PODWIRELESS BEST OF 2020

 

The 50 favourites from more than 350 new releases that made it through selection for Podwireless play in 2020.

(The clickable numbers after each album are to the Podwireless programme playlist/playlink which includes a track from the CD and a source link)

 

Best album of 2020

THE RHEINGANS SISTERS

Receiver (Bendigedig)  216

2. SHIRLEY COLLINS Heart's Ease (Domino) 214

3. ARIEL SHARRATT & MATHIAS KOM Never Work (BB*Island) 212

4. GROUPE RTD The Dancing Devils Of Djibouti (Ostinato) 217

5. JENNY STURGEON The Living Mountain (Hudson) 217

6. NARAGONIA Silentski (Trad Records) 219

7. MEKONS Exquisite (Mekorpse) 215

8. ANN O'ARO Longoz (Cobalt/ Buda) 218

9. INTARSIA Sistere (Intarsia) 219

10. KATY CARR Providence (Deluce) 220

 

 

 

 

Best re-issue or Compilation of 2020

THE HARRY SMITH B-SIDES

(Dust-to-Digital) 219

2. VARIOUS ARTISTS La Locura De Machucha (Analog Africa) 218

3. VARIOUS ARTISTS Wait Till The Clouds Roll By (Musical Traditions) 215

4. RÜSTEM QULIYEV Azerbaiijan Gitara (Bongo Joe) 218

 

The Rest Of The Best – Alphabetically

SAM AMIDON Sam Amidon (Nonesuch) 219

ANAKRONOS  The Red Book Of Ossory (Heresy) 216

LA BANDA MORISCA Gitana Mora (La Banda Morisca) 215

MOONLIGHT BENJAMIN Simido (Ma Case) 210

CINDER WELL No Summer (Free Dirt) 216

ANDREW CRONSHAW Zithers (Cloud Valley) 212

FLAIRCK Back Alive! (Home) 219

REBECCA FOON Waxing Moon (Constellation) 212

DEIRDRE GRAHAM Urranta (Ashaig Music) 219

ASMAA HAMZAOUI & BNAT TIMBOUKTOU Oulad Lghaba (Ajabul) 210

ANDY IRVINE Old Dog Long Road Vol.2 (Andy Irvine) 220

CAROLINE KEANE Shine (Caroline Keane) 215

KADIALY KOUYATE Nemo (KK Sound Archive) 212

LEVERET Variations Live (Leveret Music) 219

SITI MUHARAM Romance Revolution (On The Corner) 215

ARAGAKI MUTSUMI Another World Of Okinawan Music (Ninuhai) 219

RACHEL NEWTON To The Awe (Shadowside) 216

MA POLAINE'S GREAT DECLINE City Of Love (OMH) 214

RAKOCZY Frontrunner (Talking Cat) 217

GWENIFER RAYMOND Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain (Tompkins Square) 220

HARRIET RILEY & ALEX GARDEN Sonder (own label) 220

SALT HOUSE Huam (Hudson) 211

COSMO SHELDRAKE Wake Up Calls (Tardigrade) 217

JOAN SHELLEY Live At The Bomhard (Bandcamp) 213

MARTIN SIMPSON Home Recordings (Topic) 219

EMILYN STAM & JOHN DAVID WILLIAMS Honeywood (own label) 217

TAMIKREST Tamotait (Glitterbeat) 210

THIS IS THE KIT Off Off On (Rough Trade) 220

TRIO TEKKE Strovilos (Riverboat) 213

THE UNTHANKS Live And Unaccompanied (Rabble Rouser) 212

VARIOUS ARTISTS Folk & Great Tunes From Russia (CPL Music) 214

VARIOUS ARTISTS London Is The Place For Me 7 & 8 (Honest Jon's) 210

VARO Varo (Varo) 213

DANYEL WARO Tinn Tout (Cobalt/Buda) 211

THE WILDERNESS YET The Wilderness Yet (The Wilderness Yet) 215

WU FEI & ABIGAIL WASHBURN Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn (Smithsonian Folkways) 213

 

 

Like/ follow the Podwireless Facebook page: facebook.com/podwireless

 

Podwireless is available for free: it’s a labour of love and public service netcasting. If you would like to make a voluntary contribution to its running costs, see the Tip Jar link at the top of the column on the right or just go to https://www.paypal.me/unmanage !

To submit CDs for consideration for Podwireless, see the FAQ

Podwireless 220 December 2020

 

PLAY LINK: PODWIRELESS 220 DECEMBER 2020

(This playlink is to Mixcloud streaming:  you can also download the podcasts from Podomatic )

 

1. (Sig) English Country Blues Band : The Italian Job from the CD Unruly (Weekend Beatnik) ghostsfromthebasement.bandcamp.com/

2. This Is The Kit : No Such Thing from the CD Off Off On (Rough Trade) thisisthekit.co.uk

3. Katy Carr : The Virgin Queene from the CD Providence (Deluce) katycarr.com

4. Me Lost Me : Closed The Door from the CD The Good Noise (Tallbird) melostme.bandcamp.com

5. Flo : La Gaviota from the CD 31Salvitutti (AreAlive) flo-official.com

6. Zedashe : Kakhuri Maqruli from the CD Silver Sanctuary (Electric Cowbell) zedashe.com

7. Lo'Jo : Permettez Majesté from the CD Trans De Papier (Yotanka) lojo.org

8. Paul Ruane : Dusty Windowsills/The Shaskeen from the CD Sound (Paul Ruane) paulfiddle.com

9. Katie McNally Trio : June's Right Arm/Cape Town Hustle from the CD Now More Than Ever (Katie McNally) katiemcnally.com

10. Edgelarks : The Deluded Lover from the CD Henry Martin (Edgelarks) edgelarks.co.uk

11. Andy Irvine : Carrowclare from the CD Old Dog Long Road - Vol.2 (Andy Irvine) andyirvine.com

12. Cabit : Rize Ortaköy Kiz Horon / Polca In La from the CD Serenin (Felmay) felmay.it

13. Sväng : Euran Polkka Ja Mollipolkka from the CD In Trad We Trust (Galileo) svang.fi

14. Belanova : Alessandrina In La from the CD Bellanova (Felmay) felmay.it

15. Nevesta's Voice : Laikas Laikas from the CD Mother Tongues (Go'Danish Folk Music) gofolk.dk

16. Anrimeal : Marching Parades from the DL Encaustic Witches (Demo/ Crossness) anrimeal.bandcamp.com

17. Erin Harpe : Women Be Wise from the CD Meet Me In The Middle (Vizztone) erinharpe.com

18. The Onlies : Still Looking For You from the CD The Onlies (The Onlies) theonlies.com

19. Zoë Wren : Welcome Here from the CD Reckless River (Zoe Wren) zoewren.com

20. Stephen Clark : Shimmering Light from the CD The Lady Aurora (Lady Aurora) website

21. Ben Walker : Clanuff's Delight from the CD The Rakes Of Adair EP (Folkroom) benwalkermusic.com

22. Gwenifer Raymond : Hell For Certain from the CD Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain (Tompkins Square) gweniferraymond.com

23. Electric Jalaba : Cubaili Ba from the DL single Cubaili Ba (Strut) strut-records.com

24. Gajanas : Diamántadulvvit / Floods of Diamonds from the CD Cihkkojuvvon / Hidden (Bafe's Factory) bafesfactory.fi

25. Alostmen feat. Ambolley : Minus Me from the CD Kologo (Strut) strut-records.com

26. Harriet Riley & Alex Garden : Shivelights from the CD Sonder (Self Released) facebook.com/harrietrileyalexgarden

27. Jim Ghedi : Mytholm from the CD In The Furrows Of Common Place (Basin Rock) basinrock.co.uk

28. Ashley Hutchings feat. Becky Mills : Sweet November from the CD A Midwinter Miscellany (Talking Elephant) talkingelephant.co.uk

29. The Teacups : Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still from the CD In Which… (Haystack) haystackrecords.co.uk

30. Merry Hell : We Are Different, We Are One from the CD Emergency Lullabies (Merry Hell) merryhell.co.uk

31. Derya Türkan & Sokratis Sinopoulos : Izmir from the CD Soundplaces (Seyir Muzik) seyir-muzik.com

 

Like/ follow the Podwireless Facebook page: facebook.com/podwireless

 

Podwireless is available for free: it’s a labour of love and public service netcasting. If you would like to make a voluntary contribution to its running costs, see the Tip Jar link at the top of the column on the right or just go to https://www.paypal.me/unmanage !

To submit CDs for consideration for Podwireless, send to:
Ian Anderson
Podwireless
32 Leys Avenue
Cambridge
CB4 2AW
UK

 

And see the FAQ

Podwireless Deserted Island Discs 1

 

 

 

PLAY LINK: DESERTED ISLAND DISCS 1

Here's a different sort of Podwireless for November 2020's mid-month special. My beginning-of-month podcasts are all about new releases, while the mid-month ones are either on a specific theme (like English Instrumentals, European Roots Music, West African Women or vintage Country Blues) or an earlier programme from the archives. But one of the benefits of the pandemic lockdowns – there had to be some! – is that they've allowed more time for listening to old favourites, usually a rare luxury.

So while it's quiet outside, here's a random and totally self-indulgent selection of music I've loved and accumulated down the years since discovering there were alternatives to the pop music heard on the radio when I was a young teenager. And be warned – in just my first pass through the shelves pulling CDs out for inclusion, I'd grabbed twice as much as this. I already have another couple of hours like this assembled for the new year!

Apologies that this time there are no web site links given. A lot of these CDs were out of print before web sites became a thing. If they're not available from your usual retail source and you want to track them down, Mr Google and Mr Discogs are probably your best starting points.

 

1. (Sig) The English Country Blues Band : The Italian Job from the CD Unruly (Weekend Beatnik)

2. Muddy Waters : I Feel Like Going Home from the CD The Early Years 1947-1950 (Chess)

3. Bob Dylan : Baby, Let Me Follow You Down from the CD Bob Dylan (Columbia)

4. Bembeya Jazz National : Mousogbe from the CD Authenticité 73 (Syllart)

5. Shirati Jazz : LK The Pretty from the CD The King Of History: Classic 1970s Benga Beats From Kenya (Stern's)

6. 10,000 Maniacs : Just As The Tide Was A Flowing from the CD The Wishing Chair (Elektra)

7. Oysterband : Hal-an-Tow from the CD Trawler (Cooking Vinyl)

8. Charlie Parker Quintet : Bird Of Paradise from the CD Box Complete Savoy & Dial Studio Recordings (Savoy/ Atlantic)

9. Anita O'Day : Anita's Blues from the CD Box Complete Anita O'Day Verve/Clef Sessions (Mosaic

10. Anna Cinzia Villani : Pizzica Pizzica Di Copertino from the CD Fimmana, Mare e Focu (Anima Mundi)

11. Re Niliu : La Città Del Sole from the CD Pucambù (Il Pontesonoro)

12. Bob & Ron Copper : The Sweet Primroses from the CD Hidden English (Topic)

13. The Young Tradition : The Banks Of Claudy from the CD Young Tradition (BGO)

14. The Girls Of The Golden West : I Want To Be A Real Cowboy Girl from the CD Selected Recordings 1933-1938  (Sonyatone)

15. Jimmie Rodgers : Waiting For A Train from the CD The Early Years, 1928-1929 (Rounder)

16. Ali Farka Touré : Heygana from the CD The River (World Circuit)

17. Jali Musa Jawara : Haidara from the CD Direct From West Africa (Go Discs/ Oval)

18. Cake : Friend Is A Four Letter Word from the CD Fashion Nugget (Volcano)

19. Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros : Global A Go-Go from the CD Global A Go-Go (Hellcat)

20. The Incredible String Band : First Girl I Loved from the CD The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion (Fledg'ling)

21. The Rheingans Sisters : October Song from the CD Glad Gold Hearts (Rootbeat)

22. Earth Opera : Mad Lydia's Waltz from the CD The Great American Eagle Tragedy (Elektra)

23. Billy Bragg : Levi Stubbs' Tears from the CD Talking With The Taxman About Poetry (Go Discs)

24. Rakotozafy : Ramanjareo (Ny Any Aminay) from the CD Valiha Malaza (GlobeStyle)

25. Thomas Mapfumo : Shumba from the CD Shumba – Vital Hits Of Zimbabwe (Stern's/ Earthworks)

26. Big Joe Williams : Don't The Apples Look Mellow from the CD Blues Masters Vol. 2 (Storyville)

27. Mississippi Fred McDowell : Write Me A Few Lines from the CD Mississippi Delta Blues (Arhoolie)

28. Mimi & Richard Fariña : The Falcon from the CD Celebrations For A Grey Day (Vanguard)

29. Carolyn Hester : I'll Fly Away from the CD Carolyn Hester (Hallmark)

30. Spiro : Rose Engine from the CD Kaleidophonica (Real World)

 

Like/ follow the Podwireless Facebook page: facebook.com/podwireless

 

Podwireless is available for free: it’s a labour of love and public service netcasting. If you would like to make a voluntary contribution to its running costs, see the Tip Jar link at the top of the column on the right or just go to https://www.paypal.me/unmanage !

To submit CDs for consideration for Podwireless, send to:
Ian Anderson
Podwireless
32 Leys Avenue
Cambridge
CB4 2AW
UK

 

And see the FAQ

Podwireless 219 November 2020

 

 

 

 

PLAY LINK: PODWIRELESS 219 NOVEMBER 2020

(This playlink is to Mixcloud streaming:  you can also download the podcasts from Podomatic.)

 

1. (Sig) English Country Blues Band : The Italian Job from the CD Unruly (Weekend Beatnik) ghostsfromthebasement.bandcamp.com

2. Sam Amidon : Cuckoo from the CD Sam Amidon (Nonesuch) nonesuch.com

3. Joachim Cooder : Oh Lovin' Babe from the CD The Songs Of Uncle Dave Macon (Nonesuch) nonesuch.com

4. Jez Lowe : Coal Mountain from the CD Crazy Pagan (Tantobie) jezlowe.com

5. Martin Simpson : October Song from the CD Home Recordings (Topic) topicrecords.co.uk

6. Leveret : Medieval/ Albiona from the CD Variations Live (Leveret) leveretband.com

7. Naragonia : Gozar from the CD Silentski (Trad Records) tradrecords.be

8. Me Lost Me : Benjamin Bowmaneer from the CD Arcana (Me Lost Me) melostme.bandcamp.com

9. The Rowan Amber Mill : Bushes And Briars from the CD Golden Strings To Tether The Sun (Miller Sounds) millersounds.co.uk

10. Deirdre Graham : ’S Gann Gun Dìrich Mi Chaoidh from the CD Urranta (Ashaig) deirdregraham.com

11. Michael Chapman : Rockport Sunday from the CD Sweet Powder (Rural Retreat) secretrecordslimited.com

12. Nick Jonah Davis : Goodfellow Of The Riverside from the DL album When The Sun Came (Thread) threadrecordings.com

13. Elida Almeida : Yaya from the CD Gerasonobu (Lusafrica) lusafrica.com

14. Loudon Wainwright III : I'm Going To Give It To Mary With Love from the CD I'd Rather Lead A Band (Search Party) lw3.com

15. Intarsia : Double Figures from the CD Sistere (Intarsia) cothrecords.co.uk

16. Flairck : Nepeta Cataria from the CD Back Alive! (Cluster) clustermusic.be

17. Nesrine : Rimitti from the CD Nesrine (ACT) actmusic.com

18. Liraz : Zan Bezan from the CD Zan (Glitterbeat) glitterbeat.com

19. Blind Lemon Jefferson : Shuckin' Sugar Blues from the CD box The Harry Smith B-Sides (Dust To Digital) dust-digital.com/

20. Joni Mitchell : House Of The Rising Sun from the CD box Joni Mitchell Archives Vol 1 – The Early Years (1963-1967) (Rhino) rhino.com

21. The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc : Bas-Pelles Eriks Brudpolska from the CD Bonfrost (Nordic Fiddlers Bloc) thenordicfiddlersbloc.bandcamp.com

22. Trolska Polska : Hylkerne (The Hylks) from the CD Eufori (GO' Danish Folk Music) gofolk.dk

23. Felix Hatfield feat. Jolie Holland : Walking Distance from the DL album False God (Felix Hatfield) felixhatfieldlibrary.bandcamp.com

24. Monkey See Monkey Do : Like A Hobo from the CD The Night Out (Monkey See Monkey Do) thatmonkeyband.co.uk

25. Aragaki Mutsumi : Too Much Love For You from the CD Another World Of Okinawan Music (Ninuhai) farsidemusic.com

26. Modeste Hugues & Kilema : Tromba from the CD Green World (ARC) arcmusic.co.uk

27. Half Deaf Clatch : El Calor Abrasador Del D’a from the CD Electric Desert (Speak Up) speakuprecordings.bandcamp.com

 

Like/ follow the Podwireless Facebook page: facebook.com/podwireless

 

Podwireless is available for free: it’s a labour of love and public service netcasting. If you would like to make a voluntary contribution to its running costs, see the Tip Jar link at the top of the column on the right or just go to https://www.paypal.me/unmanage !

To submit CDs for consideration for Podwireless, send to:
Ian Anderson
Podwireless
32 Leys Avenue
Cambridge
CB4 2AW
UK

 

And see the FAQ

Podwireless Archive Autumn 2002

 

 

 

PLAY LINK: PODWIRELESS ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2002

(This playlink is to Mixcloud streaming:  you can also download the podcasts from Podomatic. )

 

Two programmes first heard on the interweb hosted by Mondomix in October and November 2002 during Podwireless’s earlier incarnation as fRoots Radio, associated with fRoots magazine (RIP).

Many of the label web links that were given back then no longer work – quite a few of the labels no longer exist or the CDs are out of catalogue. In those cases I've found the links to the listings on Discogs where, in most cases, you can buy a second-hand copy

 

1. (Sig) English Country Blues Band : The Italian Job from the CD Unruly (Weekend Beatnik) ghostsfromthebasement.bandcamp.com

2. (Earlier sig) Tiger Moth : Sloe Benga from the CD Mothballs Plus (Weekend Beatnik) ghostsfromthebasement.bandcamp.com

3. Apanui : Taka Pu from the CD E Tau Nei (Jayrem) discogs.com

4. Ryukyu Underground : Tinsagu Nu Hana Dub from the CD The Rough Guide To The Music Of Okinawa (World Music Network) worldmusic.net

5. Bembeya Jazz : Sabou from the CD Bembeya (Marabi) discogs.com

6. Orchestra Baobab : Sutukun from the CD Specialist In All Styles (World Circuit) worldcircuit.co.uk

7. The Henrys : Serious Maybe from the CD Joyous Porous (Trainrec) thehenrys.bandcamp.com

8. Guy Clark : Arizona Star from the CD The Dark (Sugar Hill) discogs.com

9. Ellika & Solo : Brodkakan/Kodinadioulou from the CD Tretakt Takissaba (Xource) discogs.com

10. Kandia Kouyate : Sanougnaoule from the CD Biriko (Stern's) discogs.com

11. Hasna El Becharia : Hakmet Lakdar from the CD Dzazair Johara (Indigo/Label Bleu) discogs.com

12. Linda Thompson : No Telling from the CD Fashionably Late (Topic) topicrecords.co.uk

13. Oysterband : Uncommercial Song from the CD Rise Above (Plane) oysterband.co.uk

14. Kakai Kilonzo & Les Kilimambogo Bros : Monica Pt 1 from the CD Best Of Kakai Vol 1 (Shava) discogs.com

15. Kenge Kenge Orutu System : Obura Jabilo from the CD The Rough Guide To The Music Of Kenya (World Music Network) worldmusic.net

16 (Earlier sig) Tiger Moth : Sloe Benga from the CD Mothballs Plus (Weekend Beatnik) ghostsfromthebasement.bandcamp.com

17. Chebli : Nadhiri from the CD Promesses (Sono/Next) discogs.com

18. Danyel Waro : Bat La Min from the CD Bwarouz  (Cobalt) discogs.com

19. Youssou N'Dour : Genne from the CD Nothing's In Vain (Nonesuch) nonesuch.com

20. Bembeya Jazz : N' Kanunuwe from the CD Défi & Continuité (Melodie/ Syllart) discogs.com

21. Eliza Carthy : Little Gypsy Girl from the CD Anglicana (Topic) topicrecords.co.uk

22. Jim Moray : Lemady from the CD A Beginner's Guide To Jim Moray (NIAG) discogs.com

23. Kristi Stassinopoulou : Amorgos Passage from the CD The Secrets Of The Rocks (Wrasse) wrasserecords.com

24. Avalon : Muiñeira De Fermin from the CD Beltaine (DiscMedi) discogs.com

25. Koezy : Ma Liberte from the CD Ma Liberte (3MOI/ Mars)

26. Rene Lacaille : Tikilik from the CD Patampo (Daqui) discogs.com

27. Bandits Of The Acoustic Revolution : Dear Sergio from the CD A Call To Arms (r.i.s.c.) riscstore.com

28. Dick Gaughan : The Father's Song from the CD Prentice Piece (Greentrax) greentrax.com

29. Culture Musical Club : Wacha Yakufike from the CD The Rough Guide To The Music Of The Indian Ocean (World Music Network) worldmusic.net

30. Monja : Gasy Mahay from the CD The Rough Guide To The Music Of Madagascar (World Music Network) worldmusic.net

 

Like/ follow the Podwireless Facebook page: facebook.com/podwireless

 

Podwireless is available for free: it’s a labour of love and public service netcasting. If you would like to make a voluntary contribution to its running costs, see the Tip Jar link at the top of the column on the right or just go to https://www.paypal.me/unmanage !

To submit CDs for consideration for Podwireless, send to:
Ian Anderson
Podwireless
32 Leys Avenue
Cambridge
CB4 2AW
UK

 

And see the FAQ