Top of the World – January/February 2019

'Mes Tits Cochons' from Boue, Boucane, et Bouteilles on Valcour

Foot-stomping, thigh-slapping Cajun fiddle from the backwoods of Louisiana, this track drives straight into a world of pigs, mud, and unbridled revelry.

'Ani Yeshena' from Victoria Hanna on Greedy Music

The Israeli singer spits and stutters lyrics taken from Biblical texts over a half step beat and heavy bass line. Alternative hip-hop that lies somewhere between the religious and the haunting.

Hoch auf jenem Berg from Neue Gezeiten on Beste! Unterhaltung

This track is the gift that keeps on giving. Joyful pan-European folk that transcends geological terrains - and if you think the ukulele and glockenspiel are a dreamy mix, wait till your hear that cornet. 

Sens Interdit from Otodi on Casa Records

From the birthplace of voodoo comes a masked demon channelling the spirits of Fela Kuti and James Brown: Vaudou Game, god of Afro-funk. Tremble before his riffs!

Senegalese Impulse from Tablananda on Riverboat

It's tabla versus djembe on this track, from an album that blends Indian classical music with jazz, Bollywood and roots music from around the globe. 

Flight from Flight on ECC

The parallels between human and avian migrations are revealed in all their charm in this album, from the fusion band who continue to exceed expectations. Listen here. 

Port Dannsaidh Hiortach-Deóra Dé from Allt on Machair

A beautiful, poetic song played with both flair and sorrow.

When I was a Lad from Music from Greece on Caprice

Solemn, marching drums and a bagpipe drone accompany this Thracian folk song, sung by the woman who dedicated her life to the preservation of Greece's traditional music. 

Begging Boys (feat. Souleymane Faye) from I Met Her by the River on Sterns Music

The socially-minded Gambian musician's moving tribute to the talibé - young Senegambian boys who beg on the streets as part of their Qur'anic studies.