Thursday, June 16, 2022
The 10 Best New Albums from Around the World (July 2022)
Featuring new albums from Vieux Farka Touré, Julian Belbachir, Lily Henley, Phelimuncasi and more
Read the reviews of the albums below – and many more – in the July 2022 issue of Songlines magazine. Never miss an issue – subscribe today
1
Sonny Singh
Chardi Kala Sonny Singh
This is a great life-affirming disc from Sonny Singh, also known for his vocals and amazing trumpet playing in the bhangra band Red Baraat. On this album he pulls together elements from traditional Sikh kirtan, Sufi qawwali and more global sounds, backed up by a long list of talented supporting musicians. Maria Lord
2
Rebolu
Mi Herencia Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Respectful of their ancestral precedents, the group has continued to develop its upbeat, good time blend of everything from cumbia, rumba and rap to funk, folk and jazz, delivering songs with a social conscience and cultural pride at their core... Jane Cornwell
3
Vieux Farka Touré
Les Racines World Circuit Records
This is an album that may well compel you to scrunch up your face and let forth a guttural blues howl in public – don’t say I didn’t warn you... Jim Hickson
4
Julian Belbachir
Babdoukkala Julian Belbachir
Thoroughly authentic, while blending related cultures with a modern twist, Belbachir and Richardson’s meticulous attention to detail succeeds in crafting a first-rate album of considerable beauty... Seth Jordan
5
The Canny Band
The Canny Band The Canny Band
The debut album from Sam Mabbett, Michael Biggins and Callum Convoy is an exciting and fresh piece of trad fusion. The trio are well-known on the Glasgow session scene for their blend of trad, jazz, classical and folk... Billy Rough
6
Lily Henley
Oras Dezaoradas Lior Éditions
Lily Henley is a storyteller. Here she weaves traditional Sephardic Jewish ballads (alongside three originals) into her own melodic compositions, rooted in American folk traditions. The result of this unlikely combination is a record that is as evocative as it is beautiful... Celeste Cantor-Stephens
7
Phelimuncasi
Ama Gogela Nyege Nyege Tapes
What makes Phelimuncasi stand out is their ability to use pretty much any source material as a rhythmic texture. ‘Ngiphupha Izinto’ folds in glitches and computer malfunctions, with its propulsive snare pattern a component of the wider percussive playground... Alex De Lacey
8
Noori & His Dorpa Band
Beja Power! Electric Soul & Brass from Sudan’s Red Sea Coast Ostinato Records
Beja Power! is a wonderful album by a unique group, showcasing the riches of an underrepresented culture with an effortlessly hip sound – powerful indeed... Jim Hickson
9
Sam Shackleton
Causeway Recordings Sam Shackleton
Entirely self-recorded in his flat in Causewayside, Edinburgh, Scotland, Shackleton’s debut album showcases the artist’s innately powerful and idiosyncratic style to its fullest extent... Doug DeLoach
10
Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones
A Year Too Late and a Month Too Soon Splid Records
Every element weaves together seamlessly throughout this album, the delicate subtlety with which each line has been curated only adding to the impressive handling of these tunes... Rachel Cunniffe
