Various Afro Beat (Blow/Fusion III) Another comp, and a solid one, of dense, polyrhythmic African funk, old school (Fela, Manu) and new (Antibalas). 8.5 (RB)

Tabla Beat Science Live in San Francisco at Stern Grove (Palm/Outside) Bill Laswell’s Indo-rhythmic dream team, all hands accounted for, caught live over two discs. An outstanding show, masterfully recorded. 8 (RB)
Pixies self-titled (Sonic Unyon) Eau de ’87 demos from these classic alternates, feat. that creepy Eraserhead song, shells of later album tracks and rarities. 7.5 (LC)

Various Plastic Vol. 6 (Nettwerk) “Plas·tic, ‘plas-tik,’ adj. Marked by artificiality or superficiality; synthetic: a plastic world of fad, hype, and sensation.” Ouch! 3 (RK)

Nick Ali Shadows of Brown (Justin Time/Fusion III) In some kind of cruel joke, this group won the 2001 GM Grand Prix de Jazz Award. Don’t waste your time! 0 (LD)

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