Sierre Leone Refugee All Stars - Rise and Shine

Cumbancha

Forming a band in West African refugee camps is a potent story and the resulting music – think reggae, dub, African ritual chant and more – is terrific. Here the All Stars go home to Freetown, Sierra Leone to record some songs, then head down to New Orleans to work with producer Steve Berlin (who has also produced Grammy-winner Angelique Kidjo).

This is laidback, ‘isn’t it good to be alive’ music – with the odd dose of night time frog sounds on ‘Watching All Your Ways’ – with a serious message underneath. As they sing in the post-Marleyish ‘Global Threat’ with its fabulous brass riffs, ‘It’s about a revolution!’ Uplifting stuff.