This month we journey to Taiwan to capture the best music we could find from the past couple of years. Having lived in Taipei for a few years, we have great affection for this island of striking contrasts, whose diversity of cultures and environments is reflected in the music. Our playlist ranges from the serenity of Debby Wang's and Chien Chien Lu's vibraphonic jazz to the intense wall of sound of Dharma's death metal Buddhist chanting - with experimental, folk, soul and much more in between We hope you're as surprised and entertained as we have been, Link to the SunNeverSetsOnMusic Web Page Read extracts from reviews of each album and link to the original source Link to the Youtube Playlist One track from each album, with a video or audio subject to availability. Link to the Spotify Playlist All albums are included in full. Play the entire album or set Spotify to "shuffle"

Tanjazz is the annual festival of Jazz in Morocco's northernmost city of Tangier. The lineup of performers goes to new high level this year as it brings the music of Northern Africa and Andalusian Spain together with the improvisational dynamics of Jazz. We're once again imagining the atmosphere inside the Palais des Institutions Italiennes - and between sessions, a great meal of seafood, pasta and pizza with a bottle of Terres Rouges at the Casa d'Italia. Omar Sosa | Maalem Majid Bekkas - The festival will open with an unprecedented collaboration between Cuban music maestro Omar Sosa's Afro Cubano Quarteto and Maalem Majid Bekkas' Afro Gnaoua Blues Trio. Mulatu Astatke - the father of Ethiopian jazz, a percussionist and arranger at heart, who will revisit the most famous titles from his discography. Hoba Hoba Spirit - a multilingual mainstay of the Moroccan scene of the past two decades, blending gnaoua and rock Maalem Hamid Al Kasri - One of Morocco's best known Gnaoua Masters, fusing jazz, reggae, rock with Guembri rhythms. Keziah Jones - Nigerian singer-songwriter, the master of "Blufunk" - a fusion of blues, funk and African rhythms Gypsy Kings - originally formed in France, they rose to global fame playing a blood-stirring blend of Catalan, rumba, flamenco, salsa and pop. Urban Folklore - a Moroccan group known for its rearrangements of jazz standards mixing progressive rock with rhythmic rhythms with exotic sounds Nirek Mokar - the French pianist nicknamed the "Little Prince of Boogie" is a talented musician who captivates all audiences with his style of blending swing, blues and rock’n’ roll. Lazcar Volcano - French artists mixing ancestral songs (Maloya, Samba, Son Cubano) with urban rebellion (Hip Hop, Afro Beat, Funk). Roberto Fonseca & La Gran Diversion - Buena Vista Social Club (Cuba) virtuoso and former pianist bringing the lively nights of the 1930s Cuban Cabin to the stage. Sugarpie & the Candymen - another French band, led by the radiant voice of Lara Ferrari, have been enchanting Europe for over 10 years with a warm blend of jazz swing and rhythm’n blues. Wax & Boogie - a quintet from Barcelona led by singer Ster Wax and pianist David Giorcelli, accompanied by Drew Davies on saxophone, passionately revisits the boogie of the 30s, the swing of the 40s and the rhythm'n blues of the 50s. Léon Phal - a rising-star French-Swiss saxophonist LINKS TO TANJAZZ 22nd EDITION, 2024 PREVIOUS FESTIVALS TANJAZZ 22nd EDITION, 2023 The festival was cancelled in 2023, following the devastating earthquake in Al Haouz province, south west of Marrakesh, in central Morocco. TANJAZZ 21st EDITION, 2022 The Festival was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. TANJAZZ 20th EDITION 2019

As Sun Never Sets On Music's World Tour of music continues, we're in Australia to capture the best albums released there in the first half of 2024. It's an impressive output, with more than 40 artists featured. Classy albums came from a few "household-names" - Peter Garrett, Crowded House and Jessica Mauboy - each incrementally refreshing their familiar brands. But the standouts, the most challenging and interesting new releases, came from less famous acts - Hiatus Kaiyote, The Dirty Three, Emma Vollard, Audrey Powne, Max König, Mildlife, Maddison Carter and Yirinda. All these albums are likely to make it onto our end-of-year lists. But these are the cream of a very rich mix. So check out our full list - there's fabulous music throughout. Here's a few ways to do so: Link to SunNeverSetsOnMusic Web Page Read extracts from reviews of each album and link to the original source Link to Spotify Playlist All albums are included in full. Play the entire album or set Spotify to "shuffle" Link to YouTube Playlist One track from each album, with a video or audio subject to availability.

SunNeverSetsOnMusic's world tour of music continues to it's 5th destination, as we swing back to Morocco to check on some of the artists scheduled to appear at the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music, which is held within the ancient walls of that mind-blowing city, in late May each year. The festival attracts established and emerging world class artists every year, who play to awed audiences whose musical experience is invariably broadened thanks to by the enlightened organising committee's broad definition of the "sacred" in world music. Abderrafia Zouitene, President of the organisers, "Foundation Esprit De Fes", writes: "The peaceful coexistence of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity has forged a dynamic and diverse society in Andalusia, known as the “Golden Age,” envied by the world. This era exemplifies the heights of achievement possible when diverse faiths unite in tolerance and understanding. This ethos of peace and mutual respect continues vibrantly in the Kingdom of Morocco, with Fez standing as a stellar example." Link to SunNeverSetsOnMusic web page Link to Spotify Playlist Link to YouTube Playlist Artists who have appeared in previous years include: Joan Baez, Patti Smith, Bjork, Ben Harper, Paco de Lucia, Ravi Shankar, Sabah Fakhri, Kadhem Saher, Mounir Bachir, Asmaa Lamnawwar, Wadi Al Safi, Julia Boutros, Sheikh Yassin Al Tuhami, William Christie, Barbara Hendricks, Jessie Norman, Jordi Saval, Tereza Berganza, Montserrat Figueras, Jean-Claude Casadessus, Arch Shepp, Randy Weston, Youssou N’Dour and Salif Keita. This years performers, in order of performance, include: Alain Weber (Director, France), Artists from Uzbekistan, Iran, Syria, India, Spain, Egypt, Italy, Armenia, France, and Morocco - Opening Performance: "Creation - Zyriab Or The Fifth String” Manu Théron (Director, France), Women’s Choir Of The Occitan Countries, Artists from France, Spain, Italy, and Monaco - "Madelena" Sami Yusuf (UK) - "Sami Yusuf In Concert" Vincent Moon (France) – "A Cinematographic Ritual" Naïssam Jalal (France / Syria) – "Healing Rituals" Creation Yatra: Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Sufi voices of Desert Slide, The Divana Ensemble, Anwar Khan Manganiyar (Rajasthan, India), Justin Adams (UK), Cherifa Adil Jebbari, Hamadcha Brotherhoods (Morocco) - "SAFAR - From the Palaces of Rajasthan to the Gates of Andalusia" Loup Barrow (France), Flute J.A Jayant (India) - "Crystal Winds" Khadija El Afrit / Ensemble Musiqât (Tunisia) – "Istikhbâr" Flute J.A Jayant (India) – "The Art Of Carnatic Flute" Trio Three Lines Isabelle Courroy, Marine Sablonnière, Henri Tournier (France) - "Trio Three Lines" Constantinople Ensemble: Kiya Tabassian, Ablaye Cissoko, Patrick Graham (Montreal, Canada) - "Traversées: Between Africa and Persian Music. Griot Words and Sufi Poetry" Wang Li and Wu We (China) - "Les Harmoniques Du Ciel, The Harmonics of the Soul" Scuola Cantorum Basilensis Ensemble (Switzerland) - "Sacred Music Recital" Franzy, Davide, and Cibran (Galicia, Spain) featuring Amazigh singer Cherifa Kersit (Morocco) - "Galician Musical Roots" Young Musicians European Orchestra (Morocco) - "Stabat Mater" DuOuD (France) and Mahmoud Gomaa (Egypt) - "Goma Tribe" Treibhorn (Switzerland) - "Treibhorn" Asif Ali Khan, The Ensemble Santoo Khan Qawwal & Party (Pakistan) - "Asif li Khan, Master Of Qawwali" Vicente Amigo (Cordoba, Spain) – "The Master Of Cordoba – Flamenco Guitar" Accademia Del Piacere And The Artean Ensemble (Spain) - "Romances" Conductor Pascal Horecka, Gospel Philharmonic Experience, Contemporary Orchestral Ensemble (France), Kim Burrell (USA) - "Gospel Philharmonic Experience with Kim Burrell & the Contemporary Orchestral Ensemble" Tariqa Saqualiya (feat. vocalists Samaa and Madih), Tariqa Hamdouchiya (feat. Noureddine Bennouna), Tariqa Tijaniya (feat. Mouhcine Naourach), Tariqa Aissaouiya (feat. Saïd Guissi – Abdellah Yaakoubi, Adnane Nafie, Abdessamad Hadef) (Morocco) - "Sufi Nights"

This month's stopover on Sun Never Sets On Music's World Tour is to sample the music of Israel & Palestine. May songs of peace be soon heard again across the Holy Land. Direct Link To Albums & Reviews Direct Link to Spotify Playlist Direct Link to YouTube Playlist

It's February - the month of Carnival in Brazil! So for the second leg of SunNeverSetsOnMusic's virtual world tour we're off to Brazil, as we continue our search of the best new music from around the world With its roots deep in indigenous heritage, overlaid by centuries of African and Portuguese influence, we find Samba (the pulse of Carnival!)and a vibrant new music scene that is thriving despite its relative linguistic and geographical isolation. Internationally, Brazilian music is probably best known in the work of of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gilberto Gil, Joao (and Astrud) Gilberto and Sergio Mendes. At home, Brazilians would add the names of Roberto Carlos, Chico Buarque de Hollandia, Marisa Monte, Gal Costa, Jorge Ben Jor and Elis Regina. And the top ten best-selling artists domestically includes Carlos, Nelseon Goncalves, Angela Maria, Rita Lee, Tonico & Tinoco, XuXu, Benito di Paula, Nelson Ned, Raca Negra, Chitaozinho & Xororo. The genre groups that these artist represent is an indication of the breadth of popular taste that is unique to Brazil, that includes Samba, Sertanejo, Brega, Pagode, MPB Rock & Children's music. Helping us find our way wepay tribute to the wonderful https://musicainstantanea.com.br/ - the Pitchfork, Rolling Stone or NME of Brazil - which gave us great insight into the music. Esperamos que você goste de nossas seleções! Vejo você em breve! We hope you enjoy our selections! See You Soon! Link to Web Page Link Direct To Spotify Playlist

SunNeverSetsOnMusic welcomes you along on our virtual world tour, in search of the best new music from around the world. Our first destination is Japan, where we find a new generation of Japanese artists who have embraced the century-old Japanese love of jazz and are bringing a fresh approach to everything they do - world-aware and ever-informed by their Japanese heritage. This vibrant, inter-connected music community, includes expatriate artists who have set up bases in Europe, North America and Australia. We hope you enjoy! See You Soon! 楽しんでいただければ幸いです。 また近いうちにお会いしましょう！ Tanoshinde itadakereba saiwaidesu. Mata chikaiuchini o ai shimashou! Link to Web Page Link Direct To Spotify Playlist

SunNeverSetsOnMusic's World Tour heads south this month to South Africa, where we’ve uncovered a dazzling spectrum of forward-thinking albums spanning spiritual jazz, gqom, amapiano, post-punk, protest rap and traditional-inflected sonic experimentation. These artists are not only redefining South Africa’s soundscape but are also asserting its voice across global stages with urgency, soul and brilliance. Officially the Republic of South Africa, the nation occupies the southern tip of the African continent, bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini, with the vast Atlantic and Indian Oceans on either side. With a population of over 60 million and eleven official languages, South Africa is one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries; home to profound struggles, deep-rooted resilience and extraordinary artistic vitality. From Johannesburg’s experimental collectives to Cape Town’s coastal grooves, and from the pan-African energy of Soweto to the global footprints of its diaspora, this month’s playlist maps a musical culture alive with contradiction, community, and innovation. Expect the vital and visionary. click to choose: WEB PAGE / YOUTUBE / SPOTIFY

To celebrate Radiohead's return to touring after a seven year absence (other than side projects) we present the video of their first show of their European Tour. Setlist: 1. Let Down 2. 2 + 2 = 5 3. Sit Down. Stand Up 4. Bloom 5. Lucky 6. Ful Stop 7. The Gloaming 8. Myxomatosis 9. No Surprises 10. Videotape 11. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi 12. Everything in Its Right Place 13. 15 Step 14 The National Anthem 15. Daydreaming 16. A Wolf at the Door 17. Bodysnatchers 18. Idioteque

Sun Never Sets On Music's never-ending World Tour returns to Palestine & Israel, as we supplement our May 2024 playlist of music from the war-torn land. I posted my previous playlist around 7 months after the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals. The Israeli response to this heinous act had been and continues to be brutal - around 35,000 confirmed Gazan deaths by then and 72,000 now; physical anniahlaton of the territory. The relentless barrage continues, with the loss of 1,500 Gazans every month. The Israeli toll - also tragically unnecessary - averages 40 to 50 per month and 2,000 to date. This asymmetrical retaliation by the Israeli government is surely genocidal: "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group." . As I prepared this playlist I was dismayed to find a similar asymmetry in the music: only one Israeli album released from 2024 to 2026 ("Lider Mit Palestin: New Yiddish Songs of Grief, Fury, and Love", a compilation by various artists) is explicitly framed around or dedicated to concern about the loss of life and physical destruction in Gaza. A generation ago a man of Jewish heritage wrote "Masters of War". Where are his successors? May songs of peace be soon heard again across the Holy Land. LINKS

SunNeverSetsOnMusic’s World Tour turns Stateside this month with a deep dive into USA Southern Soul - the living, breathing tradition that blends gospel, blues, R&B, funk, and country into something raw, resonant, and defiantly human. This music is forged in churches, juke joints, kitchen-table studios and front porches - a soul language passed from generation to generation and still evolving in the hands of today’s most urgent voices. The Southern United States, stretching from the Mississippi Delta to the Appalachian foothills, from urban centers like Memphis, Atlanta, and New Orleans to rural backroads in Alabama, Louisiana, and North Carolina, remains the heartland of Black American musical innovation. It’s a region shaped by centuries of struggle, resilience, faith, and fierce creativity. This month's playlist traces the roots and routes of Southern Soul as it continues to speak truth and stir hearts. From genre-defying futurists and seasoned torchbearers to boundary-pushing newcomers, the selected albums traverse blues revivalism, swamp pop, southern rock, folk-funk, and modern gospel with grit and grace. Whether anchored in ancestral memory or charging toward reinvention, these records reaffirm the South as a cradle of American musical imagination - always grounded, always growing, always soul-deep. Expect stories sung in full voice, and grooves you can’t shake. click to choose: WEB PAGE / YOUTUBE / SPOTIFY

Click album covers above to open individually in Spotify Danny Thompson (4 April 1939 – 23 September 2025) may not be a household name, but it would be hard to find an adult in the western world who is not familiar with at least some of his work, as Thompson was the bass player on some of the greatest songs by the greatest artists in the UK and beyond over the past six decades. From the very beginning, as a young player in Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, Thompson stood at the crossroads of British music, helping to forge the sounds that would shape a generation. His instinctive musicianship bridged jazz, folk, blues and beyond, and his upright bass became not merely an instrument, but an extension of his spirit — expressive, lyrical, and endlessly inventive. With Pentangle, Thompson helped redefine what British folk music could be: a fusion of ancient melodies and modern virtuosity. His interplay with Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, and his rhythmic empathy with drummer Terry Cox, gave the group’s music its heartbeat — supple, subtle, and profoundly human. Yet Thompson never stood still. His collaborations read like a map of modern British music: Donovan, Marianne Faithfull, Kate Bush, Nick Drake, Richard Thompson, John and Beverley Martyn, Loudon Wainwright III - each found in him a partner of rare sensitivity, capable of transforming songs into living, breathing art. As a session player he appeared on some of the greatest albums by the biggest stars: Rod Stewart's "Every Picture Tells A Story" (1971), Peter Gabriel's "Up" (2002), Cliff Richards "Congratulations" (1968), Everything But The Girl's "Amplified Heart" (1994), T. Rex "Light of Love" and "Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Raiders of Tomorrow" (1974). As a solo artist, and through countless live performances, Danny Thompson carried forward the jazz-inflected openness that defined his career. His tone - warm, woody, and deeply personal - could convey both strength and tenderness in a single phrase. Beyond technique, it was his generosity of spirit that made him indispensable; he listened as much as he played, elevating every musician he accompanied. Danny Thompson’s legacy is not just in the recordings, but in the feel of the music - in authenticity, adventure and expression. His artistry reminds us that musical greatness often resides in the spaces between notes, and arises in the quiet dialogue between musicians. In a career that spanned almost the entire history of post-WWII British music - his musicianship bridging jazz, folk, blues and beyond - Danny Thompson's legacy is peerless. Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated Red Hot from Alex (1964) Sky High (1966) Blues Incorporated (1967 – reissue of Sky High) Alexis Korner (solo albums) I Wonder Who (1967) A New Generation of Blues (1968) Pentangle The Pentangle (1968) Sweet Child (1968) Basket of Light (1969) Cruel Sister (1970) Reflection (1971) Solomon’s Seal (1972) Open the Door (1985) Danny Thompson (solo / leader projects) Whatever (1987) Whatever Next (1989) Elemental (1990) Whatever’s Best (1995) Danny Thompson & Peter Knight (1995) Connected (2012) Allan Holdsworth & John Stevens Propensity (recorded 1978, released 2009) Dizrhythmia Dizrhythmia (1988) Too (2016) Jon Thorne Watching the Well (2010) Richard Thompson Amnesia (1988) Mirror Blue (1994) Live at Crawley (1995) You? Me? Us? (1996) Two Letter Words (1996) Celtschmerz (1998) Mock Tudor (1999) Semi-Detached Mock Tudor (2002) The Old Kit Bag (2003) Ducknapped! (2003) Live from Austin, TX (2005) Sweet Warrior (2007) Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson (duo projects) Live at Crawley (1995) Industry (1997) John & Beverley Martyn The Road to Ruin (1970) John Martyn (solo) Bless the Weather (1972) Solid Air (1973) Inside Out (1973) Sunday’s Child (1975) Live at Leeds (1975) One World (1977) Germany 1986 (2001) On the Cobbles (2004) Nick Drake Five Leaves Left (1969) Kate Bush The Dreaming (1982) Hounds of Love (1985) 50 Words for Snow (2011) Director’s Cut (2011) The Incredible String Band The 5000 Spirits (1967) Hard Rope & Silken Twine (1973) Talk Talk Spirit of Eden (1973) Donovan Barabajagal (1968) HMS Donovan (1971) Essence to Essence (1973) Love Is Only Feeling (1981) Sutras (1996) Beat Café (2004) Marianne Faithfull North Country Maid (1966) The World of Marianne Faithfull (1970) Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) Bert Jansch Birthday Blues (1969) Moonshine (1972) L.A. Turnaround (1974) Avocet (1979) Sketches (1990) Loudon Wainwright III I’m Alright (1985) More Love Songs (1986) Therapy (1989) David Sylvian Secrets of the Beehive (1985)