Various Artists - Putumayo Presents African Reggae Various Artists - Putumayo Presents India (both Putumayo Records) Putumayo Records is operating one of the more interesting business models out there in the music biz world. They definitely appear to be bucking trends by getting their CDs out via a network of gift shops, coffee-houses and clothing retailers, as well as conventional record stores. Their release schedule ticks over at about one new CD a month, mostly in the world and folk genres, with the occasional release aimed at the kids market - and the odd weird hybrid title: “Latin Reggae” anyone? It’s another hybrid reggae release we’ve got in the player at the moment - their “Reggae Africa” collection. I lived and travelled in East Africa back in the late ‘80s, and there wasn’t much reggae being played. The clubs dancefloors were ruled by the big Congolese Soukous artists of the day and the Rastas on the street corners we’re more likely to have Western pop blasting from their boom boxes rather than the latest Alpha Blondy tape. A couple of spins of “Reggae Africa”, and you can see their point. Take away the novelty value of hearing these songs sung in French and Portuguese, and it all sounds terribly lightweight when compared to the Jamaican sound. Although, a couple of things stand up: Mo’Kalamity & The Wizards’ “Vision” gets a very cool, Aswad style, summery reggae pop groove going and Nigeria’s Majek Fashek’s “Man Of Sorrow” melds a Kingston rhythm with a Lagos horn section and London guitars. I’m seriously considering buying an album. Putumayo’s intriguingly titled “India” CD is their first to focus solely on the sub-continent, and attempts to showcase the huge country’s rich musical tradition, from traditional folk to new electronica and Bollywood. That’s a lot to cover in 10 tracks / 43 minutes, but they make a fare fist of it, and more importantly, it’s a collection that hangs together nicely, scoring points for playability rather that any educational virtues. They’ve attracted no shortage of big names: A.R. Rahmen (nicknamed “the Mozart of Madras”, I’ve been reliably informed) is among the most acclaimed composers of contemporary Bollywood, and he’s represented here on “Tere Bina”. It’s interesting that so many of the artists present have Western or, at least, non-Indian backgrounds. There are recordings here by Canadian, U.S., British and South African Indians. Whether that’s to do with access to artists, I don’t know, but there must be enough Indians, born in India, and performing and recording in India, for a 10 track compilation. Maybe that’s not the point. As previously stated, it plays well, and I’ll be looking out for some of the artists represented. That’s probably enough for now. www.putumayo.com Rob F. Next