Stroll through Africa starting from the northwest with Mali’s Tartit and Mauritania’s Dimi Mint Abba and ending in South Africa with percussion ensemble Amampondo.

Black Medicine Music from Stag Hare, rapidfire freejazz from Chicago’s DKV Trio (Hamid Drake, Kent Kessler , Ken Vandermark), Murky urban ghetto tales from Ciccone Youth aka Sonic Youth, a free piano composition from Muhal Richard Abrams that converges to infinity and finally an elegiac by Andrew Liles.

Some oldschool ska/roots music if you feel down.
* Phyllis Dillon – Right Track
* Lennie Hibbert – Sweet Loving
* Prince Buster – Enjoy Yourself
* The Clarendonians – Do Good

We went on a short vacation in the countryside this weekend, here’s 5 of the tunes that stuck most in my mind during hours of idle car time. The Bamboos cover Kings of Leon, Dom um Romao track found on Donnaslut. More Congos.

I’ve only been to London for a few times yet the “Rothko Room” in Tate Modern has a special place in my heart. Mark Rothko’s art is a mood changer one that invokes moments of silent contemplation. Accompanying music by UK ambient act of the same name which suits his work rather well!

Today is the start of the holiday week in Istanbul and to celebrate the holiday spirit here’s the second part of our 5 Star Monday series with all kinds of cheerful bluegrass, ska and world music from Charlie Haden, The Clarendonians, Horst Jankowski et al.

A quick offering with drony soundscapes and ambient folk before calling it a day. James Devane and John Hudak pieces coming from Bremsstrahlung. You can freely download Devane’s album here. Rest also free download off Desert Village CDR label.

After years of being a PC poweruser I’ve bought a macbook and changed ranks a few weeks ago. I’ve since become an itunes user after ditching my ultimate music playing setup of winamp & copernic desktop search, and I can’t say I’m happy at all. Seems the rating stars are the only welcomed addition and to commemorate this here are five 5 star tunes.