Around the World - Preview
4 April 2025
This Week
You can listen to the show on Mixcloud
Music From: Brazil, Burkino Faso, Canada, Chile, Estonia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungry, Ireland, Japan, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Türkiye, and UK.
Music by: Altin Gün, Bab L' Bluz, BaianaSystem with Lourimbau & Gilberto Gil, Bruce Cockburn, Clotilde Rullaud with Kanazoe & Debademba, Daoirí Farrell, Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek, Duda In The Sky, Duo Ruut, Elvis Costello & The Attractions & Vega, Farnaz Ohadi, Ichiko Aoba, João Selva, Karolina Węgrzyn, Luis Peixoto, Meybahar, Mika Kobayashi & Tempus, Mon Laferte, Morgan Toney, Natalia Lafourcade & El David Aguilar, Ozan Baysa, Santrofi, Satomimagae, SUTARI, Trio Da Kali, Van Morrison.
Here’s this week’s full running order.
This week’s Featured Album: Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko - Our Calling
Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko - Shadows Are
Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko’s Our Calling is this week’s featured album. They first began collaborating 20 years ago. Both have played with many other musicians but this – correct me if I’m wrong – is their first album together. Inspired by the migration of nightingales – Our Calling was released just a few weeks ago although they have released some singles in advance of the album.
“If my songs were maps I'd want them to stretch from the English moors to the Saharan dunes via the plains of the Mediterranean.” Says Faccini who was born in England with an Italian father and an English mother. The family moved to France in 1975 which is where he is still based.
Ballaké Sissoko was born 1968. He is a Malian player of the kora. He has worked with Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal, and is a member of the group 3MA with Driss El Maloumi and Rajery.
Ballaké's father, Djelimady Sissoko, was a notable musician from the Gambia in his own right who moved to Mali and was funded by the government to be part of the national orchestra. Sissoko started playing music at a young age, as most born into the jeli or griot caste do. In 1981, when he was 13, Sissoko's father died, and he took his father's place within the Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali. [*]
Natalia Lafourcade, El David Aguilar - Como Quisiera Quererte
There is a very strong South American start to Around the World this week - and a very different beginning.
Natalia Lafourcade has a new alter ego, and she’s ready to share it. On Tuesday [25 March], the Mexican musician announced her upcoming album, titled Cancionera, which she recorded in one take on analog tape.
Lafourcade announced the record, produced by Adan Jodorowsky, with a short trailer featuring a retro performance of her songs in front of a theater curtain, acting out Shakespearian scenes, and strumming her guitar accompanied by an orchestra.
The album is set to explore both tradition and the contemporary, returning to “the intimacy of her voice and guitar,” according to a press release. She’ll also feature Hermanos Gutiérrez, El David Aguilar, Israel Fernandez, Diego Del Morao, Gordon Hamilton, and Soundwalk Collective on the record. [Rolling Stone]
Natalia Lafourcade is a contemporary musical artist, songwriter, singer, and producer from the state of Veracruz. She began writing songs at an early age and launched her first solo album in 2002. Throughout her nearly 20-year career she has been part of countless musical projects and among her most popular songs are En el 2000, Un derecho de nacimiento, Hasta la Raíz, Nunca es suficiente, Tú sí sabes quererme and De todas las flores, among others.
Natalia has given life to the following albums: Natalia Lafourcade (2002), Casa (2005 con la Forquetina), Hu hu hu (2009), Mujer Divina: Homenaje a Agustín Lara (2012), Hasta la Raíz (2015), Musas: Un homenaje al Folclore Latinoamericano en Manos de Los Macorinos Vol. 1 (2017), Musas: Un homenaje al Folclore Latinoamericano en Manos de Los Macorinos Vol. 2 (2018), Un canto por México Vol. 1 (2020), Un canto por México Vol. 2 (2021) and De Todas las Flores (2022). [Natalia Lafourcade website bio]
Rodolfo David Aguilar Dorantes, better known as El David Aguilar is a Mexican singer and songwriter. He was released several studio albums, both independently and under a record label, and has worked with artists such as Mon Laferte, Jorge Drexler and Natalia Lafourcade. He has received nine Latin Grammy Award nominations, including a nomination for Album of the Year and three for Song of the Year.
POTE D´ÁGUA - BaianaSystem, Lourimbau, Gilberto Gil
With five albums already under their belt, BaianaSystem is a Brazilian musical group formed in Salvador, Bahia in 2007. They released their first work, BaianaSystem, in 2010. In 2015, their song "Playsom" was included in the soundtrack of the videogame FIFA 16. In 2017, they won the Brazilian Music Awards for Best Group in the "Pop/Rock/Reggae/Hip-hop/Funk" category and for Revelation of the Year, and their song "Invisível" was nominated as Song of the Year at the Multishow Brazilian Music Award. In 2019, their album O futuro não demora won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Portuguese Language Rock or Alternative Album. In 2021, their album OxeAxeExu was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in the same category. [*]
Lourival Santos Araújo, better known as Mestre Lourimbau (Master Lourimbau), is the leading representative of the most profound Afro-Brazilian tradition, which is characterized by his unique blending of traditional Brazilian music of African origin and contemporary jazz, inspired by the power of the berimbau percussion instrument.
In addition, Lourimbau is the greatest living craftsman of berimbaus today, a real luthier of the instrument in Brazil. [*]
Gilberto Gil is one of Brazil's greatest musicians. The 82 year old served as Brazil's Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2008. In 1967 his first release was Louvação which preceded around 50 more releases.
Izvorišta
During the show I mentioned the Substack blog run by my friend and colleague on the World Music Chart jury, Emir Fulurija.
This the link to Izvorišta.
World Music Monthly Charts
WORLD MUSIC CHARTS EUROPE
April 2025
1 BAGOLA prev month: ---
Trio da Kali • Mali • One World Records
2 MAKING MOVES prev month: 1
Santrofi • Ghana • OutHere Records
3 UNA OPORTUNIDAD MÁS DE TRIUNFAR EN LA VIDA prev month: 80
Los Piranas • Colombia • Glitterbeat
4 MEYBAHAR prev month: 84
Meybahar • Hungary/Greece • Fonó
5 EKOYA prev month: 18
Jupiter & Okwess • DR Congo • Airfono
6 ABUNDANCIA prev month: 91
Maria Joao • Portugal • Galileo
7 GISL prev month: ---
Félix Lajkó • Hungary • Fonó
8 ALL LIVING THINGS prev month: 16
Park Jiha • South Korea • Glitterbeat
9 BAARAKELAW prev month: 3
Samba Touré • Mali • Glitterbeat
10 DREAMSCAPES prev month: 11
Frigg • Finland • Bafe’s Factory
11 LUOHTENIEGUT prev month: 4
Áššu • Finland • Nordic Notes
12 BREATH prev month: ---
Farnaz Ohadi • Iran • Air Music
13 AVENIDA DA LIBERDADE prev month: ---
Fado Inverso • Portugal • self released
14 PALOMO COJO prev month: ---
El Pantorrillas • Spain • self released
15 YARIN YOKSA prev month: 80
Derya Yildirim • Turkey • Big Crown
16 VOS MIR ZAYNEN prev month: ---
Black Rooster Kapelye • Latvia • Lauska
17 HERITAGE prev month: 7
Songhoy Blues • Mali • Transgressive Records
18 GRILLI prev month: 2
L’Alba • France (Corsica) • Buda Musique
19 LA MARCHE DU BONHEUR prev month: ---
&Fusion • France/Canada/Senegal • Buda Musique
20 ADVENTURES IN THE NOW prev month: ---
Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine • Finland • Flame Jazz Records
Compiled by Milan Tesar on behalf of the World Music Workshop of the European Broadcasting Union from playlists of 44 radio producers in 25 European countries.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some notable albums below the official Top 20:
21 AT THE FEET OF THE BELOVED prev month: ---
Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali • Pakistan • Real World Records
22 VINDE TODAS prev month: 151
Carmela • Spain (Galicia) • Segell Microscopi
25 LUMINESCENT CREATURES prev month: ---
Ichiko Aoba • Japan • Hermine
26 CANCONS A L’OMBRA prev month: ---
La Baula • Spain (Catalonia) • Segell Microscopi
27 BALKÁNSKE STOPY prev month: ---
Petraš Projekt • Slovakia/Serbia • Hlava XXII
28 FLYTIFÓLK prev month: ---
Flytifólk • Faroe Islands • Tutl
29 MINULO prev month: 30
ConTRIOlogy & Tomáš Vtípil • Czech Republic • Ma Records
31 CHOROPO prev month: ---
Filippo Gambetta & Alessandro Scott d’Aniello • Italy • Visage
32 HANDED ON prev month: ---
Dreamers’ Circus • Denmark • GO’ Danish Folk Music
33 DESTURI prev month: 117
Kasiva Mutua • Kenya • Delicious Tunes
35 TRINKA prev month: 80
Trinka • Brazil • Agogo Records
36 NEW AFRICAN ORLEANS prev month: ---
Alune Wade • Senegal • Enja
38 ENTRE TUS FLORES prev month: 35
Miramar • Puerto Rico • Ansoma Records
39 OVER THE STARS prev month: ---
L. Shankar • India • X DOT 25
42 FOLK & GREAT TUNES FROM BELARUS prev month: 27
various artists • Belarus • CPL-Music
43 BAILE A LA BAIANA prev month: ---
Seu Jorge • Brazil • Cafuné
44 KANANAYÉ prev month: 44
Clotilde Rullaud, Kanazoe & Abdoulaye Traoré • France/Mali • Tzig’Art
47 SWEET REBELS – THE GOLDEN ERA OF ALGERIAN POP-RAI prev month: ---
various artists • Algeria • Wewantsounds
Transglobal Music Chart
1. Trio Da Kali · Bagola · One World [2]
2. Samba Touré · Baarakelaw · Glitterbeat [1]
3. Songhoy Blues · Héritage · Transgressive [21]
4. Arat Kilo · Danama · Accords Croisés [18]
5. Park Jiha · All Living Things · Tak:til / Glitterbeat [14]
6. Rizwan Muazzam Qawwali · At the Feet of the Beloved · Real World [5]
7. Jupiter & Okwess · Ekoya · Airfono [9]
8. Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto · Djiyo · Ma Case Prod [20]
9. Ensemble Chakâm · Les Vents Brûlants · Ensemble Chakâm [-]
10. Kankou Kouyate · N’Darila · One World [-]
11. Santrofi · Making Moves · Outhere [4]
12. Flook · Sanju · Flatfish [27]
13. Frigg · Dreamscapes · Bafe’s Factory [11]
14. Novalima · La Danza (Deluxe Version) · Six Degrees [16]
15. Aïta Mon Amour · Abda · Shouka [-]
16. Al Andaluz Project · The Songs of Iman Kandoussi: Traditional Arabic Andalusian · Galileo Music Communication [3]
17. Alsarah & The Nubatones · Seasons Of The Road · Alsarah & The Nubatones [-]
18. Damily & Toliara Tsapiky Band · Fihisa · Damily [-]
19. Aboubakar Traoré & Balima · Sababu · Zephyrus [7]
20. Ukandanz · Evil Plan · Compagnie 4000 [-]
21. Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra · Tension · Batov [12]
22. L’Alba · Grilli · Buda Musique [13]
23. Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad · Ebo Taylor JID022 · Jazz Is Dead [-]
24. Fanoos Ensemble · Echoes of Afghanistan · Fanoos Ensemble [34]
25. Kapela ze Wsi Warszawa / Warsaw Village Band & Bassałyki · Sploty / Twines · Karrot Kommando [6]
26. Muslim Shaggan · Asar · Honiunhoni [-]
27. Anne-Mari Kivimäki · Kotiin · Rockadillo [31]
28. Christine Zayed · Kama Kuntu · T-Rec [8]
29. Rastak · Tales of Earth and Sun · Rastak [-]
30. Rita Donte · Ritual · Ansonia [19]
31. L. Shankar · Full Moon · X DOT 25 Music [38]
32. Tatros Együttes · Pillanat · Tatros Együttes [-]
33. Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band · Roi de l’Agbadja Moderne 1974-1983 · Analog Africa [24]
34. Áššu · Luohtenlegut · Nordic Notes / CPL-Musicgroup [23]
35. Mario Lucio · Independance · Maremusica [26]
36. De Mar y Río · Bailen y Gocen · Palenque [-]
37. Piers Faccini & Ballaké Sissoko · Our Calling · Nø Førmat! [-]
38. Sauljaljui · Vaivaik · Wind Music [15]
39. Ozan Baysal · Tel ve Ten · ARC Music [-]
40. Okwy Osadebe and Highlife SoundMakers International · Music for Igbo Masquerade · Odogwu Entertainment / Palenque [-]
Download the chart as a PDF file
Where and when to hear Around the World
Friday:
Akaroa World Radio 2:00 pm local New Zealand Time (3:00 am GMT 4:00 am CET)
NAR-GROUP Germany – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Mosel Radio – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
NAR-Alf – 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m (CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)
Saturday:
Power 101FM Malawi: 11:00 local time
Flirt FM (Galway's Community of Interest & Student Station) 101.3 10:45 am - 12 45 pm
RCFM (Radio City FM) Duisburg, Germany 3:00 – 5:00 pm CET
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:
West Coast FM Namibia 10:00 pm to 12:00 noon Central Africa Time (2:00 to 4:00 GMT)
Power 101FM Malawi: 12:00 local time
NFRS Osaka Japan: 12:00 noon local time (3:00 am UK time 4:00 am CET)
973FM in Singapore and 11:00 pm local time (3:00 pm/15:00 hours UTC – Universal Time).
Circl8 Chester: 12:00 noon
Best City Radio (Belfast) 3:00 pm
Websound Radio (Larne) 8:00 pm
Slice Audio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Armagh City Radio 10:00 pm local time (11:00 pm CET)
Monday:
SparkFlame Radio: 00:00 am GMT (01:00 CET)
Circl8 Chester: 12:00 noon
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)
BR2 Pure Gold Radio – Costa 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:
Shire Extra: 8:00 pm GMT (21:00 CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 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)
Life Right Radio (London) 7:00 pm
Stirling Community Radio 8:00 pm GMT (9:00 pm CET)
Best City Radio (Belfast) 10:00 pm
Radio Skye (Radio Garden) 10:00 pm GMT (11:00 pm CET)
Thursday:
LIVE DRN1 Perth Western Australia - 9:00 p.m. local time (2:00 pm CET)
Waterwaves Radio: 9:00 pm GMT (22:00 CET)