Howie Lee — Birdy Island [Mais Um Discos] — At once fine-grained and expansive, Lee’s work combines traditional Chinese music and historical references with wild electronic experimentation…. constantly shifting settings trigger a sense of disorientation that reflects the strangeness of his elaborate sonic fictions. Swirling layers of OST-style sound design, dreamy choir vocals and traditional Chinese folk combine across eight dynamic and transportive tracks on Birdy Island, the latest album by Beijing-based producer/artist, Howie Lee, due out in April 2021 on Mais Um. …

Ballaké Sissoko — Djourou [Nø Førmat!] — Malian kora player Ballaké Sissoko released his eleventh album, Djourou, on 9 April 2021 on French label Nø Førmat! (Oumou Sangaré, Blick Bassy, Mélissa Laveaux). Djourou draws together solo compositions alongside thoughtful collaborations with Nouvelle Vague’s Camille, African legend Salif Keita, leading kora player Sona Jobarteh, master cellist Vincent Segal…

Floating Points, Pharaoh Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra — Promises [Luaka Bop] — Pharoah Sanders: Huh? Sam (Floating Points): Were you asleep? I’m sorry. Pharoah: No, no. I was listening and dreaming… listening to music in my head. Sam: Oh, wow. Sorry. Pharoah: Many times, people think I might be asleep, but in fact, I am just listening to music in my…

STR4TA — Aspects [Brownswood Recordings] — Gilles Peterson has partnered with Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick to reinvigorate the loose, protean energy of the early-80s Brit-funk scene. Long-time friends and collaborators, STR4TA sees them mine new musical possibilities out of that shared formative era. It was through Maunick’s band, Incognito — one of the essential groups of an…

Gratien Midonet — A Cosmic Poet From Martinique 1979–1989 [Time Capsule] — Creole poetry, folk mysticism and heavy-grooving cosmic synths combine on this unprecedented survey of spiritual Martinique polymath Gratien Midonet’s first four albums.“I always broke free from the rules, from codes being too narrow,”says poet, musician and sonic shaman Gratien Midonet.“I …

We’ve updated our regular Worldwide FM playlist with upfront and reissued music from around the world. Listen throughout the month on air, or to enjoy on the move, subscribe or follow the playlist on Spotify and Soundcloud. 96 Back — 9696 Dream [Local Action] Adrian Younge — George Stinney Jr. [Jazz…

Puma Blue–In Praise of Shadows [Blue Flowers Music/PIAS] — Puma Blue, the London singer-songwriter AKA Jacob Allen, presents ‘In Praise Of Shadows’, which is available now on Blue Flowers Music. Puma Blue’s nocturnal, soul-searching sound was born from a decade in which the 25-year-old was plagued with insomnia, “for literally a decade, I just couldn’t sleep.” That certainly helps…

Charlotte Algar — Charlotte Algar speaks to singer, composer, actor and Worldwide FM DJ Liraz about the notions of identity and womanhood entrenched in her music. Zan: Woman Naz: A mode of femininity encompassing things like elegance, politeness, beauty and pride. Music, our tastes in it, the way we participate in it, is always an expression of our identity. We create our own sonic fingerprints related to the ideologies we agree with, the clothes we wear…

We’ve updated our regular Worldwide FM playlist with upfront and reissued music from around the world. Listen throughout the month on air, or to enjoy on the move, subscribe or follow the playlist on Spotify and Soundcloud. Aaron Taylor — Don’t Leave Me Alone ft. Lalah Hathaway [Edenic Records] ACT! —…