Desert Crossroads

Etran Finatawa
(TUG1048)

Among the grasslands of the Sahel and the shifting dunes of the Sahara desert, two legendary nomadic peoples, the Wodaabe and Tuareg, are joined together in the raunchy guitars and haunting voices of Etran Finatawa. As the winds of change cast uncertainty over their nomadic lifestyle, both cultures are at a crossroads. Etran Finatawa reflect on their roots, with a nostalgia and warmth that mirrors the majesty of their desert home.
 

**** (Four stars) 'Top of the World album.' Songlines 2008

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Jidka

Saba
(TUG1047)

Born in Mogadishu to an Italian father and Ethiopian mother, Saba has come to represent the meeting of African and European cultures: as an actress she starred in a long-running TV drama, playing the role of a policewoman fighting against the prejudice of her colleagues, while dealing with issues such as illegal immigration from Africa. On Jidka (The Line), her musical debut, she explores the divide between Somalia and Italy with a rare sensitivity and gentle humour; mixing acoustic guitars and koras with traditional African beats and contemporary percussion. The result reflects both one woman's search for her identity and what it means to be alive in the 21st century, when so many people live in more than one culture.
 

'Saba clearly has talent.' Songlines

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Lumière

Bob Brozman Orchestra
(TUG1046)

Lumière is the culmination of guitar virtuoso Bob Brozman’s musical memories formed over a lifetime of travelling and playing music with others. His years of absorbing influences from cultures worldwide is expressed through the establishment of the Bob Brozman Orchestra - a unique concept where Bob intricately plays each instrumental part, building layer upon layer to formulate the tremendous sound of an extensive orchestra. He revisits the influences drawn from previous collaborations with artists such as Debashish Bhattacharya, René Lacaille, Djeli Moussa Diawara and Takashi Hirayasu to reflect on the profound imprint travel has had on his life.
 

Songlines Top Of The World album

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Rhythm Of The River

Various
(TUG1045)

Rhythm of the River showcases a range of musical gems from World Music Network's artist label Riverboat Records. Formed in 1989, Riverboat Records is a pioneering world music label, home to many leading artists including Guinean legend Mory Kante the first African artist to sell a million singles, Cuba's leading son band Sierra Maestra and Calcutta's sublime Debashish Bhattacharya. Recent signings include renowned Cameroonian artist Sally Nyolo as well as Benjamin Escoriza - the unforgettable voice of Radio Tarifa.


'Work of integrity and taste.' Sing Out!

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Alevanta!

Benjamín Escoriza
(TUG1044)

Alevanta! is the debut solo album of Granada-born vocalist and lyricist Benjamín Escoriza whose raw and distinctive voice led the ground breaking Spanish band Radio Tarifa to worldwide acclaim. Known for his blend of traditional North African music with flamenco, Latin rhythms and a pop sensibility, on this release Escoriza develops this powerful Latin-Arabian sound, exploring more acoustic and flamenco directions while continuing to delve into Spain's Moorish roots.
 

**** (four stars) '[a] stew of medieval, Moorish and flamenco influences’ The Independent On Sunday

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Studio Cameroon

Sally Nyolo And The Original Bands Of Yaounde
(TUG1043)

Studio Cameroon marks the return of internationally renowned artist Sally Nyolo to her homeland and tells the story of her quest to explore and develop the local music scene. While searching for fresh talent, she set up a studio in a modest tin-roofed building: somewhere she could meet with other musicians in a relaxed environment. The resulting carefree atmosphere is evident throughout these raw and magical recordings. This is music made purely for the joy of it.
 

‘A treasure.' The Sunday Times

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Special Edition - Calcutta Slide Guitar

Debashish Bhattacharya
(TUG1042)

Special edition re-release of the CD 3: Calcutta Slide Guitar with new bonus DVD featuring a performance of the album filmed in Calcutta. Pandit (master) Debashish Bhattacharya is one of the world’s most remarkable slide guitarists and this album represents the culmination of a lifetime of intensive study, performance and innovation. All the guitars heard on 3: Calcutta Slide-Guitar are unique instruments designed by Debashish himself, a Trinity of Guitars – Chaturangui, Gandharvi and Anandi – representing three generations of instruments, while also continuing a thousand-year tradition of music. 3: Calcutta Slide-Guitar dazzles the listener with hypnotic patterns and stunning music shaped from Debashish’s original three-finger picking technique.
 

**** (four stars) 'Deeply moving and a must for anyone with a passion for Indian music.’ Songlines

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Sigil

Nuru Kane
(TUG1041)

Crossing the Sahara: Dakar to Marrakech
Nuru Kane was born and raised in Medina, Dakar, and his distinctive take on Senegalese music explores the connections between the music of North and West Africa – a musical journey across the Sahara. This album captures Nuru’s range of influences, from his blues-led solo songs, reminiscent of Ali Farka Touré, through to the driving gnawa trance that forms the backbone of his pulsating live performances. Unhindered, unrestricted and full of musical surprises, Sigil’s instrumentation is primarily acoustic, but the results are electric.
 

'Accessible and intoxicating.' The Independent

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