Ali Farka Touré is well known as one of the most influential and talented guitarists that Africa has ever produced. His legacy and impact are hard to overstate: Ali’s sound merged his much-loved traditional Malian musical styles with distinct elements of the blues, resulting in the creation of a ground-breaking new genre, now well known as the ‘Desert Blues’, earning him 3 Grammy awards and widespread reverence. ‘Voyageur’ is the first release of previously unheard music since 2010’s Grammy-winning ‘Ali & Toumani’, and features a collection of previously unheard gems captured at various points in Ali’s illustrious career. The album, which features fellow Malian superstar Oumou Sangaré on 3 tracks, reaffirms Ali’s status as a globally revered legend of African music.

TRACK LISTING

Safari
Malahani
Sambadio (acoustic)
Bandoloborou (feat. Oumou Sangaré)
Cherie (feat. Oumou Sangaré)
Kenouna
Sadjona (feat. Oumou Sangaré)
Sambadio (electric)
Kombo Galia

The Grammy award-winning Malian global superstar Oumou Sangaré has returned with her most ambitious work to date.

Sangaré is renowned worldwide for her vibrant and powerful music, which often features revolutionary messages about women’s rights, tradition and poverty. In her 30 year career she has won numerous awards, counts among her many notable fans Alicia Keys and Beyoncé (who sampled the classic ‘Diaraby Nene’ for her 2019 Lion King release), and, for her tireless work on social progress and cultural development holds the prestigious titles of Goodwill Ambassador to the UN’s Food & Agriculture organisation, Commander of the National Order of Mali and Chevalier of Culture in France.

‘Timbuktu’ is a stunning collection of songs, fusing her distinctive Malian sound and voice with elements of blues, folk and rock – resulting in a timeless body of work, free from borders and genres. Written and recorded in the US during coronavirus lockdowns, the album is the latest chapter in an unparalleled musical epic which has seen an artist born in the poorest districts of Bamako, Mali, become the greatest and most influential African singer alive, as well as a powerful feminist icon.

Between the hometown pride exhibited in ‘Wassulu Don’, the quiet introspection of ‘Degui N’Kelena’, the amorous languor expressed on ‘Kanou’, the compassion in ‘Demissimw’ and the sadness and frustration in ‘Kêlê Magni’, many emotions nourish this record, with common threads of courage and optimism woven throughout. With ‘Timbuktu’, Oumou Sangaré demonstrates her endless talent, her passion and her wisdom, shining a light and leading the way for the world, through pain and strife, towards resilience, positivity and hope.

‘Rejoice’ is the classic collaboration between Tony Allen, the legendary drummer and co-founder of Afrobeat, and Hugh Masekela, the master trumpet player of South African jazz. The record, released to great acclaim in March 2020, became the first posthumous release from Masekela, and the last release from Allen, who sadly passed away a month later.

For this Special Edition, World Circuit have gone back to the original 2010 mixes and added previously unheard parts from the 2019 sessions to create 8 reimagined bonus mixes. The CD and LP releases also feature a booklet with sleeve notes and photos.

Having first met in the 70s thanks to their respective close associations with Fela Kuti, the two world-renowned musicians talked for decades about making an album together. When, in 2010, their touring schedules coincided in the UK, the moment presented itself and producer Nick Gold took the opportunity to record their encounter. The unfinished sessions, consisting of all original compositions by the pair, lay in archive until after Masekela passed away in 2018. With renewed resolution, Tony Allen and Nick Gold, with the blessing and participation of Hugh Masekela’s estate, unearthed the original tapes and finished recording the album in summer 2019 at the same London studio where the original sessions had taken place.

‘Rejoice’ can be seen as the long overdue confluence of two mighty African musical rivers – a union of two free-flowing souls for whom borders, whether physical or stylistic, are things to pass through or ignore completely. According to Allen, the album deals in “a kind of South African-Nigerian swing-jazz stew”, with its roots firmly in Afrobeat. Allen and Masekela are accompanied on the record by a new generation of well-respected jazz musicians including Tom Herbert (Acoustic Ladyland / The Invisible), Joe Armon-Jones (Ezra Collective), Mutale Chashi (Kokoroko) and Steve Williamson.

TRACK LISTING

Disc 1:
1. Robbers, Thugs And Muggers (O’Galajani)
2. Agbada Bougou
3. Coconut Jam
4. Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same)
5. Slow Bones
6. Jabulani (Rejoice, Here Comes Tony)
7. Obama Shuffle Strut Blues
8. We’ve Landed

Disc 2
1. Robbers, Thugs And Muggers (O’Galajani) (Cool Cats Mix)
2. Agbada Bougou (Cool Cats Mix)
3. Coconut Jam (Cool Cats Mix)
4. Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same) (Cool Cats Mix)
5. Slow Bones (Cool Cats Mix)
6. Jabulani (Rejoice, Here Comes Tony) (Cool Cats Mix)
7. Obama Shuffle Strut Blues (Cool Cats Mix)
8. We’ve Landed (Cool Cats Mix)

‘Buena Vista Social Club’ is both the name given to this extraordinary group of musicians and the album, recorded in just seven days in 1996 in Havana’s 1950s vintage EGREM studios. It was clear from the atmosphere of the recording sessions that something very special was taking place. However, no one could have predicted that Buena Vista Social Club would become a worldwide phenomenon – awarded a Grammy in 1997 and, at 8 million copies, outselling any other record in the same genre.

The acclaim of the original album has elevated the artists (including Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén González & Omara Portuondo) to superstar status, inspired an award-winning film by Wim Wenders, and has contributed to popularising Cuba’s rich musical heritage. Produced by Ry Cooder for World Circuit, the timeless quality of the music and the sheer verve of the veteran performers have ensured that this will go down as one of the landmark recordings of the 20th century.

TRACK LISTING

2xLP Tracklisting:
A1 Chan Chan (2021 Remaster)
A2 De Camino A La Vereda (2021 Remaster)
A3 El Cuarto De Tula (2021 Remaster)
A4 Pueblo Nuevo (2021 Remaster)
B1 Dos Gardenias (2021 Remaster)
B2 ¿ Y Tú Qué Has Hecho? (2021 Remaster)
B3 Veinte Años (2021 Remaster)
B4 El Carretero (2021 Remaster)
B5 Candela (2021 Remaster)
C1 Amor De Loca Juventud (2021 Remaster)
C2 Orgullecida (2021 Remaster)
C3 Murmullo (2021 Remaster)
C4 Buena Vista Social Club (2021 Remaster)
C5 La Bayamesa (2021 Remaster)
D1 Vicenta *
D2 La Pluma *
D3 A Tus Pies *
D4 La Cleptómana *
D5 Orgullecida (alternate Trio Take) *

2CD Tracklisting:
CD1
1 Chan Chan (2021 Remaster)
2 De Camino A La Vereda (2021 Remaster)
3 El Cuarto De Tula (2021 Remaster)
4 Pueblo Nuevo (2021 Remaster)
5 Dos Gardenias (2021 Remaster)
6 ¿ Y Tú Qué Has Hecho? (2021 Remaster)
7 Veinte Años (2021 Remaster)
8 El Carretero (2021 Remaster)
9 Candela (2021 Remaster)
10 Amor De Loca Juventud (2021 Remaster)
11 Orgullecida (2021 Remaster)
12 Murmullo (2021 Remaster)
13 Buena Vista Social Club (2021 Remaster)
14 La Bayamesa (2021 Remaster)

CD2 (with 19 Bonus Tracks)
1 Chan Chan (monitor Mix) *
2 Vicenta *
3 La Pluma *
4 Dos Gardenias (alternate Take) *
5 Mandinga *
6 Siboney *
7 A Tus Pies *
8 El Carretero (alternate Take) *
9 Ensayo *
10 El Diablo Suelto *
11 Saludo Compay *
12 Descripción De Un Sueño *
13 Pueblo Nuevo (alternate Take) *
14 La Cleptómana *
15 ¿ Y Tú Qué Has Hecho? (alternate Take)
16 Orgullecida (alternate Take) *
17 Descarga Rubén *
18 Candela (alternate Take) *
19 Orgullecida (alternate Trio Take) *

* BONUS TRACKS

‘Rejoice’ is a very special collaboration between Tony Allen, the legendary drummer and co-founder of Afrobeat, and Hugh Masekela, the master trumpet player of South African jazz. Having first met in the 70s thanks to their respective close associations with FelaKuti, the two world-renowned musicians talked for decades about making an album together. When, in 2010, their touring schedules coincided in the UK, the moment presented itself and producer Nick Gold took the opportunity to record their encounter. The unfinished sessions, consisting of all original compositions by the pair, lay in archive until after Masekela passed away in 2018. With renewed resolution, Tony Allen and Nick Gold, with the blessing and participation of Hugh Masekela’s estate, unearthed the original tapes and finished recording the album in summer 2019 at the same London studio where the original sessions had taken place.

‘Rejoice’ can be seen as the long overdue confluence of two mighty African musical rivers – a union of two free-flowing souls for whom borders, whether physical or stylistic, are things to pass through or ignore completely. According to Allen, the album deals in “a kind of South African-Nigerian swing-jazz stew”, with its roots firmly in Afrobeat. Allen and Masekela are accompanied on the record by a new generation of well-respected jazz musicians including Tom Herbert (Acoustic Ladyland / The Invisible), Joe Armon-Jones (Ezra Collective), Mutale Chashi (Kokoroko) and Steve Williamson.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Relishing in the top ring of the pyramid we find emperors Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela in primo form; whipping up a dazzling eight tracks of afro-beat mayhem that few can rival. Especially poignant and arresting following Masekela's death a couple of years ago; it's a delight to see the musician on top of his game till his dying breadth. They don't make em like they used to!

TRACK LISTING

1. Robbers, Thugs And Muggers (O’Galajani)
2. Agbada Bougou
3. Coconut Jam
4. Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be The Same)
5 Slow Bones
6 Jabulani (Rejoice, Here Comes Tony)
7 Obama Shuffle Strut Blues
8 We’ve Landed

West Africa's most iconic dance-band are back. A decade on from their last album and almost half a century since their formation, Senegal's Orchestra Baobab return with a timeless set of classic, swaying tunes fusing Afro-Cuban rhythms and African tradition in the group's trademark style. Recorded locally in Moussa X's Dakar studio, the new recordings sound fresh and yet reassuringly familiar, retaining the ripeness of the sound that made Orchestra Baobab a legend but interpreted with a vigour and vibrancy, and with a few twists, that are vital and captivating. As enduring as the mighty African Baobab tree from which the group derives its name, the veteran core of the band remains as strong and sturdy as ever. Vocalists Balla Sidibe and Rudy Gomis, saxophonists Issa Sissoko and Thierno Koite and the long-serving, rock steady rhythm section of Balla Sidibe, timbales, Charlie Ndiaye bass and Mountaga Koite on congas.

Alongside this impressive continuity there have been changes in the ten years since Baobab's last World Circuit album, 'Made in Dakar' - but they have been executed seamlessly. Guitarist Barthelemy Attisso, now a lawyer in Togo, is absent due to the demands of his day job but kora player Abdouleye Cissoko from the Cassamance region in southern Senegal is a welcome addition. It's the first time Baobab has numbered a kora player in its permanent ranks but Cissoko's rippling strings have blended seamlessly into the sound and lent a fresh dynamic. Elsewhere Baobab's distinctive two saxophone attack - which combines the vibrato laden declamatory style of Issa Cissoko with the softer more lyrical playing of Thierno Koite – has been bolstered by trombonist Wilfried Zinzou and the young virtuosic guitarist Rene Sowatche, both from the fertile musical pastures of Benin.

Veteran vocalist Balla Sidibe is a commanding presence on the album with his triple threat of musical influences - Manding from Guinea/Mali, creole from Cassamance and Afro-Cuban. Two special guests memorably add their voices to the mix. Cheikh Lo dropped by the studio to add his soulful tones to 'Magno Kouto' and Thione Seck - who left Babobab in 1979 for a career as one of West Africa's biggest solo stars – reunites with his old band mates for the first time in over 35 years to reprise his first hit 'Sey'.

TRACK LISTING

Foulo
Fayinkounko
Natalia
Magnokouto
Mariama
Woulinewa
Sey
Caravana
Douga
Alekouma