CD

Review: It would be fair to say that the Afro-Cuban All Stars are Cuba's most important contemporary musicians. Their leader, Juan de Marcos Gonzalez, has been a pioneering figure for decades and his work with the likes of the Buena Vista Social Club has officially solidified his position as the guiding voice of Afro-Latin music. World Circuit has decided to reissue the band's debut album from 1997, A Toda Cuba Le Gusta, and it's no surprise given just how iconic it remains to this day. If you're a fan of rhythmic jazz with a Caribbean twist then this is the right material for you. If you're a record collector whose into the spicier end of the jazz scale then this is unmissable. Whoever youre, you're bound to enjoy this marvelous collection of tracks.

Review: Two titans of African music come together for a collaboration that will sadly never be repeated after the passing of the late Hugh Masekela. Allen's instantly recognisable drumming and Masekela's iconic trumpet are a match made in heaven - after all their paths first crossed back in the 70s thanks to Fela Kuti's galvanizing energy. Forget the throwback stuff trying to capture the spirit of the originators, this IS the originators sounding cool and deadly in every way. Funk lovers, Afrobeat heads, curious ears and dancing souls take heed - this right here is an unmissable transmission from two grandmasters in their field.

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: Dudu Tassa's homage to his grandfather and the Al Kuwaiti Brothers, Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis, is a poignant and respectful revival of Iraqi musical heritage. Despite the family's forced migration to Israel, Tassa refuses to let their legacy fade into obscurity. Instead, he infuses their traditional melodies with his own rock sensibility, preserving their oud-driven dignity while injecting a contemporary energy. Tracks like 'Lo Thareeb Ana Wethroch' showcase Tassa's bold reinterpretation, blending speed and guitar burn with reverence for the original compositions. Importantly, he doesn't seek to erase or overshadow their Iraqi identity with Israeli influences but rather embraces and celebrates their cultural heritage. As one of Israel's prominent rock stars, Tassa's dedication to honoring his family's musical legacy has garnered international recognition, including performances at Coachella and tours with Radiohead. This reimagined album, featuring a live bonus track with Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead/The Smile, serves as a powerful example to the enduring influence of the Al Kuwaiti Brothers on contemporary music.

Review: A welcomed heavyweight vinyl reissue of 1994 GRAMMY award winning album from two of the 20th century's most inspirational, creative bluesmen from two wholly contrasting sides of the world: Ali Farka and Ry Cooder. Most of Talking Timbuktu kicks its feet in the dusty plains of Mali with traditional instrumentation and time signatures before dropping into occasional splashes of soul surging blues such as the fiddle-like picking of "Ai Du" and the foot-stamping yearns of "Amandrai". A timeless meeting of two amazing minds that will never happen again, this should be reissued every 20 years by law to ensure future generations are aware this happened.