1. Gétatchèw Mèkurya and the Ex: Gétatchèw Mèkurya and the Ex & Guests (Ethiosonic)

This DVD was by far my favorite release this year. Venerable Dutch post-punk experimentalists teamed up with Ethiopian sax innovator Gétatchèw Mèkurya for a mind-bending, improvisatory take on modal Ethiopian pop from the ‘70s with a bracing dose of buzzsaw guitars and other skronky treats. The same lineup came to NYC this summer and was my personal concert-going highlight of the year.

2. Concha Buika: Nina de Fuego (WEA International)

Spanish “new flamenco” singer Concha Buika was born in the Canary Islands to African parents, and puts the multicultural stamp of immigrant Spain on the most traditional of Spanish genres. Yet her husky, sultry voice brims over with just the right combination of pain, longing and defiance to satisfy even the most hidebound purist.

3. Grupo Fantasma: Sonidos Gold (High Wire Music)

Hailing from Austin, TX, Latin big band Grupo Fantasma combines the horsey gallop of Mexican cumbia with the swinging horn arrangements of vintage ‘70s salsa on their breakthrough record – which features guest appearances from Maceo Parker and Fania legend Larry Harlow. Their letter-perfect cover of Los Van Van’s ‘70s Cuban funk classic “Bacalao Con Pan” is worth the price of admission alone.

4. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80: Seun Kuti (Disorient)

The youngest son of late Nigerian afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti comes into his own with his first solo release. Backed by his father’s last, legendary band, Egypt 80 -- which is the musical equivalent of inheriting a Rolls Royce -- Seun rips through a set of original, inflammatory barn-burners that would make the old man proud.

5. Kayhan Kalhor & Brooklyn Rider: Silent City (World Village/Harmonia Mundi)

Kayhan Kalhor is a master of the kamanche, or Persian spike-fiddle. Here he teams with New York-based experimental string quartet Brooklyn Rider -- whose members immersed themselves in Persian classical and Iranian vernacular music -- for a stunning and improvisational suite of new, original arrangements of Persian poems and folk songs.

6. Madera Limpia: La Corona (Out Here)

Just when I thought Cuban hip-hop had nothing interesting left to offer comes this astonishing duo from Guantanamo (via the excellent German indie label Out Here). Though they’ve been around for a few years, their international debut simmers with smart, socially relevant lyrics, chilled-out beats, and all sorts of live instrumentation, from nimble Cuban tres to mournful contrabass groans.

7. Franco: Francophonic (Stern’s)

For the uninitiated, the late Franco Luambo Makiadi – a.k.a Franco – was the colossus of Congolese pop music, and this comprehensive two-disk set surveys his finest (and rarest) work, from ‘60s rumba to ‘70s soukous and beyond. The outstanding liner notes by compiler Ken Braun are almost as illuminating as the music itself.

8. Hector Zazou & Swara: In the House of Mirrors (Crammed)

French-Algerian producer Hector Zazou was a cult favorite among us world music types for decades before his untimely passing late last year. On his final release, Zazou brought together four master musicians from Uzbekistan and India Toir Kuziyev (tambur & oud), Milind Raykar (violin), Ronu Majumdar (flute) and Manish Pingle for his own impressionistic take on the music of the Silk Road.

9. Toumani Diabate: The Mande Variations (Nonesuch)

Grammy-winning Malian kora master Toumani Diabate follows up his recent fusion work with the Symmetric Orchestra by returning to his roots for this quietly gorgeous recording of traditional and original solo kora compositions. As a hereditary griot, members of Diabate’s family have reputedly played the 23-stringed lute for an astonishing 70 generations -- and The Mande Variations pays ample homage to every single one of Diabate’s ancestors.

10. Aterciopelados: El Rio (Nacional)

Colombian alt-rock duo Aterciopelados -- Andrea Echiverri and Hector Buitrago -- have emerged as one of the most original and creative teams making music in any genre. On Rio the two return with an angry, politicized rocker of a record that takes aim at everything from environmental degradation to Bush’s immigration policies, while still leaving room for tender, gentle slow-burners and even a kid’s song voiced by Echiverri’s own daughter. - Tom Pryor

Mr. Pryor is a reclusive crank who prefers to listen to music in languages he doesn't understand because the lyrics don't annoy him as much that way. His day job is editor of National Geographic Music online.