Singer Sharon Jones and band the Dap-Kings have made a name for themselves by reviving the essence of funk and soul music's heyday from the 60s and 70s.

Originally from capital city Freetown, Allstars founder Reuben M. Koroma and his wife found themselves in a refugee camp in neighbouring Guinea during the late 90s.

On his seventh album Nathan Haines is a hardened jazz head, a seasoned rump shaker, and sometimes, a purveyor of fine elevator jazz.

All systems go on solo outing by Sigur Ros frontman.

Infectious US guitar pop-rock which connects with Dunedin and elsewhere.

Grand ambition, okay songs from Aussie guitar hero.

A rare singer-songwriter who can be elegant or erotic with ease.

Take a freaky spin on a carousel.

Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concerto series has made its reputation tending to such forgotten masters as Bortkiewicz, Goedicke and Melcer-Szczawinski.

Opening with a quick tempo and dusty vocals that could have been plucked from a 60s track, It's Working is the first sign MGMT no longer see themselves as a New York pop duo on a sugar-high.

Still sounding like AC/DC, with hints of Iron Maiden and Motorhead, and a small dash of sweaty Australians, Cold Chisel and the Angels.

There was a time when Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were a hazy and psychedelic rock band, then they became porch song bluesmen on Howl before ramping it up again on Baby 81.

After a string of EPs and vinyl releases, globe-trotting Wellington four-piece So So Modern - who recently completed a six-week jaunt around Europe - have come up with their debut album.

For an album with such promising name, Dane Rumble's album is not exactly experimental

Scott Kara reviews new album Ali and Toumani from Ali Farka & Toumani...

Jacqueline Smith reviews new album The Magician's Private Library from Holly Miranda

Christopher Owen, the brains and voice behind San Francisco's Girls sounds sad - about girls.

It's been a decade since British electronic act Goldfrapp - singer, synth player and clothes horse Alison Goldfrapp and producer Will Gregory - released their debut album Felt Mountain.

The debut album Alive of two years ago by this photogenic Chinese singer was a mish-mash of electro-pop, slightly twee vocals, Chinese folk, new age blandness and deadening over-production.

Let's take a trip back in time to when ravers wore gas masks, and if you weren't wearing a mask you were blowing a whistle, while dancing to yabbering happy hardcore and banging beats that send you raving mad.

The Truckers inspire great loyalty, but fans may be tested by this outing which was knocked off quickly and suffers for it.

Baltimore duo Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally produce the kind of music that confuses your sound receptors at the same time as comforting them.

Jacqueline Smith reviews new album Wave If You're Really There from Wave Machines

Scott Kara reviews new album Nigeria Afrobeat Special...