(Shock/Filter)

In Adelaide they’re still upset about that John Safran song

This compilation showcases some of the acts performing at this year’s Womadelaide festival and they’re an eclectic bunch, from the Spanish-Americana of Calexico to Jamaican ska courtesy of The Skatalites. The one mis-step is a saga by The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra that drags on for 10 minutes and had me bored at three. Main highlight is Babylon Circus, who do the tipsy-gypsy carnival thing Doch used to do, only in French and with la-da-da-di singalongs, so it doesn’t matter if you know enough French to join in or are too drunk to even pronounce élan – which is what this song has – if you do. It’s called La Cigarette and I can’t think of many things more French than a stumbly anthem to the joy of smokes. Mariem Hassan sings what are clearly the blues even though they’re in Hassānīya Arabic, with drums and two electric guitars for accompaniment, and New Zealander Ladi6 sings soulfully over a tidy reggae beat. Dub Colossus sound like they’ve come straight from the Temple Of Doom although actually they’re Ethiopian, while Kamel El Harrachi demonstrates Algerian pop with plenty of violin, mandolin and clapping percussion.

JODY MACGREGOR

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