Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Video premiere: 'Holy Robot' by Taraf de Impex
The old guard of Romanian lautari music meet the Bucharest alternivistas on a brand new project
Features
Monday, November 11, 2019
Romanian Roots: Essential 10 Albums
Simon Broughton recommends some of the best Romanian albums, from Taraf de Haidouks and Fanfare Ciocărlia to The Balanescu Quartet
Friday, November 8, 2019
Manu Chao's Clandestino appeared at the cross-fade of the millennium and sounded perfect – a radical masterpiece
Peter Culshaw reminisces on his time biographing the elusive Manu Chao as his classic solo album, Clandestino, is re-released 20 years on
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Rowan Rheingans: “We need to learn not to be afraid to sit with some sorrow and grief. We need to make room to feel and have compassion”
The musician Rowan Rheingans has a new solo project and album that are part-memoir, part-theatre. She talks to Julian May about the many influences that shaped these works
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Shivkumar Sharma: A Beginner's Guide
Oliver Craske profiles the man who adapted a folk instrument – the santoor – into a vehicle for Indian classical music
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Kayhan Kalhor: “We have to make politicians see what we see as artists”
Kayhan Kalhor, a master of the Iranian kamancheh, speaks to Nigel Williamson about his various collaborations and why he has always played simply for the enjoyment of making music
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Why does ‘ethnic’ nearly always mean non-white?
Following her review of an album with a shocking blackface cover, Gabrielle Messeder delves into problematic representation in world music...
Monday, November 4, 2019
Taraf de Impex: “it’s exciting to be doing this. Fresh. A new way for Romanians to look at making music”
Garth Cartwright travels to Bucharest to preview the revitalised and reformed Romanian Gypsy band, Taraf de Haidouks, who are making their UK debut as Taraf de Caliu, alongside Impex
Friday, November 1, 2019
What next for the record label?
The record industry is in a state of flux, with many labels struggling to keep up with the rapidly changing marketplace. Yet there are artists and labels still riding the wave and who are unanimous about their ultimate motivation – making great music
Thursday, October 31, 2019
At home with Ali Farka Touré
To record Ali Farka Touré’s album 'Niafunké', World Circuit took a mobile studio all the way to Mali. Nigel Williamson went to meet Touré for Songlines in the summer of 1999 and found out why his commitments at home meant that the mountain had to go to Mohammed
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Harp of Darkness: “If I expose the bin-baja harp, something will have to die”
Patrick Jered ventures into Madhya Pradesh in India to unearth the legendary bin-baja harp, widely considered as a pariah instrument
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Video premiere: 'Mam Yine Wa' by Alogte Oho & His Sounds Of Joy
Re-recorded and ready for the world stage: listen to northern Ghana's latest Frafra star ahead of his new album, out in November
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Video premiere: ‘Hada Jil’ by Aziza Brahim
The Saharawi singer moves into electronic sounds with her new video set in the desert
Friday, October 11, 2019
Watch: Asmaâ Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou change the tune
As the first all-female Gnawa ensemble, the group are bringing a different perspective to the traditional Moroccan style.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Spotlight: INALA
Charlotte Algar talks to composer and producer Ella Spira about INALA, an ambitious cross-cultural dance and music collaboration
