With Summer around the corner, ARC Music has taken one of their strongest selling genres and compiled an album especially designed to appeal to summer lovers with music sourced from the most popular vacation destination on Earth- The Caribbean. This release features music from Trinidad, Martinique, Costa Rica, and more. The islands that make up the Caribbean archipelago are among the most beautiful in the world, sharing many similarities between them, but each with a character and charm all of their own. Much like the islands themselves, there is a familiar uniqueness about the music of the Caribbean. Many Afro-Caribbean styles are instantly distinguishable from each other but share a rhythmic palette and boast a style that is undeniably Caribbean. Authentic Caribbean performers are featured, including Rafael & Energia Dominicana, Mandigo y su Son, King Selewa & His Calypsonians Calypso Invasion, Pablo Carcamo, and many more. In the words of a reviewer, "If you've been there, it takes you back. If you've never been, you'll want to go."

Afrika Mamas are a folk-tale group with a vision to promote African culture through music and theatre. They further aim to develop an ‘edutainment’ approach, in which they educate while entertaining their audiences on various African tales, breaking stereotypes that are maintained on some African cultural traits. Afrika Mamas was formed and founded by Tu Nokwe, an Afrofolk singer, in 1998. The group members were discovered while working as backing singers for various artists including Tu Nokwe herself, Brenda Fassie, Lazarus Kgagudi and Steve Kekana. They have collaborated with an array of South African and Afrikaans musicians including Jani Moolman, Amanda Strydom and Dozi, to name just a few. The Afrika Mamas are single mothers with eleven children between them. Their social experiences are naturally expressed through their music. They have faith and deep trust in each other, which elevates the bond they have maintained over the years.

Flamenco can be traced back several centuries although the exact point in time at which it began to evolve is unknown. History shows, however, a diverse background of cultural roots and influences including Indian, Jewish, Byzantine, Arabic, and South American. At certain times throughout the history of the Iberian Peninsula, people from these various cultures have passed through and settled in Andalusia and in so doing forged their own particular characteristics upon the development of this southern region of Spain. At the fall of their last stronghold in Granada in 1492 after the occupation of southern Spain for seven hundred years, the Moors left behind a cultural heritage so strong and of such magnitude that five centuries later, the impact of their influence is still very much apparent. In this diverse cultural melting pot of so many different races, the seeds of flamenco were sown and there emerged a new form of musical expression. Flamenco has been evolving continuously and today the three principal elements of singing, dancing and guitar playing have reached a peak of unsurpassed technical virtuosity and musical sophistication. To understand and retain the purity of style and spontaneity of this art form, however, we must look into the way of life of the flamenco people whose roots were buried centuries ago deep in the soil of Andalusia. It is from this way of life that the very essence of flamenco has grown.

Hugo Diaz conveys a living contemporary tango, yet incorporating the old roots. Supreme craftsmanship as well as a deeply-felt passion mark his unique style. This release presents pieces by Manzi, Bardi, Piazzolla, Cobian, Troilo, Federico and more. ''...Hugo Diaz plays virtuosic scales, complex harmonies and dynamics, rich in nuances, without letting pure technique dominate...'' (Gottinger Tageblatt, Germany)

Afrika Mamas return with their fifth release Ilanga (The Sun). A stunning album of a cappella music. Their take on John Lennon's Imagine, rearranged with Zulu vocal accompaniment, is something to behold. The album also includes songs written with the sons of the late Joseph Shabalala – the founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. As ever, the ladies deliver a powerful album addressing community issues in South Africa and a hopeful message for the future. “Astounding Zulu singers” (Songlines magazine) Afrika Mamas are a folk-tale group with a vision to promote African culture through music and theatre. They further aim to develop an ‘edutainment‘ approach, in which they educate while entertaining their audiences on various African tales, breaking stereotypes that are held on some African cultural traits. They are all single mothers with eleven children between them. They have a solid friendship and deep trust in each other, which elevates the bond they have maintained over the years. They were founded by their band leader, Ntombifuthi Lushaba, in 1998, while the other group members were working as backing singers for various artists including Tu Nokwe, Brenda Fassie and Steve Kekana. Since their formation as Afrika Mamas they have collaborated with an array of South African and Afrikaans musicians including Janni Moolman, Amanda Strydom and Dozi,to name a few.

‘NETSA’, meaning ‘free’, explores nature, love and unity and the empowerment of artistic endeavor. It is a reflection on what has been and how she would like to shine her light going forward – an album of creative freedom, expression and defiance. By fusing Ethiopian and western instrumentation, she delicately balances exhilarating Ethiopian grooves with beautifully soft jazzy melodies. “Minyeshu manage to sound both accessible to a wider audience yet still authentically and proudly Ethiopian at the same time.” (Songlines) “The blend of traditional and western instruments give Minyeshu a range of musical options to support her rich vocals and personal lyrics.” (RootsWorld)

REVIEWS:

Her majestic vocal ululations propel, with irresistible kinetic energy, music redolent of colourful tone textures and transcendent rhythms to conjure a kind of musical magisterium formed – as it were – out of the vivid red clay of the land of Ras-Tafari. Maddening seduction is imminent.

-- The WholeNote (Raul da Gama)

With this new release, enjoy over an hour of party music, including salsa, cumbia, merengue, lambada, calypso, and more. Some of the featured artists include Pablo Carcamo, who hails from Chile and is known for the variety of instruments that he can expertly play, Hossam Ramzy, an internationally renowned percussionist composer and arranger who has twenty-plus albums to his name, and groups such as the Latin Sextet, which was founded in 1993 by musicians from Brazil, Chile, and Germany, combining Latin American tradition with European and American styles. All of these artists bring the tropics right into your home.

Hossam Ramzy, Egypt’s Ambassador of Rhythm, was born in Cairo. His musical career began early, when at the age of three he was given his first drum- an Egyptian table. His passion for percussion was noted by his family (many of whom were themselves involved in the arts), who encouraged him to master his craft by studying with the leading music teachers of Egypt. A move to Saudi Arabia introduced Hossam to many of the Bedouin tribes who gave the young Hossam a rich insight into the cultural origins of Middle Eastern music that became the inspiration for many of his later rhythmic directions. This album of beautiful Egyptian love songs for belly dancers and lovers of Egyptian music also features the incredible quarter tone accordion player Mohsen Allaam.

This new release features Russian music in all its wide variety, representing the many different peoples living in that continent-wide country. From fiery Gypsy music, early Orthodox choral music, tinkling balalaikas, Cossack songs, a cappella choirs (including the renowned Red Army Choir) as well as modern renditions of traditional music.Other ensembles include the St. Petersburg Instrumental Ensemble ‘Carousel’, Balalaika Ensemble ‘Wolga’, Talisman, Valentina Ponomareva, The Stars of St. Petersburg, Yale Strom, Arinushka, and more. All talented groups are skilled in their adaptations of this music of their mother country.

This very infectious, upbeat and danceable rhythm from Brazil evolved out of Forro, a unique Brazilian dance rhythm, will not let you sit still. An irresistible invitation to move your body and dance. With Enrique Ugarte, Mauricio Calquin, Jonas Mo, Beatriz Schmidt and Pablo Carcamo.

Vigüela showcase various regional styles within traditional Spanish music, all originating from their home-land Castilla-La Mancha, the southern part of the Iberian plateau. Their ninth album A la manera artesana focuses on how ‘artisanal creativity’ differs from the globalization of ‘handicraft culture’ which has become more about following templates and repetition, rather than unique original craftsmanship. According to the band’s founder, Juan Antonio, the style is more important than the repertoire – “Repertoire you can learn, but it’s the local style that makes it authentic.” This approach makes Vigüela quite unique and has gained them Spanish audiences in both rural and urban areas. For modern Spain, and the rest of world, this is a new and exciting style which has been previously unrecognized. Yet for the more rural Castilla-La Mancha audience, it has a moving nostalgic feel that resonates with the local culture.

This is the perfect summer collection of the most beautiful pieces of the Athenians including lively syrtakis (‘Zorba the Greek’) and wistful rembetiko. This lineup includes fast and furious bouzouki playing, as well as romantic songs. Famous Greek composers are featured, like Theodorakis, Hatsidakis, and Xarchakos, as well as original songs by the members of the Athenians. The Athenians do not only render a masterly interpretation of Theodorakis’ music, but are equally well acquainted with the compositions of other Greek composers. Their musical repertoire encompasses contemporary songs and Greek popular music that has come into existence as original folk music and has been enriched by modern elements and thus developed into this new genre. All four members- Dmitri Polychronis, Manolis Charokopos, Antonis Gialeles, and Kostas Smirnios- are composers as well as musicians.

Khöömei Beat are five outstanding musicians who excel in khöömei - Tuva’s unique style of throat singing. They layer traditional and modern instruments with their distinctive vocals to create powerful arrangements with modern rhythms and electronic sounds. Exhilarating and foot-stomping - a musical art that stretches back to the dawn of humanity, while simultaneously reaching forward to new horizons. An exhilarating mix of khöömei singing with razor-sharp drumming and earthy cello sounds that rush through the soul like the wind from an eagle’s wing. With the authentic Tuvan sounds of the doshpuluur, byzaanchyand igil, Khöömei Beat layer traditional and modern instruments with their distinctive vocals to create powerful arrangements with modern rhythms and electronic sounds.

Noel McLoughlin was born in Limerick, Ireland, and he began to play guitar at the age of fifteen. His singing was influenced by The Johnstons, an Irish group popular in the late 60s, and instrumentally by groups like Planxty, Sweeney’s Men, and The Dubliners. He spent his early years in Ireland playing traditional folk music with various groups in countless sessions, festivals, concerts, and in the 1970s he joined several Irish folk bands. In groups he plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, tin whistle, bodhran, and sings. Since 1984 he has performed primarily as a soloist, playing guitar and singing Irish and Scottish folk songs, touring throughout Europe and the United States. The incredible success of his recordings is due to Noel’s impressive but soft voice- especially appreciated by the audiences in his live concerts. He has therefore come to be one of the most acclaimed singers of Irish and Scottish folk. This compilation features Noel’s best recorded songs.

Nayan Navaa is an album full of life, sun, kindness, compassion and joy. NAMGAR contribute to the preservation of the Buryat language, one of the listed endangered languages of the world. NAMGAR’s aim is to save and promote traditional Buryat melodies by working with archives, collecting songs, and performing them both in their homeland and around the world. In 2019, band members Evgeny Zolotarev and Namgar Lkhasaranova worked in the archives of St. Petersburg, Moscow and Ulan-Ude, Buryatia, collecting 100 forgotten traditional Buryat songs, a selection of which feature on this album.