So many things to feel guilty about

Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp (OTPMD for short) is a hard band to describe, an easy one to love.  Based in Geneva, Switzerland, it is truly an orchestra: 12 players on viola, cello, bass violin, trombone and bugle plus guitars, marimbas (two of them, somehow) and drums.  In their music you'll hear post-punk, krautrock, African rhythms, brass bands, 20th century minimalism, free jazz and more, sometimes all in the same song.

 

OTPMD is touring the USA right now, and they will squeeze all dozen band members onto (or at least near to) the stage at the Get Tight Lounge on Wednesday June 25.  You'll hear their music this week on Global A Go-Go, and I will give away a pair of tickets to the concert as well.  Opening for OTPMD will be the new Richmond folk-jazz-world supergroup Amminal, a band nearly as eclectic as the headliner.  You'll hear Amminal on this week's program as well, from a session they recorded on Global A Go-Go in the spring.

 

Also this week (Sunday June 22, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): New Latin sounds from Alfa & Manu Chao, Eljuri, Quitapenas and Systema Solar; the fabulous second studio album by Japan's Minyo Crusaders; Soul Sugar and Dub Shepherds give Curtis Mayfield the reggae version treatment; two very welcome Malian reissues: Super Djata Band's Authentique 81 and Wagadu Grooves Vol. 2; and classic South Africa kwaito by Moskito.

Charts June 9-15, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 LAIZ AND THE NEW LOVE EXPERIENCE | "Se Segura" [Single] | Agogo

2 HAWA AND KASSE MADY DIABATE | Toumaro | One World

3 BIO RITMO | "Largos Caminos" [Single] | Locutor

4 MADALITSO BAND | Ma Gitala | Bongo Joe

5 LA BANDA CHUSKA | Basic Bichos | self-released

6 FRANCIS BEBEY | Trésor Magnétique | Africa Seven

7 GYEDU-BLAY AMBOLLEY | Wake Up Afrika | Agogo

8 SYSTEMA SOLAR | Futurx Primitivx 2025 | Sambumbia

9 SEMBLANZAS DEL RIO GUAPI | Lindo E | Llorona

10 ZULU GUITAR BLUES: COWBOYS, TROUBADOURS AND JILTED LOVERS 1950-1965 | various artists | Matsuli

He fell for chicken feet

Malawi's Madalitso Band have gone in eight years from busking for survival on the dusty streets of Lilongwe to playing international music festivals like Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar, Roskilde in Denmark and WOMAD and Glastonbury in England.

 

Their music, made with nothing but their voices, guitar, kick drum and the homemade one-stringed long-necked slide bass called babatone, is one of the most life-affirming sounds you'll ever hear.  Madalitso's new album Ma Gitala was just released on Friday, and you'll hear a track from it this week on Global A Go-Go, alongside more acoustic guitar music from southern Africa.

 

Also this week (Sunday June 15, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Rockin' cumbia from XIXA and La Banda Chuska, Bio Ritmo's brand new single as they prepare for their first visit to Colombia, Brazilian samba-funk by Laiz & the New Love Experience and Seu Jorge, beautiful late-career statements from Mali's Salif Keita and Kasse Mady Diabaté, and Trinidadian soca remixed by Luke Una.

Charts June 2-8, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 BEJUCO | Machete | Discos Pacifico

2 GRUPO PILON | Nu Sta Li | El Palmas

3 GRUPO SON SAN | "La Hamaca" [Single] | Polen

4 SOOTHSAYERS | "Fly Higher" [Single] | Wah Wah 45s

5 BRIVELE | Khaveyrim Zayt Greyt | Borscht Beat

6 FEMI KUTI | Journey Through Life | Partisan

7 IBEX BAND | Stereo Instrumental Music | Muzikawi

8 ESTRELLAS DEL CARIBE | La Terapia de Palenque | Polen

9 MIZIK MALADI: DISQUES DEBS INTERNATIONAL VOL. 3 | various artists | Disques Debs International/Strut

10 SAMI GALBI | Ylh Bye Bye | Bongo Joe

Me mueve el tambó

 

The sound of the band Bejuco is based on currulao, the traditional marimba music of Colombia's Pacific coast.  But they've added a new beat to it: the polyrhythmic funk of Nigerian Afrobeat.  Turns out it's a great pairing, as you'll hear this week when I play a track from Bejuco's superb new album Machete, alongside new Afrobeat from Soothsayers and Femi Kuti.

 

Also this week (Sunday June 8, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Comrades, get ready for Brivele's Yiddish folk against fascism; the rediscovery of Ibex Band of Ethiopia's Stereo Instrumental Music; champeta from Colombia's Caribbean coast, including new tracks from veteran bands Grupo Son San and Estrellas del Caribe; another veteran band makes a comeback: Grupo Pilon from Cabo Verde via Luxembourg; and some zouk and mini jazz from the French Antilles.

Charts May 26 - Jun 1, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 THE STORY OF NACIONAL RECORDS, VOL. UNO Y DOS | various artists | Nacional

2 GYEDU-BLAY AMBOLLEY | Wake Up Afrika | Agogo

3 SYSTEMA SOLAR | Futurx Primitivx 2025 | Sambumbia

4 PACHYMAN | Another Place | ATO

5 GRUPO SON SAN | "La Hamaca" [Single] | Polen

6 FREH KHODJA | Ken Andi Habib | Wewantsounds

7 AMMAR 808 | Club Tounsi | Glitterbeat

8 GRUPO PILON | "Tempo Passa" [Single] | El Palmas

9 SOOTHSAYERS | "Fly Higher" [Single] | Wah Wah 45s

10 LIDO PIMIENTA | La Belleza | Anti-

Viva la juventud

As you probably know already, WRIR is celebrating its 20th birthday this year.  There must have been something in the water in 2005 (myself, I think that something was "Year 1 of Bush 2's second presidential term"), because Richmond linchpins RVA Magazine and Gallery 5 were also founded that year.

 

And all the way across the country in Los Angeles, a fellow named Tomas Cookman was starting up Nacional Records, a new independent label, to focus on what he called "Latin alternative" music.  Today, Latin alternative is squarely in the mainstream: Nacional releases have been nominated for over 100 Grammys and Latin Grammys, and Cookman's business Green Lane Entertainment includes artist management and booking, the LAMC music conference (Latin alternative's Sundance) and a major sync (music licensing for movies, TV, commercials, video games and the like) operation along with the label.

 

Nacional was one of the first record companies to figure out that WRIR played a lot of international music.  They've been sending us promos of their releases for 20 years, and for all of that time I've been working with Jennifer Sarkissian, who's now Nacional and Green Lane's General Manager, in what might be the longest running business relationship I have in radio.

 

This week (Sunday June 1, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) I'm going to play two hours of my personal Nacional favorites from the last 20 years including long time Global A Go-Go go-to artists like Systema Solar, Mexican Institute of Sound, Bomba Estéreo, Nortec Collective, Hip Hop Hoodios and Manu Chao, and including selections from the label's new two-volume, 4-album 20th anniversary set called The Story of Nacional Records.

 

Viva Nacional, viva WRIR!

Charts May 19-25, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten 

1 FRENTE CUMBIERO |  Inconcreto & Asociados | Salgaelsol/Biche

2 BEJUCO | Machete | Discos Pacifico

3 KOKOROKO | "Closer To Me" [Single] | Brownswood

4 CULTURE | Africa Stand Alone | VP

5 SUGAR MINOTT, BOUNTY KILLER AND KING JAMMY | "Give the People What They Want" [Single] | Hits 38

6 ABIJAH | "Warrior Code" [Single] | Tad's

7 FEMI KUTI | Journey Through Life | Partisan

8 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Yarin Yoksa | Big Crown

9 LOS PIRANAS | Una Oportunidad Más De Triunfar En La Vida | Glitterbeat

10 SATELLITES | Aylar | Batov

Inconcreto & Asociados

One of my favorite bands in the world is coming to Richmond for the first time ever on May 28.  And I see I'm not the only Frente Cumbiero fan around -- it looks like the Simpsons creator Matt Groening is one as well.

 

You might become one too after you hear my concert preview this week on Global A Go-Go (Sunday May 25, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site).  I'll play several songs from Frente Cumbiero's great new album Inconcreto & Asociados, one from their equally outstanding previous album Cera Perdida, plus tracks from a few of the various projects that Frente Cumbiero bandleader Mario Galeano has worked on over the last fifteen years.

 

Continuing last week's theme, I'll have a lot more new music once again: roots reggae from Abijah, a roots reggae reissue of Culture, and Bounty Killer and King Jammy's remake of a Sugar Minott classic; soulful samba by Seu Jorge and Uli Costa e Sandália de Prata; new Anatolian rock from Meral Polat, Derya Yıldırım and Şatellites; and a whole set of scorching tsapiky music from southwest Madagascar.

Charts May 12-18, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 ADRIAN RASO AND FANFARE CIOCARLIA | The Devil Rides Again | Asphalt Tango

2 CAVEMEN, THE | "Dancing Shoes" [Single] | self-released

3 F.A.V., TINO AMOR AND BARZO | "Mi Barrio" [Single] | Lacteo Cosmico

4 MADALITSO BAND | Ma Gitala | Bongo Joe

5 LOS HERMANOS ROSARIO | Infinito Positivo | La Oreja

6 FRENTE CUMBIERO | Inconcreto & Asociados | Salgaelsol/Discos Biche

7 KANAZOE ORKESTRA | Balabeatz | Antipodes

8 ROOTS ROCKING ZIMBABWE: THE MODERN SOUND OF HARARE TOWNSHIPS 1975-1980 | various artists | Analog Africa

9 LUC-HUBERT SEJOR | Mizik Filamonik: Spiritual Sound | Heavenly Sweetness

10 FEMI KUTI | Journey Through Life | Partisan

Journey through life

It's hard to believe that Femi Kuti, Fela's eldest son, leader of the band Positive Force and manager of the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, will turn 63 years old next month.  And it's a pleasure to say that he's still making powerful, challenging, threatening music.  Tune in to Global A Go-Go this week, hear the title track of his new album Journey Through Life, one of the best songs he's recorded in his career, and see him on tour this summer if you get a chance -- he'll be at the 9:30 Club in DC on July 25.

 

You'll hear all kinds of new releases this week (Sunday May 18, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Balkan brass meets guitar twang from Adrian Raso & Fanfare Ciocărlia, Kwashibu Area Band's quiet storm of highlife, desert blues singer-songwriter Mohamed Alassane Karzo, Madalitso Band's Malawian banjo music, the psychedelic Afro-Colombian sounds of Pambelé and many more.

Charts May 5-11, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 AFRICAN JAZZ, O.K. JAZZ, AFRICAN TEAM, DIBANGO AND PEPITO | African Jazz invites O.K. Jazz (1961-1970) | Planet Ilunga

2 FEMI KUTI | Journey Through Life | Partisan

3 ADRIAN YOUNGE | Adrian Younge Presents Something About April III | Linear Labs

4 ERMELINDA CUELLAR | Under A Lavender Sky | self-released

5 KANKOU KOUYATE | N'Darila | One World

6 AMAYO | Lion Awakes | self-released

7 LOS PIRANAS | Una Oportunidad Más De Triunfar En La Vida | Glitterbeat

8 TRIO DA KALI | Bagola | One World

9 MDOU MOCTAR | Tears Of Injustice | Matador

10 WAGADU GROOVES VOL.2: THE HYPNOTIC SOUND OF CAMARA 1991-2014 | various artists | Hot Mule

Global A Go-Go Classico: Amminal live in Studio C

I'm out of town today (Sunday May 11, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site), so here's a Classico edition of Global A Go-Go for your listening pleasure.  Maybe I should call it an Instant Classico edition, since it just aired last month, on April 13, 2025.

 

That's when I hosted the Richmond-based band Amminal in WRIR's Studio C.  I thought they played a great set of music that day, and the mix by WRIR's live sound engineer Richard Schellenberg really captured all the nuances in the ensemble's sound.

 

So let's give Amminal another listen here on Global A Go-Go.  They'll be playing live on Wednesday June 25 at the Get Tight Lounge, on a bill with Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp from Geneva, Switzerland, presented by Secret Planet Richmond.

Charts Apr 28 - May 4, 2025

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WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 FRENTE CUMBIERO | Inconcreto y Asociados | Salgaelsol/Discos Biche

2 ORCHESTRE TOUT PUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP | Ventre Unique | Bongo Joe

3 MADALITSO BAND | Ma Gitala | Bongo Joe

4 AFRICAN JAZZ, O.K. JAZZ, AFRICAN TEAM, DIBANGO AND PEPITO | African Jazz invites O.K. Jazz (1961-1970) | Planet Ilunga

5 ROOTS ROCKING ZIMBABWE: THE MODERN SOUND OF HARARE TOWNSHIPS 1975-1980 | various artists | Analog Africa

6 K. FRIMPONG | Best of 1990-1995 | Hot Casa

7 LA DELIO VALDEZ | El Desveto | Delirio Valdez

8 AZUKA MOWETA AND HIS ANIOMA BROTHERS BAND OF AFRICA | Ekobe Global | Odogwu Entertainment/Palenque

9 JUANA MOLINA | Exhalo [EP] | Little Butterfly

10 LARRY AND JOE | Manos Panamericanos | self-released

Music without borders, spring-summer 2025

Richmond's home for music without borders is the Secret Planet Richmond concert series.  Started in 2024, it brings cutting-edge international roots-based artists to Richmond, performances that ought to be happening all year round, not just at the Folk Festival.

 

Secret Planet Richmond has announced their Spring-Summer 2025 season, and on this week's edition of Global A Go-Go (Sunday May 4, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, and any old time at my podcast site) you'll hear from all the artists who'll be visiting Richmond for this season's series: Frente Cumbiero, Mourning [A] BLKstar, Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp, Chicha Libre, Larry & Joe and Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou, and also from a couple of Richmond bands who will be opening for them.

 

The performances will take place at two Richmond venues: Révéler Experiences in Carytown and Get Tight Lounge in the Fan.  All shows and dates are listed below in this post, along with links to tickets and more information (if available yet).  Tune in to your community radio station and get early notice about some cool things that will be happening in your community.

Charts April 21-27, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 UKANDANZ | Evil Plan | Compagnie 4000

2 FAMO MOUNTAIN | For Those Left Behind | Glitterbeat

3 SALIF KEITA | So Kono | No Format

4 CHARIF MEGARBANE | Hawalat | Habibi Funk

5 KIN'GONGOLO KINIATA | Kiniata | Helico

6 YOUSSOU N'DOUR | Eclairer Le Monde | Light The World | TBI

7 THIAGO FRANCA E A ESPETACULAR CHARANGA DO FRANCA | "Bololo" [Single] | YB

8 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Yarin Yoksa | Big Crown

9 TRIO DA KALI | Bagola | One World

10 SANTROFI | Making Moves | Outhere

Charts April 14-20, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 RED BARAAT | Bhangra Rangeela | Sinj

2 GUSSIE CLARKE | Reggae Masters: Horace Andy & Leroy Smart | Reggae Library

3 TSAPIKY! MODERN MUSIC FROM SOUTHWEST MADAGASCAR | various artists | Sublime Frequencies

4 LES ABRANIS | Album No. 1: Id Ed Was | Wewantsounds

5 ROLANDO BRUNO Y EL GRUPO AREVALO/OF TROPIQUE | "Sabadabada" b/w "Fatman" [Single] | Electric Cowbell/Pepei

6 ESTRELLAS DEL CARIBE | La Terapia de Palenque | Polen

7 STORY OF NACIONAL RECORDS, THE, VOL. UNO Y DOS | various artists | Nacional

8 SISKA | Holdin' the Vibe | VLB

9 AFRODREAM | "Zugumalamba (feat. Killabeatmaker)" [Single] | Ludwig

10 GYEDU-BLAY AMBOLLEY | Simigwa | Strut

This hustling world

WRIR's Spring 2025 Fund Drive is now underway -- right now we're deep in this hustling world, hard at work toward raising $45,000 by Friday May 2nd to power Richmond Community Radio for another six months.  Supporters like you have made WRIR possible for the last 20 years, and now is the time when we ask you to donate what you can afford, and what this marvelous, successful experiment in community-built media is worth to you.

 

You can become a monthly supporter at this link: https://bit.ly/3QnrP5H.  Or make a one-time contribution here: https://bit.ly/3FnagN1.  Or simply go to wrir.org to donate and to find out more about the Spring 2025 Fund Drive, including the premiums available to donors and the many events that are happening during the fund drive.

 

It's been three weeks since I've played much new music on the show, owing to vacation and hosting two awesome on-air guests, so this week (Sunday April 20, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, and any old time at my podcast site) I'll play nothing but excellent new releases and reissues I've heard lately.

 

The first $500 donated during Global A Go-Go will be doubled because I will personally match your gift -- together, let's raise $1,000 and more for Richmond Community Radio on this edition of Global A Go-Go!  Thank you for your support, and long live Richmond Independent Radio!

Charts April 7-13, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 ESTRELLAS DE BUENA VISTA |  Live in Havana | One World

2 EBO TAYLOR, ADRIAN YOUNGE AND ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD | Ebo Taylor JID022 | Jazz Is Dead

3 RITA DONTE | Ritual | Ansonia

4 ME AND MY FRIENDS | "Bring Summer" [Single] | Split Shift

5 MANDINGA BEAT | "Mae Me Diz" [Single] | YB

6 LA BANDA CHUSKA | "La Selva Me Salvo" [Single] | self-released

7 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Yarin Yoksa | Big Crown

8 MIKE GUAGENTI | Salsa con Charanga | Vampisoul

9 MIZIK MALADI: DISQUES DEBS INTERNATIONAL VOL. 3 | various artists | Disques Debs International/Strut

10 BROOKLYN SOUNDS | Libre-Free | Vampisoul

Are you the crocodiles, gentlemen?

It's another special program this week on Global A Go-Go (Sunday April 13, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site), with the Richmond supergroup Amminal playing live in WRIR's Studio C.

 

Amminal is one of the most exciting new bands I've heard in quite some time.  They're organized around the songwriting of Phil Murphy, whose songs and tunes are strongly influenced by British folk and early music.  The way the ensemble fleshes them out reminds me of how groups like Pentangle, Gentle Giant and even the early Jethro Tull developed a specifically British brand of progressive, improvisational folk-rock.  But it's the 21st century, so they're more post-rock than prog-rock.

 

You can also hear Phil's background in the music of the Middle East, Egypt and Turkey in the band's sound as well.  And the players are some of Richmond's finest from across the rock, folk, jazz and improvised music spectrum: Phil is on guitar, Adam Hopkins plays acoustic bass, Pippin Barnett is at the drums, Bryan Hoffa adds guitar, banjo and keyboards and Stephen Williams is on guitar as well.

 

They've only played a handful of public gigs so far, and their sound is developing rapidly.  So catch them on Global A Go-Go this week, and you'll have a chance to see them in person at Révéler Experiences on Friday April 25 with Laura Ann Singh joining them for part of their set.

 

Bookending Amminal's appearance, I'll be spinning some of the copious excellent new music I've been hearing this spring.  I'll have more of it to offer on next week's show as WRIR moves into our Spring 2025 Fund Drive.

Charts Mar 24 - Apr 6, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 SERGE BULAT | Phonomundi: Selected Recordings of Heritage Sites and Traditions 2017-2024 | self-released

2 JULIAN MAYORGA | Chak Chak Chak Chak | Glitterbeat

3 YOUSSOU N'DOUR | Eclairer Le Monde | Light The World | TBI Publishing

4 KOMBILESA MI | Asina Gue | self-released

5 ALPHA BLONDY | Rise | Alphallaince

6 SEUN KUTI AND EGYPT 80 | "Stand Well Well" (Grand Stand Version) [Single] | Record Kicks

7 SON PALENQUE | Rincon De Africa | OM Producciones

8 LA BANDA CHUSKA | "La Selva Me Salvo" [Single] | self-released

9 MANDINGA BEAT | "Mae Me Diz" [Single] | YB

10 IMMY OWUSU | "Curly Hair" [Single] | Hopestreet

Serge Bulat in the house

I've been corresponding with Serge Bulat for about nine months now.  I've played his own music on Global A Go-Go and you've heard two of his program-length mixes here as well: "Cornershop Across The Border" a month ago, focusing on the sounds of Moldova (his birth country), Ukraine, Romania and the Roma world, and "Cornershop Mixes" back in September, with music from all over the globe.

 

What I haven't done yet is meet Serge in person.  And that will happen on this week's program (Sunday April 6, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site).  Serge joins me for an interview where you and I will find out more about his music, his other multi-disciplinary art projects, his love of travel and field recording, and how he has come to be spending time here in the Central Virginia area.

 

After the interview, Serge is going to do a live in-studio mix on this edition of Global A Go-Go.  His interests cover a lot of ground and I have no idea what he's planning to play, so join me for a set that will illustrate why we call WRIR "the sound of surprise."

 

Also, I am pained to tell you that Amadou Bagayoko, the great Malian guitarist famous for his musical and romantic partnership with Mariam Doumbia, passed away in Bamako on April 4 at the age of 70.  Before Serge arrives, I'll celebrate Amadou's life and music, including my favorite Amadou & Mariam tracks and their first recording together, made almost 10 years before their first duo album.

Charts March 17-23, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 FLORENCE ADOONI | A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity) | Philophon

2 SON PALENQUE | Rincon De Africa | OM Producciones

3 WITCH | "Queenless King" [Single] | Partisan

4 RIZWAN-MUAZZAM QAWWALI | At The Feet Of The Beloved | Real World

5 LOS PIRANAS | Una Oportunidad Más De Triunfar En La Vida | Glitterbeat

6 ANCHORS, THE | Black Soul | Matsuli

7 ULI COSTA E SANDALIA DE PRATA | Uli Costa E Sandalia De Prata | Brasuca

8 SUPER DJATA BAND | Authentique Vol 2 Feu Vert 81-82 | Numero Group

9 MAMBAIA | Terceira Margem | self-released

10 ALSARAH AND THE NUBATONES | Seasons Of The Road | self-released

An ordinary exercise in unity

Right now, a Philophon record sounds only like a Philophon record, and like nothing else in the world.  German producer and musician Max Weissenfeldt has been based full-time at Joy Sound Studio in Kumasi since 2019, where he's working with Ghanaian musicians to forge a sound based on highlife and local traditions while also incorporating Max's background in funk, soul, jazz and electronica.

 

The albums Max produced for Guy One (#1 in 2018) and Alogte Oho (O Yinne! in 2023) are superb examples of the unique Philophon sound.  On February 28 Max and singer Florence Adooni and her band added another brilliant title to that catalogue: it's called A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity) and it's certain to be one of my top albums of 2025.  This week on Global A Go-Go, you'll hear three tracks from this outstanding new African album.

 

Also this week (Sunday March 23, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Sufi devotional music from Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali; a tribute to Garifuna superstar Aurelio Martínez, who died in a plane crash in Honduras on Monday; South African soul and boogie by The Anchors and others; the music of Cheikh Ibra Fam, Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba who perform at Révéler on March 29; and Congolese soukous meets electronica in Ale Hop & Titi Bakorta.

Charts March 10-16, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 MIRAMAR | Entre Tus Flores | Ansonia

2 MIZIK MALADI: DISQUES DEBS INTERNATIONAL VOL. 3 | various artists | Disques Debs International/Strut

3 DERYA YILDIRIM AND GRUP SIMSEK | Yarin Yoksa | Big Crown

4 FLORENCE ADOONI | A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity) | Philophon

5 LUCIBELA | Moda Antiga | Lusafrica

6 COLLIGNON | Bicicleta | Gris Gris

7 BONGO HOP, THE | La Pata Coja | Underdog

8 LA SONORA MAZUREN | Magnetismo Animal | Barbes

9 ALSARAH AND THE NUBATONES | Seasons Of The Road | self-released

10 ORIGINAL SOUND OF MALI 2, THE | various artists | Mr Bongo

History of Ukraine in 5 minutes

I'm joined in Studio A this week (Sunday March 16, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) by my old friend Vlad Cuiujuclu, who's been contributing to Global A Go-Go since 2012.  Vlad and I did a show of Ukrainian music back in August of 2014, the month when Russia first sent troops, tanks and artillery into Ukraine's Donbas region.

 

Needless to say, a few things have changed since then, so we thought now would be a good time to update that 2014 show with new songs, new artists (and a few of the same ones we played in 2014) and new thoughts.  Here's what Vlad has to say about this week's program:

 

"After more than 3 years of full-scale invasion by Russia, Ukraine continues to stand strong.  The world has come to recognize the Ukrainian people for their resilience and bravery.   But with the war dominating headlines, Ukrainian culture hasn't had a chance to truly shine in the spotlight.

 

"In today's show we will dive into Ukrainian music, spanning from the 1960s to today and covering a variety of genres, from folk to rap and everything in between.  We will highlight well-known Ukrainian artists, as well as underground musicians from a vibrant array of genres and influences."

Charts Feb 24 - Mar 9, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 FLORENCE ADOONI | A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity) | Philophon

2 SATELLITES | Aylar | Batov

3 NATTALI RIZE | Liberate | Rize Nation

4 ROLANDO BRUNO Y EL GRUPO AREVALO/OF TROPIQUE | "Sabadabada" b/w "Fatman" [Single] | Electric Cowbell/Pepei

5 RED BARAAT | "Bhangra Rangeela” feat. SMK, Bakshi Brothers [Single] | Sinj

6 ULI COSTA E SANDALIA DE PRATA | Uli Costa E Sandalia De Prata | Brasuca

7 NUSANTARA BEAT | "Sifat Manusia" [Single] | Bongo Joe

8 EL DUSTY | "Aye Papi" [Single] | self-released

9 CELIA CRUZ | Centennial | UMG

10 SUSANA BACA | Conjuros | Pregon

Human nature

Nusantara Beat is one of my favorite pre-debut-album bands of the moment.  They're from Amsterdam and all six members are Dutch Indonesian, either first, second or third generation.

 

Their music most definitely sounds Indonesian, with roots in both folk traditions and in Indonesia's pop music of the last 50 years.  At the same time, there's no doubt that it's made by young, hip Europeans who love global grooves, psych-rock and surf rock.  Nusantara Beat has four singles out now, and you'll hear the most recent one this week on Global A Go-Go.

 

Also this week (Sunday March 9, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Top shelf música popular brasileira from Uli Costa e Sandália de Prata, a tribute to Ángel Pedraza of Grupo Kual? who passed away two weeks ago, new technocumbia from Corpus Christi's El Dusty, the forthcoming single by Rolando Bruno y el Grupo Arévalo from Buenos Aires, Anatolian rock hot off the presses by Şatellites and Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, and Red Baraat mash up qawwali with Hava Nagila.

Cornershop across the border

This week (Sunday March 2, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site), it's a special edition of Global A Go-Go: two hours of sounds recorded, selected and mixed by Serge Bulat.

 

Serge is a multimedia artist who was born and grew up in Moldova, right near that country’s border with Ukraine.  He immigrated to the USA in 2009, and he’s frequently here in the Central Virginia area.

 

However, “frequently” is a relative term with Serge.  He’s truly peripatetic, and his wanderings have taken him recently to Malta and Greece, to the French Pyrenees to make field recordings, and to Meredith Monk’s Garrison Institute for Voice As Practice.  And Serge’s work has traveled recently to Oxford University in England and to Burning Man.

 

I aired two hours of Serge’s Cornershop Mixes on Global A Go-Go last fall, not long after his latest album Omorphita Cornershop was released, an album that was inspired by the time Serge spent in the divided capital city of Nicosia, Cyprus.  The Cornershop Mixes were built around some of the global music that he’s been listening to in his travels.

 

Serge has now made a second set of mixes for Global A Go-Go listeners.  These focus on the music of Moldova, Ukraine, Romania and on Roma or gypsy music in general, and they also have a healthy selection of his own field recordings.  Serge calls these the Cornershop Across The Border mixes, and that’s what we’ll be listening to this week.

Charts February 17-23, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 GNONNAS PEDRO AND HIS DADJES BAND | Roi De L'Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983 | Analog Africa

2 LUCIBELA | Moda Antiga | Lusafrica

3 EL LEON PARDO | "Cumbia Espacial" b/w "La Perica" [Single] | AYA

4 ALSARAH AND THE NUBATONES | Seasons Of The Road | self-released

5 ALTONS, THE | Heartache In Room 14 | Daptone

6 NOVALIMA | La Danza (Deluxe Version) | Six Degrees

7 MANDINGA BEAT | "Crianca Rica" [Single] | YB

8 SAMBA TOURE | Baarakelaw | Glitterbeat

9 SONGHOY BLUES | Héritage | Studio Mali/Transgressive

10 VAUDOU GAME | Fintou | Hot Casa

The band that speaks all African languages

They called Benin's Gnonnas Pedro Et Ses Dadjes "the band of Africa" and "the band that speaks all African languages" because of their ability to sing in dozens of tongues and perform styles of music from all over the continent, not to mention Europe and the Americas.

 

Analog Africa Records' long-planned Gnonnas Pedro compilation, Roi De L'Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983 has finally been released, and it's the retrospective this unique artist has long deserved.  You'll hear three tracks from it this week on Global A Go-Go, all sung in different languages of course.

 

Also this week (Sunday February 23, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Music by Senegal's Cheikh Ibra Fam and Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba, who will performing together at Révéler Experiences on March 29, new cumbia from El León Pardo and Pambelé, Alsarah & The Nubatones play the deep sounds of Sudan, lovely new lusophone songs by Mandinga Beat and Lucibela, and the scorching desert blues of Mali's DJAM!

Charts February 10-16, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 SANTROFI |  Making Moves | Outhere

2 ANTHONY JOSEPH | Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back | Heavenly Sweetness

3 ROBERTA CAMPOS | Coisas De Viver | self-released

4 LA BOA AND TONY ALLEN | La BOA Meets Tony Allen | Comet

5 BEST OF CONGO | various artists | World Congolese

6 KANKOU KOUYATE | N'Darila | One World

7 DENNIS MPALE FEAT. KIPPIE MOKETSI | Our Boys Are Doing It | We Are Busy Bodies

8 LADIES W.C. | Ladies W.C. | Munster

9 JORDAN WAX | Taytsh (The Heart Deciphers) | Borscht Beat

10 TRIO DA KALI | Bagola | One World

A conjure man with seven hands swirling

Tony Allen was "perhaps the greatest drummer who ever lived" (Brian Eno), and "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat" (Fela Kuti).  Allen, who passed away five years ago this April, is the subject of two recorded tributes this month, one a posthumous collaboration with La BOA, the Bogotá Afrobeat Orchestra, and the other a poem by Anthony Joseph set to the music of Dave Okumu.  You'll hear both of them this week on Global A Go-Go.

 

Also this week (Sunday February 16, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): New Brazilian sounds from Roberta Campos and Rogê, Jordan Wax's New Mexico indie-klezmer in Yiddish, two new albums from Mali's Kouyaté family tree, Santrofi celebrates their roots and leaps into the future of Ghanaian highlife, and a stellar jazz-meets-bump-jive reissue from South Africa's Dennis Mpale.

Charts February 3-9, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 ALSARAH AND THE NUBATONES | Mawasim Altariq : Seasons Of The Road | self-released

2 MERIDIAN BROTHERS | Mi Latinoamerica Sufre | Ansonia/Bongo Joe

3 GNONNAS PEDRO AND HIS DADJES BAND | Roi De L'Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983 | Analog Africa

4 ORIGINAL SOUND OF MALI 2, THE | various artists | Mr Bongo

5 FEMI KUTI | "After 24 Years" [Single] | Partisan

6 KANKOU KOUYATE | N'Darila | One World

7 ESTRELLAS DE BUENA VISTA | Live In Havana | One World

8 GERSON KING COMBO | Gerson King Combo | Vampisoul

9 DUBMARTA | "Watch Me Grow" [Single] | Conscious Sounds

10 KIN'GONGOLO KINIATA | "Kingongolo" [Single] | Helico

Plus de café

It's a fully caffeinated, new music focused edition of Global A Go-Go this time, headlined by funk from around the world including new tracks from Vaudou Game and Cheo, and a new reissue of Brazil's Gerson King Combo.

 

Also this week (Sunday February 9, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Estrellas De Buena Vista bring back that old Cuban son; The Bongo Hop and Rancho Aparte represent Colombia's Pacific coast; rock from three continents by Tek Roc, Kin'Gongolo Kiniata and Leenalchi; new roots reggae by Italian-English singer DubMarta; and the East African sounds of Dexter Story and Alsarah & The Nubatones.

Charts Jan 27 - Feb 2, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 SONGHOY BLUES | Héritage | Studio Mali/Transgressive

2 SAHRA HALGAN | Hiddo Dhawr | Danaya

3 KANKOU KOUYATE | N'Darila | One World

4 ESTRELLAS DE BUENA VISTA | Live In Havana | One World

5 BROOKLYN SOUNDS | Libre-Free | Vampisoul

6 SAMBA TOURE | Baarakelaw | Glitterbeat

7 TRIO DA KALI | Bagola | One World

8 BONGO HOP, THE | La Pata Coja | Underdog

9 KIT SEBASTIAN | New Internationale | Brainfeeder

10 OLAMINA AND AWARENESS | Chant Down Babylon | Love City

Certeza y incertidumbre

"Incertidumbre" (uncertainty or doubt) is the first track on the exquisite new album by Miramar, Entre Tus Flores.  There are a few certezas (certainties) that come along with the album:

• You haven't heard anything quite like it before
• Fans of bolero, Latin America's long-lived, popular style of romantic song, will be thrilled
  
• It's going to give this Richmond band a new level of prominence here at home, across the USA, and in Europe and Latin America

Another certainty: Miramar will be joining me and live sound engineer Richard Schellenberg in WRIR's Studio C for a live performance and an interview this week on Global A Go-Go (Sunday February 2, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site).

 

It's only been eleven years since their last appearance on Global A Go-Go!  So you're overdue for an update on their story and sound, and what better time to get one than a couple of weeks before their hometown record release gig on Valentine's Day at Révéler Experiences.

What's uncertain is what I'll be playing on the program.  I'm going to start with some fabulous new music from Mali by Samba Touré, Trio Da Kali and Songhoy Blues.  I'll give Miramar as much time as they want in Studio C, and everything after that is a big TBD.  Tune in for this celebration of some of the best Richmond has to offer to the world.

Charts January 20-26, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 MIRAMAR | Entre Tus Flores | Ansonia

2 SAMBA TOURE | Baarakelaw | Glitterbeat

3 NOVALIMA | La Danza (Deluxe Version) | Six Degrees

4 SONGHOY BLUES | Héritage | Studio Mali/Transgressive

5 SANTROFI | Making Moves | Outhere

6 VAUDOU GAME | Fintou | Hot Casa

7 SATELLITES | "Tisladi Mehmet Emmi" [Single] | Batov

8 JUPITER AND OKWESS, FLAVIA COELHO | "Les Bons Comptes" [Single] | Airfono

9 NAHAWA DOUMBIA | Vol. 2 | Awesome Tapes From Africa

10 AL-QASAR | Uncovered | Wewantsounds

Look to the sea

Richmond's own Miramar are building a worldwide audience for their highly personal, very groovy approach to bolero, the quintessential Latin American romantic song of the 20th century.

 

They've played at Lincoln Center Out of Doors, globalFEST and the Secret Planet Showcase, they've collaborated with the Richmond Symphony, and their brand new album Entre Tus Flores on the taste-making Los Angeles label Ansonia is going to introduce them to listeners in the USA, Europe and Latin America.  I'll start the show this week with two tracks from Entre Tus Flores.

Also this week (Sunday January 26, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): Long tracks I didn't have time for on my best-reissues-of-2024 show by South Africa's Tete Mbambisa and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan of Pakistan; new global rock from Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp, Al-Qasar, Şatellites and Jupiter & Okwess; Santrofi leaps into the future of highlife; and some Nigerian Afro-disco.

Charts January 6-19, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 SUPER DISCO PIRATA: DE TEPITO PARA EL MUNDO 1965-1980 | various artists | Analog Africa

2 VAUDOU GAME | Fintou | Hot Casa

3 JUANA MOLINA | Exhalo [EP] | Little Butterfly

4 CHEO | Refresco Vol. 2: Cheo Goes Funk [EP] | Nacional

5 MIRAMAR | Entre Tus Flores | Ansonia

6 SONGHOY BLUES | Héritage | Studio Mali/Transgressive

7 DOWDELIN | Tchenbe! | Underdog

8 CULTURE | Humble African (25th Anniversary Expanded Edition) | VP

9 ZANZIBARA 11: CONGO IN DAR | various artists | Buda

10 U-BROWN, QUEEN OMEGA, CHEZIDEK | "Three The Hard Way" [Single] | Irie Ites

Charts Dec 9 2024 - Jan 5 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 JUNIORE | Trois, Deux, Un | Le Phonographe

2 ANGELICA GARCIA | Gemelo | Partisan

3 BONGO HOP, THE | La Pata Coja | Underdog

4 DOGO DU TOGO AND THE ALAGAA BEAT BAND | Avoude | We Are Busy Bodies

5 KARANTAMBA | Galgi | Teranga Beat

6 NFALY DIAKITE | Hunter Folk Vol. 1: Tribute To Toumani Kone | Mieruba

7 MDOU MOCTAR | Funeral For Justice | Matador

8 CONGO FUNK! SOUND MADNESS FROM THE SHORES OF THE MIGHTY CONGO RIVER | various artists | Analog Africa

9 ABOUBAKAR TRAORE AND BALIMA | Sababu | Zephyrus

10 ZANZIBARA 11: CONGO IN DAR | various artists | Buda

El heredero de la cumbia

Yeison Landero, from San Jacinto in Colombia’s Montes de María province near Cartagena, is called el heredero de la cumbia – the heir to cumbia, the inheritor of cumbia.  He’s from the birthplace of that style of music, a style that’s now enormously popular all across Latin America and increasingly in the USA as well.

 

Yeison, the grandson of Andrés Landero, el rey de la cumbia (the king of cumbia), brings his band to Richmond for the first time ever on Friday January 17 at Révéler Experiences for two shows, at 7:30 and 9:30 PM presented by Secret Planet Richmond.  Yeison and his band will also be playing live at WRIR on Head Empty Radio, on the afternoon of January 17 between 1 and 3 PM.  This week on Global A Go-Go, I'll introduce you to the festive and deeply culturally significant music of Yeison Landero.

 

Also this week (Sunday January 5, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards at wrir.org/listen, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site): A set of reggae for the upcoming Marijuana Justice Lobby Day at the General Assembly; new music from Brazil via Los Angeles by Rogê; new Afropop from Bakk Lamp Fall, Vaudou Game and Fely Tchaco; four very different takes on the cumbia tradition; and the sound of West Africa's ancient culture of hunters and spiritual guardians played on the donso ngoni.