This podcast includes highlights from the January/February 2007 issue of Songlines (#41), opening with a track from Ali Farka Touré's last album 'Savane' on World Circuit. We also have an excerpt from The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's album 'Funeral for a Friend'  which ties in with our feature on New Orleans Brass Bands; Songlines editor, Simon Broughton, talks about our Beginner's Guide artist Ali Farka Touré and plays tracks from two of his recommended albums - 'The Source' and 'In the Heart of the Moon'; Songlines Deputy Editor, Jo Frost, runs through all the nominated artists for next year's BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music aka The Planets and introduces a track from one artist in each of the eight categories:

 

Africa: Mahmoud Ahmed ('Ethiopiques Vol 7' on Buda)

Americas: Gogol Bordello ('Gypsy Punks' on Side One Dummy)

Middle East/North Africa: Yasmin Levy ('La Juderia' on Connecting Cultures)

Asia Pacific: Fat Freddy's Drop, ('Based on a True Story' on Kartel)

Europe: Camille ('Le Fil' on EMI)

Newcomer: K'Naan ('The Dusty Foot Philosopher' on Red Ink)

Culture Crossing: Ska Cubano ('Ay Caramba' on Casino Sounds)

Club Global: Mercan Dede ('Breath' on Double Moon)

 

Simon Broughton returns with details of his Best Albums of 2006, including music from "Drive East" on Sense World Music as well as an interview with the Algerian born Maurice el Medioni and music from his album on Piranha, Descarga Oriental. And Jane Cornwell introduces one of the classic albums of world music - Miss Perfumado from the barefoot diva Cesaria Evora.

 

The next Songlines podcast featuring highlights from the March/April issue (#42) will be available from February 16.