Monday, October 11, 2021
The 10 Best New Albums from Around the World (November 2021)
Featuring outstanding new releases from Béla Fleck, Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita, Susana Baca, Sofia Rei and more...
Onipa
Tapes of Utopia Boomerang Records
The core of the band are exceptionally fluent, flexible and funky musicians: KOG (aka Kweku of Ghana from KOG & the Zongo Brigade) on vocals, balafon and percussion; Dwayne Kilvington (aka Wonky Logic) on synths; Tom Excell on all-embracing guitar, percussion and electronics, with fellow Nubiyan Twist members Joe Henwood on baritone sax and Finn Booth on drums... Max Reinhardt
Susana Baca
Palabras Urgentes Real World Records
At 77 years old, Baca has never sounded better; her voice has lost none of its dynamism and the careful production of this new album gives her even more room to shine... Russ Slater
Davide Ambrogio
Evocazioni e Invocazioni Catalea
Ancient resonances tinge Davide Ambrogio's timbre. He is a Calabrian singer and multi-instrumentalist – guitars, Calabrian lyre, zampogna (bagpipes), electronics and percussion – from the mountainous Aspromonte area. His debut (which translates as ‘Evocations and Invocations’) is a melodic and rhythmic exploration of his home dialect, intertwining acoustic instruments and electronics, tradition and sound design, singing and spoken word... Ciro De Rosa
Sofia Rei
UMBRAL Cascabelera Records
Sofia Rei is an Argentinian singer, songwriter and producer whose fearless experimentation takes you to untold musical heights. Her fifth album, UMBRAL, is a masterclass in how to combine folkloric tradition with digital futurism. The album has an enchanting authenticity derived from Rei allowing her unique personality to be revealed in music... Dan Hobson
Broadside Hacks
Songs Without Authors Vol 1 Broadside Hacks
This album might prove an introduction to folk song, and for us seasoned listeners, the chance to remind ourselves of why we listen in the first place... Sophie Parkes
Béla Fleck
My Bluegrass Heart Renew Records/BMG
Bela Fleck's paean to the genre in which the banjoist established himself as a virtuosic instrumentalist and innovative composer is the finest bluegrass album of 2021... Doug DeLoach
Meridian Brothers & Conjunto Media Luna
Paz en la Tierra Bongo Joe
Recalling golden-age vallenato or the cumbia campesina of Andrés Landero, Medellín's strident accordion is showcased perfectly, as are Álvarez's vocals. This format allows his words to shine better than ever before; these songs feel like modern-day vallenatos in the troubadour tradition... Russ Slater
Justin Adams & Mauro Durante
Still Moving Ponderosa Music Records
Adams has long been a bold and adventurous serial collaborator but this album with Mauro Durante – leader of Italy's premier taranta and pizzica band Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino – ranks among his finest achievements... Nigel Williamson
Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita
SUBA bendigedig
Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita's debut album as a duo, Transparent Water, came out in 2017 and was a transporting set encompassing Chinese sheng and Japanese koto as well as Sosa's Afro-Cuban piano and Keita's lush West African kora. For their sophomore set, the duo reunite with Venezuelan percussionist Gustavo Ovalles and dextrous water percussionist and electronics hand Steve Argüelles, along with cellist Jaques Morelenbaum and flautist Dramane Dembélé... Tim Cumming
Australian Art Orchestra, Daniel & David Wilfred, Sunny Kim, Peter Knight & Aviva Endean
Hand to Earth Australian Art Orchestra
While many contemporary projects strive to combine ancient and modern influences, this innovative and ethereal musical alliance actually achieves that lofty goal – with old cultural ground being respected, while new artistic ground is broken. Hand to Earth is a truly exquisite album... Seth Jordan
