• 
  KG Omulo: Ayah Ye!: Moving Train
  
  A synergy of funk, rock, reggae and traditional African sounds from this inventive, young singer/songwriter.
• 
  Various Artists: Chief Boima Presents: Lone Stars - Hipco and Gbema
  
  
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  Mamadou Diabaté: Courage
  
  Mamadou Diabate, the kora master, takes a fresh look at Mali instrumental music with his new CD Courage.
• 
  Various Artists: The Kankobela of the Batonga, Vol. 2
  
  Mysterious melodies from a disappearing thumb piano tradition of Southern Africa.
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  Kiran Ahluwalia: Aam Zameen: Common Ground
  
  Indo-Canadian Songwriter Combines Folk Poetry with African Rock, Jazz and more
• 
  M.anifest: Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America
  
  
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  Sona Jobarteh: FASIYA
  
  West African female kora virtuoso releases an album full of grace, warmth, and passion.
• 
  Sia Tolno: My Life
  
  Kissi singer releases a strong second album full of pop-infused star power over songs of strife and triumph.
• 
  Zieti: Zemelewa
  
  Eclectic blend of Afro-infused pop out of Cote d'Ivoire.
• 
  Guelewar: Halleli N Dakarou
  
  Re-released and remastered live CD from this 80's experimental Senegambian outfit.
• 
  Tinariwen: Tassili
  
  Touareg desert legends return with an offering that is meandering, sorrowful and proud.
• 
  Los Rakas: Chancletas y Camisetas Bordada
  
  Oakland/Panamanian rappers -call it "Panabay"-- return with good results.
• 
  Cheikh Lo: Jamm
  
  The unique Senegalese singer and multi-instrumentalist crafts an eclectically excellent record.
• 
  David Rudder: Random Notes
  
  Calypsonian David Rudder returns with an album that covers various styles with excellent results.

All Reviews >>

The Congotronics franchise has succeeded in making the rawest of African traditional music seem remarkably hip. The third volume in this series—which was created by adventurous Belgian producer Vincent Kenis—focuses on a super-group from central Congo. Kenis initially combined rival Kasai ensembles to create the Allstars and was amazed when he returned the next year to find they had remained together. That diversity pays off on this entrancing set of urban bush grooves. The mesmerizing cycles of Congo music play out in various sound scapes—gentle, deep-toned drums and clamoring voices, understated electric guitars, thumb pianos, and most memorably, various wooden xylophones some of which produce such other-worldly tones that it is at times hard to believe they haven’t been electronically enhanced. Those familiar with Congo’s mighty pop music will recognize some of the aesthetics, especially in the organized chaos of vocal layers, and the guitar work on tunes like “Mpombo Yetu.” Yet there is no artifice here. The music is neither bastardized nor precious, just a rivetingly real reflection of the ongoing allure and paradox that is the Congo.

Contributed by Banning Eyre
Originally published in: Boston Phoenix