Various Artists: Anywhere on the Road (Warners)

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Kottarashky: Manda (Bulgaria)
Various Artists: Anywhere on the Road (Warners)

As many Elsewhere readers would be aware, the late English radio DJ Charlie Gillett hosted important weekly radio shows over the decades which pulled music from around the planet: World Music from Elsewhere in other words?

This double disc collection -- ideal for a long drive or a late afternoon I have to say -- picks up a considerable number of artists who have appeared at Elsewhere, among them Bassekou Kouyate and Ngonu Ba, Tinariwen, Staff Benda Bilili, Allen Toussaint, Fat Freddy's Drop, Seasick Steve . . .

But scattered between these familiar sounds are a treasure chest of oddities (the entrancing DVA from the Czech Republic), big names (Khaled, Ojos de Brujo, Calle 13, Mercedes Sosa) and those you want to hear much more from (Sevval Sam from Turkey, the gentle trip-hop of K'naan from Somalia and Canada, the slack-stringed sound of the local zither by Yoon Jeong Heo from South Korea, Cimarron from Colombia . . .)

In the absence of having your passport stamped and confronting unfamiliar food, this double disc -- with useful liner notes and pointers to albums to check out -- is a fascinating journey.

And further proof the interesting stuff doesn't always come out of London, New York, Los Angeles . . .  

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mark - Oct 14, 2010

Emporer Roscoe (Radio Luxembourg)
Johnny Walker (BBC)
John Peal (BBC)
Gilles Peterson (Pirate Radio / Radio London / BBC)
Robbie Vincent (Radio London / JazzFM)
Andy Kershaw (BBC)
Roger Scott (Capitol Radio)

and

Charlie Gillet (BBC)

Radio show hosts that knew / know what time it is.

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