Here’s the music you should have heard in 2013

The World
Updated on
World music II

Here is the music that PRI's The World's DJ contributors say you should not have missed in 2013. We'll be highlighting a growing list as we count down to the end of the year with different DJs.

Marco Werman is host of The World.

  1. Bombino – Nomad
  2. Various – Red Hot + Fela
  3. Various – Soundtrack Angola 2: Hypnosis, Distortion & Other Sonic Innovations 1969-1978
  4. Elvis Costello and the Roots – Wise Up Ghost and Other Songs
  5. Debademba/Abdoulaye Traore – Souleymane
  6. Joseph Kabasele – Le Grand Kalle:  His Life, His Music and the Creation of Modern Congolese Music
  7. Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits – Sarawoga
  8. William Onyeabor – Who Is William Onyeabor?
  9. The Poets of Rhythm – Anthology
  10. Emiliana Torrini – Tookah

April Peavey is studio director and producer for The World.

  1. Anoushka Shankar – Traces of You
  2. Various – Peru Maravilloso – Vintage Latin, Tropical & Cumbia
  3. Lala Njava – Malagasy Blues Song
  4. The Beatles – On Air: Live at the BBC Volume 2
  5. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
  6. Elastic Bond – Real
  7. Elvis Costello and the Roots –Wise Up Ghost and Other Songs
  8. Herbert Grönemeyer – I Walk
  9. The James Hunter Six – Minute by Minute
  10. William Onyeabor – Who Is William Onyeabor?

Marius Asp of NRK in Oslo, Norway. His fave release this year is from the UK duo, Disclosure. Marius calls it the best club album in almost 15 years.

  1. Disclosure – Settle
  2. John Grant – Pale Green Ghosts
  3. Steve Mason – Monkey Minds In The Devil’s Time
  4. Prefab Sprout – Crimson/Red
  5. Julianna Barwick – Nepenthe

Tom Schnabel of KCRW in Santa Monica, California. He writes and hosts the online show Rhythm Planet.

  1.  Joseph Kabasele – The Grand Kallé: His Life, His Music     
  2. Aziz Sahmaoui – Aziz Sahmaoui & University of Gnawa   
  3. Dori Caymmi – Caymmi
  4. Zsofia Boros – En Otra Parte
  5. Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba – Jama Ko

Betto Arcos of KPFK's world music program Global Village. His favorite album is from singer Martirio Rodriguez and her son Raul. The duo hail from Spain.

  1. Martirio & Raul Rodríguez  – De un Mundo Raro: Cantes por Chavela  
  2. Hamilton de Holanda – Mundo de Pixinguinha
  3. Buika – La Noche Más Larga
  4. Juan Perro & La Zarabanda
  5. Ernesto Anaya – Recorriendo el Son

Mannasseh Phiri of JOY-FM in Lusaka, Zambia, reviewed music from Africa. He was particularly enamored with Mokoomba, which he says represents the future of African music.

  1. Mokoomba – Rising Tide
  2. Hugh Masekela – Playing @ Work
  3. Eric Bibb/Habib Koite – Brothers in Bamako
  4. Aster Awake – Ewedihalehu (check out Mannasseh's review of a previous Aster Awake album)
  5. Tabu Ley – Voice of Lightness Vol 1 & 2 (this has been out for a few years, but the recent death of Tabu Ley led me back to his music)

What's your favorite global music selection for 2013? Let us know in the comments below.

Tell us about your experience accessing The World

We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving our website, theworld.org. Please fill out this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous). Thanks for your time!