The Rough Guide to Women of the World

In contrast to many of the Rough Guides, which focus on one specific genre or artist, this was perhaps an over-ambitious theme. Nevertheless, there will be something for even world music aficionados to discover on this album; bolstered by familiar names such as Tartit, the collection finds a fitting balance between showcasing the known and discovering the new, celebrating both tradition and fusion. One of the most captivating tracks comes from Eugenia Georgieva, whose hypnotic vocals on ‘Po Drum Mome’ deliver Bulgarian folk song with both tenacity and vulnerability. Other highlights include ‘Ouden Oida (I Know Nothing)’ – a thrilling combination of Greek folk laced with distorted lauto and contemporary electronica – and ‘Nyuchi’ from Monoswezi, whose blend of traditional Zimbabwean music with Scandinavian jazz produces a mesmerising piece, perfectly framing the soothing mbira.

Although the sleeve notes connect some of the artists with the theme, many of the choices are questionable and the album's realisation seems somewhat biased, featuring exclusively the label's own artists or those of sister-label, Riverboat Records. Nonetheless, the compilation contains no shortage of varied and vibrant music from around the world, and is a credit to the women featured, even if the concept is more than a little tenuous.