African Travels CD

Fresh on the heels of last year's excellent Frikyiwa compilations, the latest installment of the Six Degrees label's Travel Series takes a similar approach, taking the ancient musical traditions of the Mother Continent and updating its infectious sounds for the 21st century. In some cases, like Mali's Issa Bagayogo's dub-influenced "Diarabi," the original tracks are merely updated, subtly remixed with a glossier sheen and some trippy effects to give them a more modern appeal. In others, like Future Loop Foundation's "Freetown," the traditional elements serve as a launchpad for a unique track that draws the line connecting Nigerian Afrobeat and deep house music. But the best cut is Masters at Work's "MAW Expensive," which finds legendary DJ/producer team "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez paying tribute to Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti by updating one of his hottest anti-authority anthems, "Expensive Shit." Three decades after Bob Marley introduced the theme of a global village, albums like this show that, musically at least, this really is "One World," after all. ~ Bret Love

Includes liner notes by Richard Henderson.

Masters At Work,Issa Bagayogo, Bob Holroyd,Organic Grooves++