Various Artists: Tropical Party (Putamayo/digital outlets)

Most people would be selective about albums on the Putamayo label – children's songs aren't high on our list – but every now and again a compilation just catches a mood.

And this breezy collection of tracks from hitherto unfamiliar or little known artists from around the world – Brazil, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Cameroon, Haiti and PNG among them – seems so right on the hot days in our part of the South Pacific.

So pour yourself a long cool drink and settle back for 10 songs which shuffle, get on a reggae strut, hit the hi-life and tickle a bit of Afro-funk.

You'll probably not understand a word but that takes out one more level of thinking so you can just ride the rhythms and be immersed in the melodies.

Maybe one too many reggae grooves by the end but otherwise . . .

Cheers.

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You can hear and buy this album at iTunes. Or hear it at Spotify here