Joel Dwek & Danny WiserMay 28 minUSA: Innervisions - Stevie WonderOne of the most iconic records of all time, the multi-talented Wonder manages to pack complex and poetic lyricism alongside intricate and...
Joel Dwek & Danny WiserApr 188 minUK: Abbey Road - The BeatlesAfter two years of honouring musical delights from across the globe, we don't have to search hard in our home nation to find a gem of our...
Joel DwekFeb 285 minZAMBIA: The Return - Sampa The GreatThis behemoth rap record masterfully combines a whole range of genres into hip-hop, while retaining a firm worldview Events, dear boy....
Danny WiserFeb 144 minGEORGIA: In Vino Veritas - MgzavrebiThis hope-infused record is not to be ignored as it uses styles of the past whilst mainting a current and modern feel On the border of...
Joel DwekJan 316 minJAMAICA: Funky Kingston - Toots and the MaytalsTaking reggae and blending it with blues, R&B, and rock'n'roll, the Jamaican icons are at their best on this resplendent album I have...
Danny WiserJan 174 minYEMEN: Akher El Akhbar - Ahmad FathiMaster of the oud demonstrates skill not only in his musicianship but also in his production of the record Around November 2020, having...
Joel DwekJan 24 minPHILIPPINES: Diwa - Juan KarlosContaining a variety of rock genres within, Juan Karlos' debut album shatters the child star image of its lead singer and songwriter with...
Danny WiserNov 22, 20217 minNAMIBIA: Black Colonialists - Black VulcaniteA whirlwind ride through many important themes, the hip-hop collective create innovative rhythms whilst always speaking truth to power...
Joel DwekNov 9, 20214 minMOZAMBIQUE: Eparaka - Deltino GuerreiroMozambican traditional sounds meet the modern world in this vibrant and wonderfully ambitious debut album Usually, the albums I pick as...
Danny WiserOct 25, 20218 minFRANCE/ARMENIA: La Bohème - Charles AznavourA unique record with the capacity to provoke a sense of rather deep and beautiful self-reflection about dreams, desires and direction I...
Joel DwekOct 11, 20214 minSWITZERLAND: Aliento - DanitLooking across the Atlantic for inspiration, the Swiss musician entrances her listeners with soft instrumentation and her beguiling voice...
Danny WiserSep 27, 20214 minLEBANON: Ibn El Leil - Mashrou' LeilaDefiance is the order of the day, as the techinically gifted Lebanese outfit produce an album that is as enjoyable as it is powerful In...
Joel DwekSep 17, 20214 minCUBA: Beautiful - CándidoLatin jazz with some infectious drumbeats, percussionist Cándido shows off his immense talent and flair for fusion music When I first...
Danny WiserAug 30, 20215 minZIMBABWE: Ammartia - Ammara BrownInformally labelled as Zimbabwe's "Queen of Pop", Brown earns her crown on this magnificent debut attempt In my first forays into...
Joel DwekAug 16, 20214 minIVORY COAST: Djekpa La You - Dobet GnahoréAn unorthodox musical education and a fiery natural talent make for an album that mixes a wide range of African styles within a modern...
Danny WiserAug 2, 20216 minARGENTINA: Clics Modernos - Charly GarcíaFinding the right adjective to sum-up an album is not always an easy task, but the word 'revolutionary' is obvious in the case of...
Joel DwekJul 20, 20214 minSUDAN: Ya Dunya - Sharhabil AhmedThe beloved Sudanese icon gives a masterclass in musical expression with an album that combines soulful vocals and musical fusion Known...
Danny WiserJul 4, 20215 minESWATINI: Swazi Soul - BholojaA beautiful and powerful first incarnation of what can be labelled as Bholoja's somewhat unique genre Nowadays when people ask me what...
Joel DwekJun 20, 20213 minGUATEMALA: Mil Palabras Con Sus Dientes - Bohemia SuburbanaSubgenres of rock galore - Bohemia Suburbana demonstrate their supreme talent It has become a cliché among myself and Danny that whenever...
Danny WiserJun 7, 20215 minBURKINA FASO: Victor Démé - Victor DéméMarxist policy often suppresses creative freedom, Démé's distinguished self-titled album proves itself as the exception to this rule Over...
Joel DwekMay 24, 20214 minIRAN: Enlighten The Night - Mahsa VahdatSensuous vocals and gentle jazz combine with Iranian traditional music in a beautiful confluence of sounds Many, though not all, of the...
Danny WiserMay 10, 20213 minSIERRA LEONE: Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana - S. E. RogieHumorous, uplifting, and endearing - this palm wine record is the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing day in the sun The Beatles’ Abbey...
Joel DwekApr 26, 20214 minMALI: Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux - Les AmbassadeursThe swansong for one of Mali's finest musical exports, Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux demonstrate exactly why they are still a world...
Danny WiserApr 12, 20214 minUGANDA: Exile - Geoffrey OryemaOryema tackles the difficult theme of being exiled from one's homeland using his emotions from his personal hardship to guide him through...
Joel DwekMar 28, 20215 minHAITI: HaitiaNola - Lakou MizikCombining their fearsome talents with New Orleans-based musicians, Lakou Mizik aim to highlight cultural links to the US, while also...
Danny WiserMar 15, 20214 minBHUTAN/FRANCE: Rain of Blessings: Vajra Chants - Lama Gyurme & Jean-Philippe RykielSerenity, spirituality and sanctity feature as strands of this phenomenal collaboration between two musical devotees When many in the...
Joel DwekMar 1, 20215 minINDONESIA: Los Skut Leboys - SoreTheir first album after their main songwriter left the band, the remaining members of Indonesian outfit Sore seized the opportunity to...
Danny WiserFeb 14, 20216 minITALY: Oro Incenso & Birra - Zucchero FornaciariFun, raw and multi-talented - Zucchero shows off a fusion style decades ahead of his time in a country that often fails to welcome in...
Joel DwekFeb 1, 20214 minDENMARK: Det er Mig der Holder Træerne Sammen - Under ByenThis album full of interesting musical ideas and consummate musicianship certainly succeeds in creating an intellectually and emotionally...
Danny WiserJan 18, 20214 minTURKMENISTAN: Gunesh - GuneshState-sponsored bands often are 'middle-of-the-road'; however, this is far from the case for these experimental Turkmen extraordinaires...
Joel DwekJan 11, 20214 minCAMEROON: Get On Board - Emmanuel Pi DjobThe soul man shows off his talent as he crosses the divide of the Anglo-Francophone conflict in his native Cameroon Many musicians from...
Danny WiserDec 21, 20206 minIRELAND: Let The People Sing - The Wolfe TonesPerhaps the very definition of a problematic favourite, Let The People Sing poses the difficult question of whether an album can be loved...
Joel DwekDec 7, 20204 minCHINA: Black Panther - Hei BaoThe Chinese rockers prove their worth in this blisteringly brilliant debut album that demonstrates their lightness of touch as well as...
Danny WiserNov 22, 20205 minGUINEA: Objectif Perfection - Balla Et Ses BalladinsA bittersweet masterpiece that celebrates liberation from colonialism Whilst on the surface, this might seem a fun album with songs that...
Joel DwekNov 9, 20207 minAUSTRALIA: Gurrumul - Geoffrey Gurrumul YunupinguA masterpiece of the highest order that evokes plenty of emotion and highlights the importance of preserving Aboriginal culture About two...
Danny WiserOct 26, 20204 minSOUTH SUDAN: The Key - Emmanuel JalJal’s repeated calls to action throughout the entire record cut through the incredibly fun and upbeat tunes All across the world there...
Joel DwekOct 12, 20204 minCAMBODIA: Reatrei Nov Hong Kong, Vol. 58 - Sinn SisamouthThe work of Sinn Sisamouth reveals a fascinating lost world of Cambodian music, and the tragic circumstances that surrounded its downfall...
Danny WiserSep 27, 20205 minTHE NETHERLANDS: Moontan - Golden EarringIf Golden Earring were from the UK or the US they would reach legendary status and this album would be seen as one of the great rock...
Joel DwekSep 14, 20203 minBRAZIL/USA: Sammy Davis, Jr Sings, Laurindo Almeida Plays - Sammy Davis, Jr & Laurindo AlmeidaBeautiful singing and gorgeous acoustic guitar playing - what more do you need? What do we mean when we pick an album as album of the...
Danny WiserSep 7, 20205 minCENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Sanza Soul - Laetitia ZonzambéIs Bangui Africa’s very own Detroit? Zonzambé puts forward a convincing case… The last time I was tasked with writing an Album of the...
Joel DwekAug 23, 20204 minISRAEL: Badeshe Etzel Avigdor - Arik Einstein & Miki GavrielovThe Voice of Israel provides a wonderful soft rock album filled to the brim with beautiful melodies and soothing sounds The music of...
Danny WiserAug 17, 20205 minCANADA: You Want It Darker - Leonard CohenThere is not a blurb that could do justice to this album. Listen to it ASAP. On Around The World In 200 Albums we typically review albums...
Joel DwekAug 10, 20205 minPAKISTAN: Mustt Mustt - Nusrat Fateh Ali KhanIn his first Western album, the King of Qawwali shows off his immense vocal talent in an album that straddles the line between tradition...
Danny WiserAug 3, 20203 minSPAIN: El Momento - Nacha PopAn album full of hits that celebrates the freedom of the post-dictatorship era When I first listened to Nacha Pop’s El Momento, I thought...
Joel DwekJul 27, 20204 minAUSTRALIA: Flow State - Tash SultanaExciting and fresh, Sultana reinvigorates alternative rock by infusing it with a wide range of styles and genres At the age of 13 I...
Danny WiserJul 19, 20204 minSENEGAL: Immigrés - Youssou N'DourThe King of mbalax proves why he is arguably Africa’s greatest living musical export For those who want to explore African music, Youssou...
Joel DwekJul 13, 20206 minSOUTH AFRICA: When You Come Back - Vusi MahlaselaJoyous and melancholy, hopeful and cautious, Mahlasela's masterful lyrical and musical ability make for an especially wonderful album...
Danny WiserJul 6, 20205 minICELAND: Ágætis Byrjun - Sigur RósAn artistic masterpiece that at moments transcends reality with its truly unique sound. Labelling something as ‘art’ does not bother me,...
Joel DwekJun 29, 20204 minAUSTRIA: The Princess Pts 1 & 2 - Parov StelarDespite being an album in two parts with distinct styles, Parov Stelar’s The Princess is an exceptionally consistent, coherent and...
Danny WiserJun 4, 20205 minCAPE VERDE: Miss Perfumado - Cesária ÉvoraThe Barefoot Diva takes us on a musical journey as we are challenged to reflect on the eternal beauty of home, loved ones from our past,...