Allegria was the first album the Gipsy Kings released under their own name. It consists primarily of more traditional flamenco-style pieces, featuring, of course, Tonino's otherworldly guitar. It includes two songs never released on a U.S. album (Pharaon and Recuerda) and the original acoustic version of Djobi Djoba. Note that this album and its successor, Luna de Fuego, are very different from the Gipsy Kings' later albums. They are both "unplugged" and have no instruments besides guitars, voices, and hand clapping.

Nature Sound Retreat presents a compilation of indigenous music of the Americas on this exciting and compelling new collection!

After India’s heat and its vibrant colors, Buddha-Bar takes us to the wild East to discover Russia. Emblematic and mysterious country, Russia offers a wide array of climates, cultures and arts. That last aspect has seduced DJ Ravin and led him to have Buddha-Bar XV focused on this enchanting atmosphere. Take a journey to these unexplored territories; walk through Russia from east to west and from North to South to the sweet sounds of Russian traditional instruments and vocals. The first CD, acoustic and enchanting, will take you through the steppe, listening Bliss, Yasmine Hamdan, Thor… The second CD, more infused with electronic music, will immerse you in Russia’s warm nights with artists such as Dim Vach or Sean Bay.

A mighty American soul master, Mighty Sam McClain, and a lioness of Persian music, Mahsa Vahdat, meet a Norwegian human rights activist / producer, and sing a song of freedom.

An underground icon throughout the Arab world, vocalist Yasmine Hamdan presents her mesmerizing debut solo album - an elegant mutant strain of electro folk, inspired by various Middle eastern traditions - written and produced in collaboration with Marc Collin of Nouvelle Vague. Yasmine first became known with Soapkills, the duo she founded in Beirut, which was probably the first indie/electronic band to appear in the Middle East. The music of Soapkills quickly became the soundtrack to the vibrant, young arts scene which developed in postwar Lebanon and elsewhere in the Arab world. On moving to Paris Yasmine worked with CocoRosie and French electronic music producer Mirwais. The inspiration for the melodies and the lyrics of her music comes from the great Arab women singers of the mid-20th century and the mischievous sensuality and the subtle, ironic social criticism which pervades their lyrics. Yasmine's vocals are connected to traditions of Arabic music but the structures and arrangements of the songs are very remote from its codes.

Singer Demis Roussos, known for his dramatic, operatic vocal stylings, was born Artemios Ventouris Roussos in Alexandria, Egypt, on June 15, 1946, to Greek expatriate parents. In the early '60s, however, the family decided to return to their homeland, and once there, the young Roussos (who had studied trumpet and sung in the church choir in Egypt) began playing in local bands. One of these was Aphrodite's Child, which also featured Vangelis Papatanassiou and Lucas Sideras. A huge hit in Europe, especially France, the band released a handful of albums before breaking up in 1971. With his label contacts in place, however, Roussos was able to secure a deal as a solo recording artist, and later that same year issued the single "We Shall Dance," also included on the album On the Greek Side of My Mind. The 1970s were a prolific time for Roussos, and he released a number of singles and albums that charted highly on the European and Latin American charts. In 1978 the singer decided to retire, and moved to Malibu Beach, where he kept a lower profile.

A whole sociological study could probably be based around Saigon Rock & Soul, a double-album compilation of killer Vietnamese pop/rock tracks from the late ‘60s to mid-‘70s, but that will be left to more academically minded types in order to focus on the music at hand. The tunes included here were surely the product of Western music's influence, as American soldiers brought the sounds of U.S. rock, pop, and soul along with them over the course of the Vietnam War. By the late ‘60s, a whole subgenre of than nac ("modern music") had emerged, as hordes of young Vietnamese musicians absorbed and emulated the music that arrived from overseas. Besides local clubs, many of the artists featured here performed – and often recorded – at U.S. army bases, where the soldiers made up a major portion of their fan base.

Singer and oud player Dhafer Youssef is one of the most appealing stars of world music, yet his music still resists categorisation within that vague genre. Last year we heard him in a "supergroup" with Omar Sosa and Anga Diaz, but he sounds more comfortable accompanied by the talented crop of Norwegian musicians loosely associated with "nu-jazz". This cool style of playing, loose-limbed and hard-edged, provides the perfect backdrop to the Mediterranean warmth of Youssef's compositions. The most significant collaborator is producer-guitarist Eivind Aarset, who supplies backdrops of wide-ranging style and density, while remaining empathetic to Youssef's musical personality. Youssef can be deep, light-hearted, complex, funky and achingly romantic, sometimes all within one song. The album's pace is leisurely, full of atmosphere, groove and great playing, but rarely self-indulgent; you never forget whose album it is. By taking the most positive aspects of nu-jazz, Aarset and Youssef have forged a thrilling new sound that could make Divine Shadows a crossover hit.

Itoiz was the name of a Basque music band from the coastal towns of Mutriku and Ondarroa, started off in 1978 and disbanded in 1988. Born in times of turmoil for the Basque Country (Spain), Itoiz stems from a dancing music band (i.e. playing other groups' songs) called Indar Trabes (1974), which performed mainly in evening festivities of towns. Throughout their existence spanning ten years, Itoiz dealt with several styles ranging from folk to progressive rock to pop. Collection includes first three albums: 'Itoiz' (1978), 'Ezekiel' (1980), and 'Alkolea' (1982).

Ofra Haza was quite possibly the most beloved singer in Israel's history, and one of Israel's most recognizable faces and voices worldwide. As a daughter of immigrants from Yemen's Jewish community and as an international superstar, she incorporated many styles into her repertoire. This wonderful collection contains 53 of her most popular songs in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.

Often referred to as the "King of Nubian Music," the Egyptian musician has enjoyed a remarkably varied career. Collection includes: Music of Nubia (1964); Al Oud: Instrumental and Vocal Music of Nubia (1965); Eclipse (1978); Muwashshah (1995); A Wish (1999).

A superior Brazilian jazz singer, Ana Caram takes a slight detour on this CD, stretching her repertoire while mostly still performing in a style influenced by bossa nova. One does not get to hear such songs as "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You," "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," "Smile," and "As Time Goes By" in a bossa nova setting that often. Also unusual is that Michel Freidenson plays all of the instruments other than the reeds (which are performed by Lawrence Feldman), and most of his electronic instruments sound real enough not to be an issue. The focus throughout is on Caram's lovely voice and she excels on this material, showing that it really is not what you sing but how you sing it. Recommended.

A one-man universe of sound who has learned to play hundreds of instruments from across the globe, which he utilizes in captivating and exotic ways. Collection includes: Implosions (1977); Til The End Of Time (1978); Wings Over Water (1982); Listen To The Rain (1983); East Of The Night (1985); Ocean (1986); The Music Of Stones (1989); Darkness And Light (1990); To The Evening Child (1992); Athos: A Journey To The Holy Mountain (1994); The Garden Of Mirrors (1997); Desert Poems (2001); Life (2004); On The Wing (2006); Bold As Light (2010).

The New Minstrels are a pop group from the Philippines, no relation to The New Christy Minstrels. Buhat was their debut album released in 1976 and features 12 songs. The CD version, which was ripped from vinyl, rearranges the song order but features all 12 songs on the album. All songs are performed in Tagalog. This was reissued in the late 1980's by the Villar label.

Kongar-Ool Ondar was a Tuvan throat singer, and Warner Brothers released this CD in 1999 to celebrate his talents and expertise. The CD features a "hidden" instructional track so one can make an attempt to become a throat singer.