We've said it before and we'll gladly say it again: You can always count on Weltbeat selector and host Jean Trouillet's selections to widen your musical horizon and point you to an artist or a group that you had no clue was out there. Ever since 1987, Jean has been airing his far-reaching and eclectic Globalwize format on Frankfurt's community Radio X and for over two decades has made it a habit to revisit his favourite, most significant releases of the year in an end-of-the-year special. Said annual best-of selections are now available in comprehensive Spotify playlists via #Greedio, starting with the year 1997. And today, we bring you 2002.
Jean's "Best of Globalwize 2002" selection is comprised of 22 tracks and gets things rolling, or should we say tolling, with a resounding chorus of church bells, taken from the Alan Lomax Collection "World Library of Folk and Primitive Music: France, 'The Historic Series'", which is succeeded by UK viol consort Fretwork performing a piece by English composer John Tavener and then the multi-national lute three-piece Luthomania, before the US Kronos Quartet is featured with two tracks off their 2002-released album "Nuevo", drawing entirely on Mexican influences. France-based outfit Lo'Jo is up next blending world music, with strong gipsy, North African as well as French folk elements and paving the way for Marseille's one and only Massilia Sound System.
Transitioning to Mali, we hear Salif Keita perform a song off his tenth, 2002-released studio album "Moffou", followed by Paris-based outfit Tama – i.e. Mali's Tom Diakite and Mamani Keita, Guinea-Bissau's Djanuno Dabo and London guitarist Sam Mills – collaborating with acclaimed British vocalist Susheela Raman and fittingly juxtaposed with Bissau-Guinean supergroup Super Mama Djombo. Then we're off to '70s Ethiopia behind the groundbreaking "Ethiopiques" series and the sounds of Alemayehu Eshete, Asselefetch Ashine and Getenesh Kebret. From there we return to Italy, Sicily to be exact and celebrated folk outfit Banda Ionica keeping the local brass band traditions alive.
Amplified 1930s brass and heavy funk happen to be the trademark of French outfit Ceux Qui Marchent Debout, who are up next with two tracks off their 2001 album "Funky Stuff in a Reggae Style", one being a vicious cover version of Fela Kuti's infamous "Water No Get Enemy", whose socio-political awareness sets the tone for Gil Scott-Heron's iconic "Who'll Pay Reparations on My Soul?". German reggae artist Gentleman's 2002-released sophomore LP "Journey to Jah" was in the charts for nearly six months, earning him the most prestigious German music award as we hear the track "Dem Gone", before going tango with Gotan Project's "La Revancha Del Tango" and embarking on a raw blues "Midnight Dream" alongside Skip McDonald, aka Little Axe. Nearing the end of the playlist we hear a leftfield electronic track by avant-garde Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and an upbeat, horn-led production by La Boom, alias Hamburg's Jan Delay and producer Tropf.
As always, you can stream the full playlist in our Greedio Spotify channel or preview the selection via the player below.