Reviews Search | Songlines

Reviews

Review of Kalba

Kalba

Isaac Birituro & The Rail Abandon

Wah Wah 45s

Rating: ★★★

Recorded in a church in north Ghana, this charity-driven collaboration between Ghanaian xylophonist Isaac Birituro and British producer and singer-songwriter...

Reviewed by Lucy Hallam in issue: October/2019

Review of This is the Place

This is the Place

Hartwin

Trad Recordings

Rating: ★★★

Hartwin is diatonic accordionist Hartwin Dhoore, here joined by violinist Pavel Souvandjiev and cellist Flavia Escartin, balancing the worlds of...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: January/2026

Review of And it Was Good

And it Was Good

The Andrew Collins Trio

Andrew Collins Trio

Rating: ★★★★

While I can't claim to have coined it, the term ‘chambergrass’ is the nearly perfect one-word description of the music...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: June/2017

Review of Our Garden Is Alone

Our Garden Is Alone

Marjan Vahdat

Top of the World

Kirkelig Kulturverksted

Rating: ★★★★

Opener ‘Leyli’s Garden’, heralded by a breathy flourish on the ney, is a personal and heartfelt homage to Vahdat’s late...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: October/2022

Review of The Sky is Cloudy

The Sky is Cloudy

Authentic Light Orchestra

Naxos World

Rating: ★★

The group's name doesn't give much away, but the plaintive melody on the duduk that opens this album makes its...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: November/2019

Review of Music is My Home: Act 1

Music is My Home: Act 1

Raphaël Imbert & Co

Jazz Village

Rating: ★★★

Raphaël Imbert is a French saxophonist who has undertaken several journeys into the Deep South of the US to experience...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: May/2016

Review of All You Need is Death

All You Need is Death

Ian Lynch

Invada Records

Rating: ★★★★

All You Need is Death is the first cinematic soundtrack from Lankum’s Ian Lynch. The film of the same name...

Reviewed by Olivia Cheves in issue: July/2024

Review of Who is William Onyeabor?

Who is William Onyeabor?

William Onyeabor

Luaka Bop

Rating: ★

The title of this album is highly appropriate as nobody – the record label included – seems to be able...

Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of Biyo (Water is Love)

Biyo (Water is Love)

Saba

Sud Music SUD002

Rating: ★★★

Pop-culture history is littered with actors chancing their arm at cutting records, from Robert Mitchum’s dalliances with calypso through to...

Reviewed by Nige Tassell in issue: July/2010

Review of Raï is not Dead

Raï is not Dead

Fanfaraï Big Band

Fanfaraï

Rating: ★★★★

Fanfaraï Big Band have been known as just Fanfaraï since their inception in 2005, but have now renamed owing to...

Reviewed by Marwan Shamiyeh in issue: July/2018

Subscribe from only £7.50

Start your journey and discover the very best music from around the world.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Songlines magazine.

Find out more