Episode #13 - Global New Releases

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

- Mark Twain

Take a trip around the globe and check out new releases from artists in Colorado, Brazil, Peru, Nigeria, Madagascar, Iceland, Sweden, Scotland, Thailand and more.

If you're looking for information about Goran Kajfes (who didn't make the Spotify playlist), visit his website. You can preview all of the songs from his new album, Reasons Vol. 2. It's contagious listening!

Goran Kajfes & The Subtropic Arkestra

Episode #12 - Songs in Exile

According to the United Nations' website for World Refugee Day:

“Every minute eight people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror.

A refugee is someone who fled his or her home and country owing to “a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion”, according to the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention. Many refugees are in exile to escape the effects of natural or human-made disasters.

Developing countries host four-fifths of the world’s refugees. The 48 Least Developed Countries provide asylum to 2.3 million refugees.”

Today on Sonic Latitudes I’ll explore the songs of musicians in exile. Resilient artists who escaped war, persecution and terror and persevere to bring their gift of music to audiences worldwide. I’ve lined up a playlist featuring Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars, Aziza Brahim, Samite, Songhoy Blues, Gloria Estefan, Tinariwen and K’Naan.

Later in the show, Rachel from the World Refugee Day task force will stop by to talk about World Refugee Day and the ongoing events and celebration here in Portland, ME.

Stay tuned for the next 120 minutes… here on Sonic Latitudes…. Songs in Exile. The music of refugees. 

Episode #11 - Destination 1976

Set 1 - Brazil to Germany Patrick Moraz - Impact Al Jarreau - Agua De Beber Hyldon - Na Rua, Na Chuva, Na Fazenda Flora Purim - San Francisco River Djavan - Magia Kraftwerk - Transistor Can - I Want More Set 2 - Francophone to Folk Jean Luc Ponty - Wandering the Milkyway Opus 5 - Contre-Courant Beau Dommage - Marie Chantal Malicorne - Salut a la compagnie (part a dieu) Malicorne - Branle de la Haie Stan Rogers - Barrett’s Privateers Archie Fisher - Dark Eyed Molly Set 3 - The One Drop World Taj Mahal - Black Man , Brown Man Peter Tosh - Ketchy Shuby Serge Gainsbourg - Marilou Reggae Bob Marley - Smile Jamaica Set 4 - African Funk Manu Dibango - Toumbe Osibisa - Keep On Trying Fela Kuti - No Buredi (No Bread)

So a few weeks ago I was enjoying this revelatory change of weather and strolling along Congress St. Just taking it all in. The joyful bustle of recently thawed humans. The salty smell of Casco Bay weaving like invisible tendrils throughout the cobblestone streets.

It was one of those days when I felt like my brain was a little techno-organic receiver tuning in to the universe’s magical frequencies. Everything just seemed to be clicking. Like I was in harmony with every aspect of reality. I was in a state of synchronous, hyper-awareness. Then it happened.

As I jaunted past Strange Maine, something glimmered in a little box (right near the front door). It was an LP sleeve adorned with a striking picture of a man with a red t-shirt stacked on a tight white thermal in equally tight blue jeans. He was standing on a rooftop and covering his mouth with his right hand. His eyes, squinting in a knowing smile. It’s like he just said something coy or made a joke and he was catching himself before he burst into uncontrollable laughter. Small words in a serif typeface flank him.

Al Jarreau. Glow.

I stepped into the store, as if guided by an invisible force, grabbed the record and quickly purchased it.

Later that afternoon, I placed the needle on the record. The first song began. “Rainbow in Your Eyes.”

I covered my mouth and thought, “Damn. Ain’t life sweet."


Today on Sonic Latitudes, we travel not to a physical location, but a chronological destination. 1976. I’m spinning sounds released across the globe in that year. Brazil, Jamaica, Quebec, the U.K., France, Germany, Nigeria and South Africa.

So, how do we get there? By time travel, of course.

Activate hyper-chronometer. On my mark > Earth year: 1, 976 common era. Lock on earth location: Rio De Janeiro, Brasil > 22.9068° S x 43.1729° W.

Commencing in 3. 2. 1. Ignition.