Jill Turner travels the Mediterranean with ‘Miradores’ from Los Desterrados, their second album on the independent Crusoe label. With tighter percussion, more rounded singing, greater interplay between the strings of the guitar, oud, violin and electric bass, plus autograph beckoning studio portraits in the glossy sleeve notes, the album stands out as an altogether confident offering, building on their 2001 debut, ‘Tu’.

Melstar gets thrown around in a few directions. As a follow up album to their acclaimed “Romano Hip Hop”, “Represent” seems to be less of a representation and more of an amalgamation designed to tick all the boxes of music genres. The result being an album that doesn’t quite know what it is.

Jill Turner explores a slice of American Folk history withThe Little Red Box of Protest Songs. Paying tribute to the Wobblie’s publication, The Little Red Song Book, now in its centennial year, it was a source of inspiration to many of the artists in this box set.

Mark Gibbens listens to Xosé Manuel Budiño, a highly respected virtuoso of the Galician bagpipe (Gaita Galega), flute and low whistle. Concluding that his 2007 album, Home, "somewhat of a mixed bag, ranging from fairly average celtic chill-out tracks, right up to some top-notch driving dance music in the best Galician tradition".

Melstar finds Gokh-Bi System's “Voice of the Jeli” a very more-ish album, a wonderful accomplishment. “Voice of the Jeli” is soothing yet upbeat, using the gentle rhythmic melodies of the ekonting to give Gokh Bi System their distinctive sound. With plenty of infectious beats and heartfelt lyrics, the album quickly had her reaching for the repeat button.

Sue Miller drinks coffee whilst listening to the soundtrack of Putumayo's Cafe Cubano and finds herself transported to a sunlit cafe in Havana where she imagines its holiday time and there's no work in the morning.

Sue Miller enjoys the flavour of LA-33, the twelve piece from Bogota and their second album, 'Gozalo'(Enjoy!). Bursting with fast Salsa tracks brimming with lightning-fast sax lines, sharp high brass stabs and riffing trombone mambos, its energetic Colombian Salsa to get your Latin Fiesta cooking - la rumba buena.

Sue Miller discovers someone who's been causing quite a stir in his adopted home of the Netherlands. His latest album, 'Oido al Tambora' a "mid-tempo vocal and trombone-led Salsa" is one for the dancers.

Jill Turner experiences, unrequieted love, cool daddies, unfaithful lovers, wrongful jailings, soulful mamas, sonic experiments, heavy backbeats, moaning blues harmonicas, mesmerising guitar work and above all rhythm....whether you are a winner or a loser in love, I defy you to stand still whilst this is playing.

Jill Turner tunes in to Radio Romanista. Nearly three years after their self titled, debut album, KAL, the boys in black - are back. Louder, faster and tighter than before with a generous helping of punk rock. This is less oupa and more oi yoi yoi yoi.