Ostinato US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Before a hard line religious government seized control of Sudan via a 1989 coup, the country had one of the richest musical scenes in the world. This fine two-disc compilation from Ostinato brilliantly chronicles the various strands of this scene, focusing especially on music made in the capitol city, Khartoum. Fired by tum tum and Nubian rhythms, the set shuffles through the Arabian-inspired violin and accordion-heavy orchestral music of the 1970s, synthesizer and drum machine-driven cuts of the 1980s, and more polished later recordings produced by local artists who had fled persecution in the 1990s. There's naturally much to enjoy throughout, including a clutch of rare live recordings and some of the most beguilding, heart-felt songs ever to come out of East Africa.

Review: Ostinato Records is still in its infancy but the label has well and truly impressed us since they first launched last year. That initial string of reissue material from Cape Verde was sensational to say the least, and we're doubly impressed to see that the label heads have now sprawled out to Sudan, a corner of Africa that is comparatively less known in terms of music. With 16 tunes that have been selected for this essential double album, there is so much to explore and take in, especially given that this music is not something to be consumed superficially; let's the rhythms take you, revel in them, learn your surroundings. This is you being launched in Sudan. Hotly tipped!