No, fair enough, I was asking for that reply really, wasn't I? A bit lazy of me to expect dissensians to throw knowledge into my lap (but worth a go, eh?). I don't have a portable CD player but I think they have two you can listen on in there now and it's never too busy so I can take a long lunch, grab a fistful of CDs from a country/region/genre at random and educate myself. It just seems so daunting at first but then, so do all styles...
well i promise if i knew more about the latest things then i'd gladly impart the knowledge on!
HOWEVER if we were to distill this into a question "Which world musics are likely to appeal to a dissensian (lol)?" (and I'm guessing entry-level here?) then here goes:
First check the world music in here:
http://www.woebot.com/2005/12/part_one.html
then:
<b>Brazil:</b>
There's a great guide by Joe Sixpack here:
http://www.slipcue.com/music/brazil/aa_albums/30best.html
Probably a good starting place is Soul Jazz's recent Tropicalia comp.
Modern stuff (Baile) try both the Favela Booty Beats and Slum Dunk compilations, and if you're brave pick up the less "packaged" brazilian imports which will probably be along the lines of volume 45, volume 76 etc
<b>Africa:</b>
Mali: Check the new Sylliphone conakry compilations (cant believe i havent picked these up yet) which are basically garage bands from mali/guinea. Also Ali Farka Toure's Radio Mali. Ambassadeurs (see my 100)
Guinea: Bembeya Jazz's "Regard Sur le passe"
Senegal: Get Sterns own Etoile de Dakar comps
Ethiopia: Get 1-5 of the Ethiopiques cds
South Africa: Indestructible beat Vol 1. Duck Food.
Nigeria: Anything by Fela Kuti with a wacked out cover, but especially Zombie, Open and Close and Roforofo Fight. Pretty much anything at all by Sunny Ade, but esp "Juju music"
I'd start there really.