Around the World - 2023 Review Part 2
31 December 2023
This week
Let’s cut to the chase.
My top three albums of the year are by Damir Imamovic, Marie Kalkun, and (no surprise) Mostar Sevdah Reunion. You might find some surprises in the top 30, though. Very high on my “best of” list are Makoomba, Karkum Project, Antonis Antoniou, Dimitris Mystakidis, and Brighde Chaimbeul.
LISTEN TO THE WHOLE SHOW HERE ON MIXCLOUD
The list is, of course, completely subjective. Is Moonlight Benjamin’s Wayo a better album than Gaye Su Akyol’s Anadolu Ejderi? Who is to say? As well as being a list, it is also a running order which calls for balance and diversity of textures. I am satisfied, though, that these 30 tracks represent what I thin are the best of the year.
And from next week, I’ll be playing some that other people have highlighted, or I have missed altogether.
Albums already on the list for next year include Ramy Essam’s Metgharabiin (Outsiders), dadá joãozinho’s tds bem Global, The Breath’s Land of My Other, Lakvar’s Fiction And Folklore, FRÄNDER ll, Vimma Tornadon silmässä. I missed them on their release or they were released too late for inclusion this year.
The full running order is over on the blog, both this week and the Part 1 from last week.
Here’s my top 30 beginning in alphabetical order.
Altin Gün — Aşk
Antonis Antoniou — Throisma
BANTU — What Is Your Breaking Point?
Blick Bassy — Mádibá
Bombino — Sahel
Brigan — Liburia trip
Brighde Chaimbeul — Carry Them with Us
Crimi — Scuru Cauru
Dimitris Mystakidis — Morso
Eliza Carthy & The Restitution — Queen of the Whirl
Fatoumata Diawara — London Ko
Gaisha — Ana Aïcha
Gaye Su Akyol — Anadolu Ejderi
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley — Gyedu - Blay Ambolley and Hi - Life Jazz
Humazapas — Sara Mama
Kimi Djabaté — Dindin
Kuné — Universal Echoes
Lankum False — Lankum
Lucas Santtana — O Paraíso
Moonlight Benjamin — Wayo
Msaki & Tubatsi Mpho Moloi — Synthetic Hearts
Payadora Tango Ensemble — Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango
Raúl Rodríguez — La Razón Eléctrica
Son Rompe Pera — Chimborazo
Tokyo MinYo Club — Tokyo MinYo Club - MinYo Songbook, Vol. 1
And at the very top:
5 - Karkum Project, Giulia Tripoti OFFICIAL & Claudio Merico — Sahara
4 - Mokoomba — Tusona: Tracings in the Sand
3 - Damir Imamovic — The World and All That It Holds
2 - Mari Kalkun — Stories of Stonia
1 - Mostar Sevdah Reunion — Lady Sings the Balkan Blues
The Running Order is on the blog at davysims.com
The Spotify list is below
Where and when to listen
You can listen as the programme is broadcast or streamed on the radio stations below. You can catch up next week on Mixcloud and you can find out more at davysims.com
Saturday:
West Coast FM Namibia 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Central Africa Time (2:00 to 4:00 GMT)
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Essential Radio Midnight to 2:00 am GMT (1:00 am CET)
Sunday:
NFRS Osaka Japan: 12:00 noon local time (3:00 am UK time 4:00 am CET)
Bangor FM 107.9 (Radio Garden) 7:00 pm local time (8:00 pm CET)
Slice Audio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Ferry FM 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Radio Larne 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Armagh City Radio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Monday:
Reverse FM: 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
SparkFlame Radio: 00:00 amGMT (01:00 CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 8:00 pm GMT (21:00 CET)
KNC Radio St Lucia 6:00 am local time (10:00 am GMT 11:00 am CET)
BR2 Pure Gold Radio – Coast Blanca, Spain 10:00 pm local time (CET)
Akaroa World Radio 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
World FM 10:00 pm local New Zealand Time (11:00 am GMT, 12:00 noon CET)
Tuesday:
Global Music Radio Wednesday 6:00pm-8:00pm GMT (7:00 pm CET
Lisburn’s 98FM (Radio Garden) 7:00 pm local time GMT (8:00 pm CET)
FM105 Down Community Radio (Radio Garden) 7:00 pm local time GMT (8:00 pm CET)
Wednesday:
World FM 4:00 am local New Zealand Time (5:00 pm Tuesday GMT, 6:00 pm CET)
Slice Audio 4:00 am local time GMT (5:00 am CET)
Global Music Radio: 6:00 pm GMT (7:00 CET)
Radio Skye (Radio Garden) 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)
Friday:
Akaroa World Radio 2:00 pm local New Zealand Time (3:00 am GMT 4:00 am CET)