V.A. - The Rough Guide To The Music Of Sudan (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This overview of modern and traditional music from Sudan, a huge desert region just south of the Sahara, offers an interesting mix of urban studio tracks and rural field recordings, along with tracks that seem to fall somewhere in between. At one extreme are the eerily lovely voices of the Omdurman Women's Ensemble, singing a naughty song of political commentary titled "Daloka Bet el Mal," and the even eerier and lovelier unnamed solo vocalist who sings a lament titled "Ee Wayi, Wayi, Hauya Agreement Tilaloni." The sound quality is dodgy on these two tracks, but the music is more than powerful enough to compensate. At the other extreme is Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier who has become a rock star in his native country by combining American hip-hop with indigenous Sudanese musical elements. Somewhere in between are Joseph Modi's reggae-inflected "In Kadugli," Mohammed Wardi's energetic "Azibni," and the somewhat overlong "Kabbas" by elder statesman Abdel Karim el Kabli. Overall, this album probably won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it's hard to imagine anyone who wouldn't enjoy at least some of it very much. by Rick Anderson
Tracklist:
1 –Rasha : Aguis Mahasnik Biman 3:23
2 –Abdel Karim El Kabli : Kabbas 5:33
3 –Emmanuel Jal : Gua 3:53
4 –Tarik Abubakar & The Afro-Nubians : Tour To Africa 4:13
5 –Setona : Sawani 4:09
6 –Joseph Modi : In Kadugli 3:11
7 –Zar Omdurman : Chant 1 2:11
8 –Abdel Aziz El Mubarak : Na-Nu Na-Nu 7:10
9 –Mustafa Al Sunni : Ya Jamil Ja Mudalal 4:56
10 –Mohammed Wardi : Azibni 7:03
11 –Muhamed El Amin : Habibi 7:16
12 –Omdurman Women's Ensemble : Daloka Bet El Mal 3:10
13 –Didinga Singer : Ee Wayi, Wayi, Hauya Agreement Tilaloni 1:41
14 –Abdel Gadir Salim : Mal Wa Ihtagab 5:28

V.A. - The Rough Guide To The Music of North Africa (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This compilation focuses on the music of four countries -- Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, and Morocco. The focus is mainly on contemporary popular forms, but tosses in a bit of roots here and there. Rai is featured heavily throughout the album in its various incarnations from Cheb Mami to Cheb Khaled. Nubian music is also featured in multiple incarnations, from the brassy but relatively traditional work of Ali Hassan Kuban to the newer fusion-influenced Salamat. The beats of the Arab world are thoroughly showcased on this album, and anyone itching for a quick look into the genres of North Africa should pick up this album for its rather comprehensive coverage of the genres, as well as relatively extensive liner notes on the histories of the various forms. The only notable omissions here would perhaps be the ritual music of the Gnawa of Marrakesh, but despite this minor missing detail, the album is a worthwhile listen for someone with any level of experience with the music. by Adam Greenberg
Tracklist:
1 –Cheb Kader : M'hainek Ya Galbi 4:50
2 –Cheb Mami : Douni El Bladi 5:22
3 –Ali Hassan Kuban : Habibi 4:19
4 –Hossam Shaker : Lama Bada Yatasama 3:44
5 –Abdel Aziz El Mubarak : Tahrimni Minnak 6:44
6 –Abdel Karim El Kabli : Dannab 5:13
7 –Hamza El Din : Ashranda 4:53
8 –Salamat : Mambo El Soudani 4:04
9 –Mahmoud Fadl : Maqsoum 2:38
10 –Cheb Khaled* & Miloud : Koubou Koubou 7:40
11 –Chaba Fadela & Cheb Sahraoui : La Vérité 6:20
12 –Adnan Sefiani & L'orchestre De Salé : Bechri Lina 7:04
13 –Houria Aichi : Vent De La Montagne / Six Sous 3:04
14 –Hassan Erraji & Arabesque : Nikriz 5:02

V.A. - The Rough Guide To The Music of Egypt (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although the album is subtitled "Cairo to Nubia: the source of Arabic music," the booklet takes care to point out that there's no classical Arab music here -- which perhaps explains the absence of Umm Kulthum, the greatest icon of Arab music. Instead, the concentration is on modern-day stars, and they don't come any bigger than Amr Diab, who gets two tracks, and deservedly so. His pop music keeps its roots firmly in Egypt under a gloss that never tries too hard to be international. A couple of the old-timers -- Warda and Mohamed Abdel Wahab -- are represented, and Abdel Halim Hafez proves to be the real link between the past and the present with "Ahwak." The inclusion of cuts from four Nubians is interesting, showing different facets of the music they've brought to Egypt. Both Mahmoud Fadl and Ali Hassan Kuban display their backgrounds proudly, while Hamza el Din forged a new fusion of styles in his music and Mohamed Mounir is almost a law unto himself, with a sound that's absolutely unique (and enthralling on "Sala Fi Serri We Gahri"). Angham and the interesting Nagat el Saghira both also warrant a pair of cuts, but their material simply isn't as strong -- too formulaic and ultimately bland. Nonetheless, this is an interesting portrait of Egyptian music at the beginning of the 21st century. by Chris Nickson  
Tracklist:
1 –Angham - Leih Sebtaha 5:28
Arranged By – Tarek Madkour
Written-By – Al Faisal
2 –Amr Diab - Aktar Wahed Beyhebak 4:31
Arranged By – Tarek Madkour
Written-By – Amr Moustafa
3 –Nagat El Saghira - Ana Baashaq El Bahr 5:31
Written-By – Baligh Hamdi
4 –Mahmoud Fadl feat. Salwa Abou Greisha - Hayart Albi Maak 7:56
featuring – Salwa Abou Greisha
Written-By – Ahmed Ramy, Riad El Soumbati
5 –Ali Hassan Kuban - Henna 3:57
Written-By – Ali Hassan Kuban
6 –Mohamed Mounir - Sala Fi Serri We Gahri 6:57
Traditional
7 –Angham - Tedhak Alaia 4:26
Arranged By – Mahmoud Sadek
Written-By – Al Faisal
8 –Amr Diab - Adini Regeatelek 3:39
Arranged By – Tarek Madkour
Written-By – Amr Diab
9 –Mohamed Abdel Wahab - Jafnoho Allama El Ghazal 5:50
Written-By – Mohamed Abdel Wahab
10 –Warda - Walaw Ennak Ya Habibi Beied 4:15
Written-By – Sayed Mekkawi
11 –Hamza El Din - Nabra (Gold Ore) 6:44
Lyrics By – M. H. Sherif
Music By – Hamza El Din
12 –Nagat El Saghira - Ah Law Tearaf 8:24
Written-By – Baligh Hamdi
13 –Abdel Halim Hafez - Ahwak 4:58
Written-By – Mohamed Abdel Wahab