The July 2009 issue of Songlines is on sale in the UK from June 12 and includes our regular Top of the World CD with ten tracks from the finest new releases from around the planet, plus a bonus free CD, World Music from Catalonia, showcasing the musical creativity of the region.

The Top of the World CD includes tracks from the drummer behind Afro-beat, Tony Allen; klezmer innovators Oi Va Voi; experimental US string quartet Kronos Quartet; Cape Verdean singer Lura; and Chinese-Kazakh alt-country from Mamer. There’s also a selection of five tracks selected by Underworld’s Karl Hyde.

The main editorial features include:

• Baaba Maal – Senegal’s singer and cultural ambassador returns after an eight year recording break.

• Café de los Maestros – Oscar-winner Gustavo Santaolalla’s ambitious project bringing together Argentina’s original tango masters.

• Mamane Barka – The one-man crusade to protect Niger’s biram instrument from extinction.

• The Kalevala – Simon Broughton travels around the Russian/Finnish border in search of a legend.

• Lollywood – We look back at the golden age of Pakistan’s film industry and the music it spawned.

• WOMAD Abu Dhabi – Special news report from the first WOMAD festival in the United Arab Emirates.

• Sounding Out Marrakech – all the best places to see and hear music in the legendary Moroccan city.

• Beginner’s Guide to world dance pioneers Transglobal Underground.

• Postcard from Blanchisseuse, Trinidad.

• Jewish Cultural Festival, Krakow.

• Backpage from Shanghai, China.

• My World – Underworld’s Karl Hyde.

• News, including the summer’s musical highlights across London.

• Reviews of the latest CD, DVD and World Cinema releases.

Tags: 61, july, songlines