Balkan brass band Fanfare Ciocărlia; Brazilian big band Bixiga 70; Afro Celt Sound System; Damon Albarn’s Africa Express reunite the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians
The July (#119) edition is on sale in the UK from today. The free exclusive 15-track covermount CD features ten tracks from our latest Top of the World albums and a guest playlist by British singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae.
Featured on the Top of the World CD are new tracks from South African guitarist Derek Gripper, Estonian fiddle player and singer Maarja Nuut, and London-based fusion band Melt Yourself Down.
Fanfare Ciocărlia – The Romanian Gypsy group chat to us as they celebrate 20 years in the music business
Bixiga 70 – The Brazilian band discuss their signature big brass sound
Afro Celt Sound System – The Celtic fusion group speak about their much-lauded return
Damon Albarn and the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians – We talk to Damon Albarn and the leader of the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians, Issam Rafea, about their series of momentous concerts across Europe
World Music Meets Early Music – Finding the space where these two worlds of music meet
Calypso Rose – A Beginner’s Guide to the septuagenarian queen of calypso’s remarkable career
Corinne Bailey Rae – A playlist and interview with the British singer-songwriter, who talks about her journey to rediscover happiness and the music she found along the way
Les Amazones d’Afrique – Daniel Brown reports on the all-female collection of singers from West Africa who have joined forces to empower women and change male attitudes
PLUS! Reviews of the latest CD, book and world cinema releases.