San Francisco (California), USA - World Music Network announced the release of two new Rough Guide CDs: The Rough Guide to West African Gold and Rough Guide to the Music of Malaysia. Both CDs feature a unique data track, which includes a behind-the-scenes interview with the compiler and music and travel information from the Rough Guide books.

The Rough Guide to West African Gold (RGNET1173CD), compiled by Martin Sinnock, features music produced in sub-Saharan West Africa from the late 1950s up to the early 1980s - a golden era in African music. With highlife guitars and horns, Guinean big-band music, early Senegalese mbalax with its tasty Latin influences and the funky Afro-beat sound that shakes the hippest dancefloors across the globe, this is the big beat of West Africa!

Artists include – E.T. Mensah, Geraldo Pino & The Heartbeats, Bembeya Jazz, Dexter Johnson & The International Band feat. Laba Sosseh, Celestine Ukwu, Balla Et Ses Balladins, No. 1 De Dakar feat. Doudou Sow, Horoya Band, Super Sweet Talks, Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes, Eric Agyeman, Orchestre Rail Band De Bamako feat. Salif Keita and Orchestre Baobab.

Rough Guide to the Music of Malaysia (RGNET1176CD), compiled by Paul Fisher, delves behind the tourist-destination facade to explore a wealth of musical styles: from Arabic-influenced pop with a distinctive Bollywood flavor to the pulsating roots sound of local Malay groups. Featuring a heady mix of both traditional and modern sounds, this album presents Malaysia's potent musical force.

Artists include – Mari Menari, Noraniza Idris, Sandii, Pak Ngah, Zaleha Hamid & M. Sharif, Kumpulan Ahmad Yusoh & Rakan-Rakan, Malek Ridzuan, Siti Nurhaliza, Liza Hanim, S. Atan, Salih Yaacob, M. Salim & Rosiah Chik, Muzik Tarian Malaysia, Yusni Hamid & Bersama R. Ismail and Fredo & The Flybaits

[Buy Rough Guide to the Music of Malaysia and The Rough Guide to West African Gold].