Album of the week : World Routes on the Road - A Double CD compilation on Nascente
Todays album of the week is the marvellous comp "World Routes on the Road". Selected from the archives of the august BBC Radio 3 broadcast, World Routes. It's packed to bursting with heartfelt melodies, twangs, bangs and rarities. Brilliantly played, brilliantly recorded and at last sound recordists get the recognition due. We bring you three tracks and read out James Parkin's engaging stories behind the music.
Staying with field recordists we introduce you to Chris Kirkley, the Alan Lomax of the Sahel. Seemingly never without a mike and always happening upon some brilliant guitar band or other, he documents and publishes it all in his blog, Sounds of the Sahel. We introduce you to one of his encounters, from Senegal, the band Lewlewal de Podor.
Plus tracks from the Mighty Sparrow, that K Frimpong track sampled by Blitz the Ambassador, The Black Rhythm Truth Band out on Soundway, Melingo and finally a duo that were jaw droppingly good at Musicport 2011, Randolph Matthews & Byron Johnston - go explore !
'Afro Rock Volume One', is spellbinding, majestic and way out psychedelic in parts. Originally released on Duncan Brooker's Kona record label it became a hugely influential album and has been out of print since 2002. A couple of tracks have resurfaced, namely the fabulous Kyenkyen Bi Adi M'Awu from K.Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas which cropped up on Soundway's 'Ghana Special' and Onukpa Shawarpo from the Bokoor Band was a favourite on the Ottrabanda release 'Bokoor Beats'. But that still leaves ten tracks that only the die hard collectors will have in their bags....including one that grabbed my attention from Dackin Dakino, 'Yuda'. Read the press release in the full article. 
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'.
