excellent cross-border travel, without the bag...

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The Frightnrs More To Say Versions USA

2016 saw the arrival of The Frightnrs as part of the mighty Daptone stable of recording artists. They stood apart from the label's typical soul sound, incorporating instead a catchy, bare-bones rocksteady groove led by the yearning vocals of Dan Klein. When the singer died of ALS during the recording of the album it appeared to mark the end for the band. Happily, with the able assistance of Victor Axelrod, this great album breathes new life on this wonderfully rich dub treatment.

Oumou Sangare Mogoya Mali

With Mogoya, meaning 'People Today', Oumou Sangare presents a stunning musical offering, with powerful instrumental and choral backing accompa-nied by parables and meditations on life today. The music is brilliantly rich and nuanced, and with lyrics like the opening line, 'Ingratitude is all around us', we are instructed in the nature of relationships in the world today. Intriguing cover art as well.

Inna De Yard The Soul of JamaicaJamaica

Recorded in an open air studio on a hillside in Kingston, the Soul of Jamaica is a delicious coming together of the old and the new. With a percussion-driven acoustic backing, these reggae classics are given new life by some of Jamaica's great singers including Ken Boothe, Lloyd Parks and Cedric Myton.

HIGHLIFE RECORDS ~ BEST OF 2017 Excellent cross-border travel, without the bag searches.

Dalava The Book of Transfigurations Canada

This record challenges all description. Rooted in a book of Moravian folk tunes transcribed by (lead singer) Julia Ulehla’s great-grandfather over 100 years ago - along the Czech and Slovak border - this album manages to be both deeply ancient, and cutting edge modern. Stellar musicality from guitarist Aram Bajakian, cellist Peggy Lee and drummer Dylan Van Der Schyff. Unclassifiable brilliance.

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Trio Da Kali and Kronos Quartet Ladilikan Mali / USA The ongoing wonder of Malian music gets another boost here with this exquisite collaboration. The World Circuit label continues its near perfect track record by teaming up the talents of the young Trio da Kali, whose members all come from prominent griot family backgrounds, with the formidable Kronos Quartet, whose role here is alternately subtle and exuberant. A work of grace and power, beautifully realized.

Thelonious Monk Les Liasion Dangereuses USA

This album is a rare unissued gem from jazz icon Thelonious Monk’s discography. It was recorded in 1959 as the soundtrack for a film by French film-maker Roger Vadim, called “Les Liaisons Dangereuses”. It was, however, never ultimately used and then got misplaced until recently. The record captures Monk at a creative peak and represents one of the very few times where he recorded with two tenor players.

Sharon JonesSoul of A WomanUSA

It is very sad that this will be the last record we ever get from Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Recorded in the final months of her life, in 2016, and now released exactly a year after her death, this collection of new classics leaves us to marvel at the amazingly consistent recorded legacy of this musical giant. Also, just in case you think Sharon slowed down, or faltered, due to her sickness in her final months, let it be known that you could use this record to peel the paint off the walls in your house


Tavis E. Triance A Brief Respite From The Terror Of Dying Canada

Beautiful and compelling song stories from Tavis Triance, who plays a vari-ety of keyboards and delivers his lyrics with a voice of high lonesome yearn-ing. Great backing from his band The Natural Way, who wind their way through the nuanced and varied musical arrangements, produced by Brad Barr of Montreal's Barr Brothers. A great record full of great songs.




TinariwenElwanMali After witnessing their stunning performance at the Chan Centre this spring, I was able to delve deeply into this latest recording, enjoying the musical depth and soulfulness of these rebels and foremost developers of the modern desert blues sound. Rock ’n roll edginess intersects with the subtle forms of ancient folk song, creating something entirely fresh and original.

Rhiannon Giddens Freedom HighwayUSA

This second solo album by Rhiannon Giddens continues her ongoing exploration of the African American folk music tradition. Containing mostly original tunes, this record eloquently gives voice to stories of oppression and resistance as well as challenging our notions of the commonly accepted role of African Americans in folk music, and even the entire “Americana” genre.

The Jerry Cans Inuusiq/LifeCanada This is the 3rd album from this exciting 5 piece band from Iqaluit, Nunavut. It is powerful evidence of the creative musical forces that are alive and well in the Canadian North. Sung in both English and Inuktitut, this album mixes high energy guitar, accordion, and violin based acoustic folk sounds, celtic influences, and throat singing. This is music that is simultaneously universal, and like no other.

Don Bryant Don’t Give Up on Love USA

This recent album by veteran soul songwriter (author of many classic hits including “I Can’t Stand the Rain”) who often wrote for his life partner, soul legend Anne Peebles, is a serious breath of fresh air. Throughout the alternatively sweet and hard charging songs on this set you can’t help but be grabbed by both his powerful voice, and the crack veteran Hi Records band laying down these deep grooves. Don has written hits for others since the 1960’s but this is his first secular album in over 40 years.





Thievery Corporation The Temple of I & I USA

Thievery Corporation has had an amazing run. Twenty years of solid and consistent recordings, developing and maintaining their own style of hypnotic grooviness. Solidly Jamaican in feel and influence, their latest offering continues the Thievery legacy of quality and wide-ranging collaboration.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit The Nashville Sound USA

This 6th solo album by the longtime Drive-By-Truckers co-leader Jason Isbell is an eloquent and powerful representation of anti-sexist and anti-racist white voices in the Southern US. With the support of his band. Isbell looks frankly at the collateral damage that a decaying US economy can have on working people. He also drinks deeply from the cup of family love and commitment, with fearless songs about both the big and little issues in our lives.

Orchestra BaobabTribute To Ndiouga DiengSenegal

One of Highlife's all-time favourite bands returns after a 10 year hiatus to pay tribute to longtime band member Ndiouga Dieng, who passed away last year. As usual the sound is all lifting rhythms and sweet vocal harmony, punctuated with duelling tenor sax lines and stitched together with newcomer Abdouleye Cissoko's kora lines. Another 5 star album from the World Circuit label.


Petunia and The VipersLonesome, Heavy and LonesomeCanada

On this, his 11th album, Petunia and his Vipers (including two key members of the Ray Condo Band) continues to find the sweet spots between rockabil-ly, country swing, latin shuffle, beat poetry, and hard core country. This lat-est strong set consistently combines savage instrumental breaks with noir like lyrics, while never failing to sound like rare original gems uncovered by some hip mix-tape from the 1950’s.




Real Ponchos To The Dusty World Canada Propelled by the twin guitars and voices of Ben Arsenault and Emile Scott, the Real Ponchos have a beautiful way of letting a country feel unfold long and slow. Recorded at the esteemed Afterlife studio by John Raham, with some tasty pedal steel work by Marc Jenkins, these are songs that want to be heard over and over.

Rodney DecrooOld Tenement ManCanada

This album, Rodney’s 6th, represents a high-water mark in his career. While continuing his trademark unflinching examination of the human condition, these urgent and compelling sonic snapshots reach out and grab you by the throat. Delivered by this crack band these mostly up-tempo songs are both memorable and fresh. exciting music evoking heroes like Lou Reed, Neil Young and Steve Earle, while remaining essentially Rodney DeCroo.

David Rawlings Poor David’s AlmanackUSA

This album – David Rawlings’ third as headliner - finds him backed solely by his musical (and life) partner Gillian Welch. This stripped down setting does not, however, diminish the range of his vision and power (reminiscent of The Band) - from Neil Young-like hard charging intensity to soft sweet front porch harmonies. His guitar work also continues to shine in all the settings he places it into, giving these sides the appearance of being old standards rather than the new tunes they all are.

Oxford American Magazine2017 Music Issue “Kentucky”USA This year’s 19th Annual Music edition from this groundbreaking magazine continues its legacy of peeling back the layers of the powerful influence of the American South on popular music. The focus of its investigation this time is the state of Kentucky. While it is true that there are quite a few acoustic guitars, and the expected track by Bill Monroe, there are also 26 others on the cd (28 if you use the download card – included with the cd for the first time) that will challenge your expectations about music from Kentucky, and in the process satisfy your ears. Another true gift for every open-eared music lover!





KEVIN FINSETH1. Oumou Sangare - Mogoya

2. Tavis E Triance - A Brief Respite… 3. Trio Da Kali and Kronos Quartet - Ladilikan

4. Inna De Yard - The Soul Of Jamaica

5. The Frightnrs - More To Say Versions 6. Dalava - The Book Of Transfigurations

7. Orchestra Baobab - Tribute To N. Dieng

8. Tinariwen - Elwan 9. Real Ponchos - To The Dusty World

10. Thievery Corporation - Temple of I & I

RAUL ESPINOZA 1. Oumou Sangare - Mogoya

2. Sharon Jones - Soul of a Woman 3. Les Amazones D'afrique - Republique Amazone

4. Ibeyi - Ash

5. Mista Savona - Havana Meets Kingston 6. Shabazz Palaces - Quazarz: Born On A Gangster

Star

7. Antibalas - Where The Gods Are In Peace 8. Thievery Corporation - Temple Of I & I

9. Tavis E Triance - A Brief Respite…

10. Wolves In The Throne Room - Thrice…

ANDY WARREN 1. Sharon Jones - Soul of a Woman

2. Dalava - The Book Of Transfigurations 3. Daniel Caesar - Freudian

4. The Frightnrs - More To Say Versions

5. Don Bryant - Don’t Give Up On Love 6. Ibeyi - Ash

7. Trio Da Kali and Kronos Quartet - Ladilikan

8. Hans Zimmer & Ben Wallfisch - Blade Runner 2049 Soundtrack


10. Sampha - Process

BILL HOODBarbez – For Those Who Came After Geoff Berner – Canadiana Grotesquica Dalava – The Book of Transfigurations

Rodney DeCroo – Old Tenement Man Rhiannon Giddens – Freedom HighwayJason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound

The Jerry Cans - InuusiqThelonious Monk – “Les Liaison’s Dangereuses” SoundtrackJon Moreland – Big Bad LuvOtis Taylor – Fantasizing About Being Black

THEO FINSETH1. Son Little - New Magic 2. Oumou Sangare - Mogoya

3. Tavis E Triance - A Brief Respite…

4. Khruangbin - The Universe Smiles Upon 5. Daniel Caesar - Freudian

6. BadBadNot Good - Late Night Tales

7. The Frightnrs - More To Say Versions 8. Kendrick Lamar - Damn


10. Sampha - Process

CHARLIE KILLJOYAram Bajakian’s - KefLoyle Carner – Yesterday’s Gone Como Mamas - Move Upstairs

Paul Kelly – Life is FineTed Leo – The Hanged Man Sun Ra – Singles : The Definitive 45s Collection 1952-

1991 Jenny Scheinman - Here on Earth Mavis Staples – If All I Was Was Black

Trio Da Kali / Kronos Quartet - Ladilikan Various Artists - Soul of a Nation




excellent cross-border travel, without the bag...

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