English music album reviews

Radio Retaliation
Thievery Corporation
Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, better known as the international DJ and production duo Thievery Corporation, seem to be making a point with Radio Retaliation. As a whole, the album speaks of politics in music and imparts tough socio-political messages largely absent from today's popular sounds. It touches upon the eclectic sounds of Jamaica, Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, featuring collaborations from Nigeria (Femi Kuti), Brazil (Seu Jorge), India (Anushka Shankar), Slovakia (Jana Andevska) and the United States (Chuck Brown).

Sunrise ... Sunset
Blue Bedouin
This eagerly awaited third installment of the Blue Bedouin series, Sunrise ... Sunset, produced by Dubai-based musician Hussain Albagali, will take you on a journey through the Arabian deserts. The music is traditional, infused with Western beats, and will make you feel as though you're riding the sands on a magic carpet. Every track mixes the sounds of the old with the new, resulting in various day-tracks and night tracks. From the exoticism of Sound Of The Desert, to the magical Voice Of Hell, this is a journey you'll thoroughly enjoy.

Yalla Dance 3
Various Artistes
Arabic music fans get your dancing shoes on as Arabia's hottest album, featuring dance floor tunes, is in stores now. Yalla Dance 3 features favourites from the biggest DJs and crossover artistes in the Arab world. The album has everyone from Dania (Rayah Albak), to REG Project (Min Gheir Leh), Beirut Biloma (Be Free), Arash and Shaggy (Donya), Elie Attieh (Ali Baba), Turkeylicious (Electra Rakkas) and more.