Charts July 14-20, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 ADRIAN QUESADA | Boleros Psicodélicos II | ATO

2 T.P. ORCHESTRE POLY RHYTMO DE COTONOU-BENIN | Tidiani Kone et le T.P. Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou-Benin | Acid Jazz

3 ORUA | "Deus-Dara" [Single] | K

4 SABABA 5 | Nadir | Batov

5 ORCHESTRE TOUT PUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP | "Revenant du Nord b/w Siilent" [Single] | Bongo Joe

6 DOM SALVADOR, ADRIAN YOUNGE AND ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD | Dom Salvador JID024 | Jazz Is Dead

7 KOKOROKO | Tuff Times Never Last | Brownswood

8 HABIBI FUNK 031: A SELECTION OF MUSIC FROM LIBYAN TAPES | various artists | Habibi Funk

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

10 FRANCK BIYONG | "Struggle 4 Money" [Single] | Tangential

Dr. Boondigga

I was stunned to hear that Chris (Mu) Faiumu, the founder and bandleader of Fat Freddy's Drop, passed away in his sleep on Wednesday at home in Wellington, New Zealand.  Fat Freddy's is one of the most popular bands New Zealand has ever produced: their first four albums all went to #1 in their home country, and they did that as a fully independent act, managing themselves and running their own record label.

 

The albums and their amazing live shows have earned them a strong following in Europe, but they've never toured the USA so they remain relatively unknown here.  If you can imagine a cross between the Wailers, Parliament, Phish and J Dilla, that's kind of what they sound like.  If you want to know exactly what they sound like, tune in to the second hour of Global A Go-Go this week for my tribute to Mu: a full hour of Fat Freddy's music.

 

Also this week (Sunday July 20, 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 singles from Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp and Oruã, the Malawian banjo music of Gasper Nali and Madalitso Band, and Afrobeat by Tidiani Kone and Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou.

Charts Jun 30 - Jul 13, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

1 BRIVELE | Khaveyrim Zayt Greyt | Borscht Beat

2 BRIGHDE CHAIMBEUL | Sunwise | Tak:til

3 KOKOROKO | Tuff Times Never Last | Brownswood

4 HABIBI FUNK 031: A SELECTION OF MUSIC FROM LIBYAN TAPES | various artists | Habibi Funk

5 MUSIC FOR A REVOLUTION, VOL. 1: GUINEA'S SYLIPHONE RECORDING LABEL (1967-1973) | various artists | Radio Martiko

6 HAWA AND KASSE MADY DIABATE | Toumaro | One World

7 GIO CHAMBA | "La Danza de los Mirlos" [Single] | Mixto

8 EDNA MARTINEZ PRESENTS PICO: SOUND SYSTEM CULTURE FROM THE COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN | various artists | Strut

9 TRIO KAZANCHIS PLUS 1 | Sheger | 121234

10 TRIO MOKILI | Trio Mokili | self-released

Cause & Effect: Chicha Libre

Bill from Global A Go-Go here, bringing you a special edition of WRIR's Cause & Effect program this week (Saturday July 12, 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).  What's so special about it, you ask?

 

Well, first of all, Chicha Libre is performing on Saturday night at the Get Tight Lounge, with the Balkan psychedelic twang of Richmond's Zarove opening for them.  So this radio show should be an ideal pre-game situation for a Get Tight tailgate party.  And for those of you who are considering whether to spend your evening at Get Tight, tune in and get the whole Chicha Libre story while you decide.

 

Secondly, Chicha Libre founder and bandleader Olivier Conan will join me live in the studio for this show.  As you might already know, Cause & Effect is WRIR's weekly program that focuses on a single band (or sometimes a genre or a time and place) and digs into their origin, development, influences, peers and the artists they've influenced, with a healthy dose of the band's own music of course.

 

Rarely do we have the actual subject with us in person for a Cause & Effect episode.  So tune in and hear the Chicha Libre story straight from the horse's mouth.  It's a unique opportunity and should be a lot of fun.

Once tejones

Hot Secret Planet Richmond Summer continues in mid-July in two quite different flavors.  On Saturday July 12, Chicha Libre, the Brooklyn band that brought Peruvian-style psychedelic cumbia to worldwide recognition, returns to Richmond for the first time in 12 years to play at the Get Tight Lounge.

 

And on Tuesday July 15, Larry & Joe bring their unique mix of Venezuelan joropo and Appalachian bluegrass to Révéler Experiences.  To help you decide if you'd like to spend an evening with either or both of them, you'll hear several selections from both Chicha Libre and Larry & Joe this week on Global A Go-Go.

 

Also this week (Sunday July 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): New music from Mali by Habib Koite's Mandé Sila and Hawa & Kasse Mady Diabaté; vintage African sounds from two excellent new compilations: Music For a Revolution Vol. 1 and Edna Martinez Presents Picó; Trio Kazanchis + 1 and Trio Mokili expand the boundaries of Ethiopian music; and a rediscovered recording of the classic Ethio 70's Ibex Band.

Charts June 23-29, 2025

WRIR World's NACC Top Ten

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

2 NOURA MINT SEYMALI | "Guereh" [Single] | Glitterbeat

3 TRIO MOKILI | Trio Mokili | self-released

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

5 CHEIKH IBRA FAM | "Sali" [Single] | Cumbancha

6 AFRODREAM | "Afrotrip" [Single] | Rubik

7 GYEDU-BLAY AMBOLLEY | Wake Up Afrika | Agogo

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

9 FEMI KUTI | Journey Through Life | Partisan

10 SALIF KEITA | So Kono | No Format