Number Five: Nika Mo – Of Cloven Hoof in Honey VIDEO Of Cloven Hoof in Honey , Australian singer Nika Mo explores many of the lesser known Grimm tales, and turns them into song, beautiful melancholic folk songs. Thanks to a vast array of contributors, the album sees a healthy variety of sounds, which are expertly conducted and crafted, and hauntingly memorable.
Number Four: كرخانة – الْأَزْرَقَيْن VIDEO
Number Three: Dafné Kritharas – Βάρκα VIDEO Βάρκα (Várka), this year, and it’s been one I’ve been returning to frequently. As with her previous album, we get to hear a wide variety of cultures represented by her songs, according to her Bandcamp: Greek, Sephardic, Bosnian, Armenian, Turkish, and more. Moreover, thanks to many collaborators, each song and folkloric tradition is honoured by a master musician (other than Kritharas herself). I’d say this is a perfect introduction album to new cultures, since it’s very easy listening.
Number Two: بَادِيَة – بَادِيَة VIDEO
Number One: San Salvador – La Grande Folie VIDEO Grande Folie really sat comfortably above the rest. Ever since I listened to it earlier this year, it hasn’t quit my mind. At one point, I was obsessed with it, and made everyone I know listen to it! The French vocal sextet takes traditional songs from various traditions and rework them with their creative quill to make something truly modern, folksongs for the new generation! They also did write songs from scratch on that album. Seriously, the folk music experience of 2021.
Notable Releases Hover over foreign scripts for pronunciation and romanization.
Friday, 22 January San Salvador – La Grande Folie 59:00Pau, France
Read our review.
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Fai Sautar [03:00]
2. La Liseta [13:58]
3. Lo Mes de Mai [06:03]
4. La Grande Folie [11:50]
5. La Fin de la Guerra [03:08]
6. Enfans de la Campagna [09:05]
7. San Josep [08:06]
8. Quau te Mena [03:49]
Friday, 29 January Institutrice – Cohortes 37:19France
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Cantabrica [03:38]
2. Werner [11:28]
3. Climatosceptique [02:37]
4. Viola Biflora (Bouquet I) [01:42]
5. Dianthus Hyssopifolius (Bouquet II) [01:11]
6. Jacques [05:47]
7. Cortège de tête [04:08]
8. Procession [04:01]
9. La Doxa [02:47]
Tuesday, 2 February Ocrilim – Blwch-ariam / Eiraddfa 51:59Weehawken, New Jersey
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Blwch-ariam 1 [01:56]
2. Blwch-ariam 2 [01:12]
3. Blwch-ariam 3 [01:06]
4. Blwch-ariam 4 [02:12]
5. Blwch-ariam 5 [02:01]
6. Blwch-ariam 6 [01:29]
7. Blwch-ariam 7 [02:00]
8. Blwch-ariam 8 [02:16]
9. Blwch-ariam 9 [02:42]
10. Blwch-ariam 10 [01:37]
11. Blwch-ariam 11 [01:20]
12. Blwch-ariam 12 [01:42]
13. Blwch-ariam 13 [01:46]
14. Blwch-ariam 14 [01:16]
15. Eiraddfa 1 [02:58]
16. Eiraddfa 2 [03:19]
17. Eiraddfa 3 [03:06]
18. Eiraddfa 4 [02:35]
19. Eiraddfa 5 [02:35]
20. Eiraddfa 6 [03:08]
21. Eiraddfa 7 [04:12]
22. Eiraddfa 8 [01:38]
23. Eiraddfa 9 [03:53]
Wednesday, 3 February Szabó Sándor & Kobza Vajk – Rejtek 50:10Hungary
Tracklist (click to display) 1. A délibábon túl [04:19]
2. Napszentület [06:55]
3. Mantra [04:09]
4. Holdfényes álom [04:19]
5. Hullámzó idő [04:25]
6. Fényvarázs [04:59]
7. Vágyódás [03:49]
8. A Neptunusz hideg fényében [06:09]
9. Rejtek én [06:04]
10. Egy újjászületés látomása [05:09]
Friday, 12 March Erlend Apneseth Trio – Lokk 36:38Buskerud, Norway
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Erindring [00:42]
2. Impedans [04:24]
3. Slekter [05:04]
4. Linjer [03:58]
5. Fuglane [03:24]
6. Springar [05:38]
7. Vake [01:00]
8. Lokk [03:36]
9. Skimmer [08:52]
10. Lokk (single) [03:36]
Friday, 19 March Frode Haltli – Avant Folk Ⅱ 40:21Oslo, Norway
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Doggerland [08:48]
2. Nordlys [10:34]
3. Gravberget [09:41]
4. I Østen som i Vesten (All Over the Place) [11:18]
Tuesday, 6 April Nika Mo – Of Cloven Hoof in Honey 38:25Perth, Australia
Read our review.
Tracklist (click to display) 1. The Messengers of Death [06:13]
2. The Juniper Tree [03:26]
3. The Devil’s Sooty Brother [04:42]
4. Dance of the Cloven Hoof [03:04]
5. The Singing Bone [06:12]
6. The Strange Feast [00:53]
7. Fitcher’s Bird [06:34]
8. The Lion and the Frog [06:19]
9. One Left Wing [01:02]
Saturday, 10 Tolgahan Çoğulu & Sinan Ayyıldız – Amorphous 17:24Turkey
Tracklist (click to display)
1. Nabat Xanım [0:03:23]
2. Keesher Bar [0:05:06]
3. Blacksea Rhapsody [0:05:20]
4. Aman Avcı [0:03:52]
Friday, 30 April Diagonal & Jean-Christophe Cholet – Back in Tunisia 51:12France
Tracklist (click to display)
1. Ya Man Bi Lahdhi [0:04:54]
2. Fregh Gzali [0:07:39]
3. Ardhi [0:09:15]
4. Andalussi [0:05:28]
5. Sidi Blue Saïd [0:07:46]
6. Keb Al Foulara [0:06:20]
7. Safar [0:09:59]
Friday, 21 May Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime 41:10Niger
Read our review.
Tracklist (click to display)
1. Chismiten [0:04:58]
2. Taliat [0:03:48]
3. Ya Habibti [0:03:31]
4. Tala Tannam [0:05:38]
5. Untitled [0:01:25]
6. Asdikte Akal [0:04:31]
7. Layla [0:04:26]
8. Afrique Victime [0:07:25]
9. Bismilahi Atagah [0:05:36]
Monday, 24 E-an-na – Fascinathanatango 47:10Sibiu, Romania
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Contrango [03:19]
2. Muntango [03:40]
3. Antagonistango [04:31]
4. Microtango [02:41]
5. Politango [02:53]
6. Scriptango [04:55]
7. Nimic [02:04]
8. Vârstango [01:17]
9. Necrotango [10:23]
10. Mortango [02:56]
11. Fascinathanatango [04:20]
12. Mormântango [04:11]
Friday, 28 May جو بھی – نَفْس سُكُون يس 42:38Lahore, Pakistan
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Seek Refuge [02:18]
2. Insia [05:15]
3. Raga Gurji Todi [06:13]
4. Straight Path [07:27]
5. Mosty [07:40]
6. Zari [05:51]
7. Nafs at Peace [07:54]
Saturday, 26 June Dafné Kritharas – Βάρκα 42:28Paris, France
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Preza Otan Pieis [04:22]
2. U Stambolu Na Bosforu [03:50]
3. Kastellorizo [04:57]
4. Mystika Pos S’Agapo [02:59]
5. Si Me Davas Tus Ojus [02:28]
6. Amygdalaki [04:14]
7. La Komida la manyana [03:48]
8. De Edad de Kinze Anyos [04:05]
9. Gkel Gkel Aman [03:21]
10. Thalassaki Mou [05:12]
11. Varka Mou Bogiatismeni [03:12]
Friday, 9 July كرخانة – الْأَزْرَقَيْن 83:57Beirut, Lebanon
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Nafas (oud intro) [06:42]
2. Nafas [08:54]
3. Sidi Mansour (drums intro) [03:46]
4. Sidi Mansour pt.1 [09:48]
5. Sidi Mansour pt.2 [05:48]
6. Sidi Mansour pt.3 [04:30]
7. Huli Huli pt.1 [04:33]
8. Huli Huli pt.2 [07:06]
9. Al Sal3awa [10:29]
10. Containment pt.1 [01:58]
11. Containment pt.2 [11:01]
12. Rock Farock [09:22]
Friday, 13 August بَادِيَة – بَادِيَة 23:02Mashhad, Iran
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Paresh-e Jal [04:43]
2. Leyla Dar Vakon [03:25]
3. Rashid Khan [02:38]
4. Navaei [03:13]
5. Assadolla Jan [04:45]
6. Sahargah [04:18]
Tuesday, 17 August La Pêche – Dubrashishov 48:12France
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Dubrashishov [04:17]
2. Balkan Whistle [03:45]
3. Quartet Hora [06:13]
4. Sinanari [05:48]
5. Gérard Majax [05:25]
6. Doina des Steppes [01:36]
7. Hora din Caval [02:40]
8. Geampara et Shalakho [06:30]
9. Hup Hup Hup [02:23]
10. Barbaturk [04:14]
11. Les démons de Boris [05:21]
Tuesday, 14 September François Pelletier – Le Refuge 44:58Montréal, Québec
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Myst [04:02]
2. Afraid [03:55]
3. Cousin Struggles [02:59]
4. Le Refuge [02:46]
5. Uncle’s Barn [03:32]
6. Sept Heures [02:54]
7. Ton Baril [04:33]
8. Boréalis [04:00]
9. Train Ride [03:32]
10. La Petite [03:15]
11. Sagouine [03:07]
12. Gaelic Morrow [03:13]
13. Lutèce [03:21]
Friday, 17 Becca Stevens & the Secret Trio – Becca Stevens & the Secret Trio 37:04USA
Tracklist (click to display)
1. Flow in My Tears [0:02:18]
2. Bring It Back [0:02:51]
3. We Were Wrong [0:04:17]
4. California [0:04:19]
5. Eleven Roses [0:03:59]
6. Lucian [0:03:21]
7. Pathways [0:03:19]
8. Maria [0:03:08]
9. Lullaby for the Sun [0:03:35]
10. The Eye [0:03:29]
11. For You the Night is Still [0:02:32]
Tuesday, 21 Кацярына Докова – Мова дрэва 37:58Lisbon, Portugal
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Viasna [03:40]
2. Leleja [05:49]
3. Jurja [04:01]
4. Uspamin [04:28]
5. Zazviniela [03:18]
6. Lon [03:00]
7. Krasna Sonca [03:57]
8. Idzem-Pajdziem [03:16]
9. Sivaja [04:29]
10. Malitva [02:00]
Friday, 24 Cloud of I – Gazing 20:13Tel Aviv Yafo, Israel
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Intro [02:16]
2. Sod [04:21]
3. The Cloud of I [05:27]
4. Sail Away [04:08]
5. Hole of Time [04:01]
Sunday, 26 DSF – DSF 32:12France
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Poulet aux Fraises [05:22]
2. Le Cloître [06:12]
3. Gates [04:54]
4. Interlude [04:08]
5. Oh Nanny [06:51]
6. Uneven Footing [04:45]
Wednesday, 29 September E-an-na – MLR 19:12Sibiu, Romania
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Necaz [03:04]
2. Nanana peste tot [03:18]
3. Malere [03:13]
4. Toropeală [02:46]
5. Bun la toate [02:50]
6. Zboară, puiule, din cuib [04:01]
Friday, 8 October Australian Art Orchestra – Hand to Earth 45:19Australia
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Nunguryu Nunguryu [05:17]
2. Water Song [09:28]
3. Star Song [04:28]
4. Birrik Birrik [05:10]
5. Guguk [09:16]
6. Gadayka/Grenadilla [03:46]
7. Old People Song [07:54]
Friday, 5 November Völur – Die Sprachen der Vögel Ⅲ : Zwischen den Wäldern 27:12Toronto, Ontario
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Intro [04:05]
2. Enclosure [04:27]
3. Fremdheit, Fremdheit [07:48]
4. Die Spree [04:25]
5. Taylor Creek [06:27]
Zaäar – Magická Džungl’a 89:22Italy
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Respiration Aérobie [22:01]
2. Multicellularité Des Cyanobactéries [15:22]
3. Eucaryotes Et Reproduction Sexuée [08:40]
4. Sortie De l’Eau Et Seconde Oxygénation [09:38]
5. Explosion Cambrienne [13:42]
6. Grande Oxydation [19:59]
Friday, 12 Αμαζόνων – Invisible Cities 41:41Den Haag, Netherlands
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Montreux [02:45]
2. Ravayah [07:13]
3. Sacred Place [06:29]
4. Karri [03:25]
5. Patinada [07:18]
6. Tsarka [03:43]
7. Kanah [04:55]
8. Claraboia [05:53]
Dix-Sept Saturnes – Dix-Sept Saturnes 63:08Strasbourg, France
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Abat-jour [04:59]
2. Ranila moma [03:12]
3. Volailles [02:18]
4. Bouilloire [07:32]
5. Nevesto mlada Kravena [03:34]
6. Kreinah pong [07:56]
7. Meseshinko lio [04:38]
8. Houdetsi daïchovo horo [06:01]
9. Lale li si [02:28]
10. Karadzha mar marchait dans la fo forêt [03:10]
11. Zyumbyul li si [07:42]
12. La montagne s’est effondrée [09:38]
Friday, 19 JP « le Pad » Tremblay – Rrrik thffu (l’onomatopée d’un crachat) 53:26Québec
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Maladie mentale [04:17]
2. Tu sens bon [04:03]
3. Démon [04:23]
4. Gentleman farmer [03:34]
5. Ma yeule [03:37]
6. Révolution agricole [04:40]
7. T’en as tout c’qu’y faut [03:51]
8. J’cours après d’quoi [03:47]
9. La grasse après-midi [05:02]
10. Montagne [03:01]
11. French [03:54]
12. Cave à vin [04:21]
13. Dull [04:56]
Friday, 26 Joseph Rabjohns & Lachlan R Dale – Eclipsing & Orbs 43:42Sydney, Australia
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Invoke [00:54]
2. Shining [05:01]
3. Eclipsing (I) [04:42]
4. Eclipsing (II) [03:16]
5. Acceptance [07:20]
6. Warmth And Time [01:49]
7. Absorbed By The Earth [08:06]
8. Leaking Light [02:54]
9. A Soundless Stream [06:57]
10. Breaths Of A Summer’s Day [02:43]
Malin – No Escape 71:55Poland
Tracklist (click to display) 1. Disinterpretation [02:36]
2. No escape chamber [04:52]
3. Blindfolded [05:40]
4. Dogs in heaven [04:27]
5. Who is the devourer [05:20]
6. Melting soil [04:40]
7. Keep me from happening [05:15]
8. Slip pattern [04:18]
9. Boarded up [07:18]
10. Carcass [03:58]
11. Failsafe [04:51]
12. Greed is the thing with flowers [04:11]
13. Barbarities [04:09]
14. This ends here [01:43]
15. Pointlessly holding your breath [05:15]
16. Convulsive memory [03:22]
Friday, 10 December ᐲᑐᕆᔅ ᑎᐊ – Shifting 32:51Quaqtaq, Québec
Tracklist (click to display) 1. FREE [02:47]
2. UQAUTINNGA [02:59]
3. AANNGIQ [02:05]
4. ILINNUT – a prayer [04:12]
5. THE STORM [02:50]
6. SUNAUVVA [03:18]
7. CANNIBAL [02:47]
8. HISTORY [03:31]
9. MOTHER (version francaise) [04:09]
10. CHRISTMAS [04:13]
Best of 2021 01/01 – Best of Afrobeat 01/02 – Best of Atmospheric Black Metal 01/03 – Best of Avant-Garde Black Metal 01/04 – Best of Brutal Death Metal 01/05 – Best of Classical 01/06 – Best of Death Metal 01/07 – Best of Deathcore 01/08 – Best of Doom Metal
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