Sue Miller: is transported back to the seafront cafes of Cuba's Malecon, as she listens to Los Autenticos from new label Ghetto Lounge. A rough recording that nevertheless has charm and energy and the authentic sound of Havana's Trova street musicians……

Jill Turner: sings along to 'ABCDEFG' the new album from Chumbawamba could easily be subtitled 'Our Life in A Song'. Seventeen cleverly crafted songs and ditties for all occasions, upbeat and with catchy melodies this is the poppy end of British Folk.

Sue Miller dreams of the summer with 'La Bala' from Mas Y Mas and concludes that despite being recorded in Cuba, 'La Bala' is in many ways an album of nicely arranged Spanish pop songs, albeit with a Cuban tinge……

At cash strapped GondwanaTowers we have the perfect solution for anyone who can't afford the tickets to the Sauti sa Busara Festival. Air Mail's latest budget release, Zanzibar - Savours of Spice lets you escape the European winter blues and be instantly transported to warmth and sunshine.

Jill Turner makes a date with: Bellevue Rendezvous, who demonstrate that they are specialists in all styles with their second album Salamander. Original tunes written for theatre productions sit side by side traditional European dance tunes and played seamlessly with a lightness of touch, a skip in their step and a depth of emotion where necessary from this Scottish acoustic trio.

Jill Turner enjoys a musical road map of Ethiopia, discovering a musical Eden full of treasures as Gogol Bordello bass man, Tommy T, inspired by the legend of Prester John, leaves the harsh punky Balkan sounds behind as he explores his own Ethiopian roots in The Prester John Sessions.

Jill Turner is confused after listening to Binder und Krieglstein's latest release, New Weird Austria
out on Frankfurt based Essay Recordings. Has the Essay A&R department gone completely bonkers ? Is this a pile of pants or the manifesto for some new art movement that I'm just not getting ....yet.

Dave Paskell : takes a road trip with Madison Violet, currently touring the UK with their new album 'No Fool for Trying'. Out now on True North Records, he rates it as a "strong collection of songs, country tinged music that I like, the kind with heart and soul and bags of originality" Read the full review...

Melstar reviews the debut album, Como Lo Ves? from Swiss based purveyors of Urban Latin grooves, Lariba. “We came from the North, South, East, and the West, to test the rhythms that we love the best. Rumba, Salsa, Hip Hop, Jazz – the important thing is that you're shaking your ass!” Taken from 'Traigo un Son', the lines that for me, best define this album.

Jill Turner writes : Okay kids, put away your record digging bags, your copy of record collector and unplug that internet connection – no need.. the search is over. The cool cats at Strut records have put together a hugely entertaining, refreshing and essential comp of rare grooves, funky blues and "stone cold soul" from Christmases past. Grab a copy, drop some cuts and get 'In the Christmas Groove'.