• 
  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
  
  
• 
  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.
• 
  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
  
  
• 
  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 >>

Outside the walls of the US military base at Guantanamo Bay, there’s a small town, and in that town a talented group of young musicians and rappers are making the music of a new Cuba. Their musical chops span classic Cuban styles—brassy salsa to folksy tres-picking, as well as reggae, cumbia, and reggaeton. They sing and harmonize beautifully, but their primary vocal mode is rapping, and rapping about the truth of their town’s poverty and hopelessness, the truths of Cuba as a young generation sees them. Madera Limpia (pure wood) risks persecution, but produce a sound perfectly calibrated to inspire international interest. They sing about the struggle of a poor, uneducated man to get respect (“Tu Papa”), the little lies people tell themselves to get by, and even the dangers of glib, friendly government spies who prey on intellectuals and then report them to the police (“Boca Floja”).

The musical style is fresh and original, and for all the rapping, this CD is rife with references to the past. Folksy, vintage Cuban songs open two tracks (“En La Esquina” and “Perro Que Ladro”), and echoes of son and salsa pervade the mix. Angel Rubio Espinosa’s tres playing (mostly clean, but occasionally distorted and rocked out) is a treat to hear throughout.

Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org