Introduction to World Music

A couple of people have asked me for music recommendations in the last few days, so I thought I would do a basic brain dump here on my blog. Keep in mind, this in no way encompasses the huge range of amazing world music that can be found out there, or even a small slice of the many different world music genres. This is just a peek into my most frequented world music albums, almost all of which are compilations. So hopefully you can find a few of these and add a few more world music songs to your party playlist.

North American
Classic.... - Smithsonian Folkways
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Classics - Folklyric
Samish Journey Home - Samish Indian Nation (this is a bit hard to get your hands on)


Upbeat
Globalista: Import-Export - Light in the Attic

Señor Coconut Presents Coconut FM - Essay Recordings

Africa Raps - Trikont

Girlpop
Swinging Mademoiselles - Silva America
Girls in the Garage - Dionysus
Early Girls - Ace


Asian
Bombay Disco - Cultures of Soul
Asha Bhosle + Kronos Quartet - Nonesuch
Ho! #1 Roady Music from Vietnam - Trikont


Psych
Turkish Delights - Grey Past
Steam Kodok - Grey Past
Cambodian Cassette Archives - Sublime Frequencies
Cambodian Rocks - Khmer Rocks
Love, Peace and Poetry - QDK, Normal


Latin American
Suni Paz (Argentina) - Smithsonian Folkways
Chavela Vargas (Mexico) - Orfeon
Hyuano Music from Peru - Arhoolie
Music of the Incas - Lyrichord
Mexico: Fiestas of Chiapas and Oaxaca - Nonesuch Records

 
Middle Eastern and African
Ethiopiques - Buda Musique
Nigeria 70 - World Psychedelic Classics
Lagos Disco Inferno - Academy LPs
Music from Saharan Cellphones - Sahel Sounds
Bosavi: Rainforest Music from Papua New Guinea - Smithsonian Folkways

 

Field Recordings
Anything by Sublime Frequencies


Go-To Labels
Sublime Frequencies
Smithsonian Folkways / Folkways
Nonesuch Explorer
Arhoolie