In every issue of Songlines we choose ten of the best new albums we have reviewed as our Top of the World. Here are the 10 Top of the World albums from the April 2024 issue of Songlines – out now, including outstanding releases from Aziza Brahim, Giuliano Gabriele, Abdul & The Gang, Natascha Rogers, Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès, LINA_, La Bottine Souriante, Arushi Jain, Carwyn Ellis and Hizbut Jámm. Tracks from all of these albums are included on the cover CD with the April issue. 

1. Aziza Brahim

Mawja (Glitterbeat Records)

‘Brahim’s fourth album for Glitterbeat, and it’s up there with Soutak (2014) as one of her best to date. It’s a brave and emotional set in which she wisely ignores fancy production work and chooses to match her soulful vocals against percussion and the guitar and bass work of long-time collaborator Guillem Aguilar, who co-produced the set with [her]…’ Robin Denselow

2. Giuliano Gabriele

Basta! (Coming MusicArt / InOuïe Distribution)

‘Gabriele is a diatonic accordionist and composer from Sora in south-central Italy who works with the hypnotic folk rhythms of the Italian south and blends them with broader global sounds, to great effect. The groove he finds in Basta! (Enough!) is truly infectious…’ Nathaniel Handy

3. Abdul & The Gang

Kasbatek (Abou Bakre Bensalem / Z Production)

‘A fun and energetic listen, with the sonic landscape shifting significantly throughout the duration of the record…They craft their aesthetic as conspirators, specifically musical ‘traffickers’ in Abdul’s words, with the goal being to take elements of traditional music and modern western genres, not adhering to any ingrained rules or hegemonic discipline – to become outlaws of a kind…’ Nik Hann

4. Natascha Rogers

Onaida (NØ FØRMAT!)

‘This album could almost be a confusing mess of too many influences with slightly cringey sentiments but, due to Rogers’ incredible inventiveness and downright beautiful songwriting, it stands out as one of the most interesting and enjoyable albums I’ve reviewed for this publication in the last 12 years…’ Tom Newell

5. Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès

Dieuf-Dieul de Thiès (Buda Musique)

‘It’s a sure date for lovers of ebullient West African grooves fuelled by chiming guitars, cross-rhythmic currents, brilliant blasts of brass and a chorale of vocals, coalescing into a swaying, sweating body of music that’s reminiscent of the great West African bands…’ Tim Cumming

6. LINA_

Fado Camões (Galileo Music)

‘an intriguing fusion that balances tradition and experiment with LINA_’s thrilling, passionate voice matched against subtle, bravely original backing…’ Robin Denselow

7. La Bottine Souriante

Domino! (Studio B-12)

‘The energetic 11-person ensemble deploys plucked and bowed string instruments, horns, keyboards, accordion, harmonica and percussion, as well as the impelling podorythmie (foot-tapping) of French Canada bolstered by stomps, claps and shouts. And seven of them vocalise, in French and in turlutte, the onomatopoeic imitation of fiddle lines…’ Jeff Kallis

8. Arushi Jain

Delight (Leaving Records)

‘There is a surreal joy inherent in this music, a wonder at all the creative, positive futures we can imagine for ourselves, echoing the ‘utopian scholastic’ aesthetic that will give 90s kids a healthy dose of nostalgia. The optimism is so refreshing! …’ Jim Hickson

9. Carwyn Ellis

Ni a Nhw (Bubblewrap Collective)

‘…We could all do with a relaxing escape from daily strife now and again, and this collection of songs certainly delivers that. You will be searching for Ellis’ back catalogue in no time.’ Elliw Iwan

10. Hizbut Jámm

Hizbut Jámm (Instant Classic)

‘At root, Hizbut Jámm is a set of sonic sculptures spanning jazz, folk, psychedelia and experimental sounds, founded on the flutter of Szpura’s drums and crowned by Mamadou’s bristly vocals, uttered in Wolof and French…’ Olivia Cheves