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Review of Cosmic Language

Cosmic Language

Nat Birchall

Jazzman Records

Rating: ★★★

The fusion of jazz and Indian classical music has become so commonplace as to be almost passé, but saxophonist Nat...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: May/2018

Review of Ragas from Lahore

Ragas from Lahore

Tenderlonious

22a

Rating: ★★★

The musical pilgrimage route from West to East may be well-trodden, but it does not typically run through Woking. Little...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: January/2021

Review of The Hindustani Jazz Sextet Live at the UCLA

The Hindustani Jazz Sextet Live at the UCLA

Don Ellis

Sleepy Night Records

Rating: ★★★

This live record is a charming time capsule, taking us back to the swinging 60s and the first fumblings of...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: August/September/2022

Review of Susuma

Susuma

Jembaa Groove

Top of the World

Agogo Records

Rating: ★★★★

Susuma harnesses the groove engine of West African highlife and hitches it to the sensitive stylings of 1970s soul. The...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: May/2022

Review of Baró Drom

Baró Drom

Luis de la Carrasca

Andalouse Alhambra / InOuïe Distribution

Rating: ★★★

Baró Drom, meaning ‘great road’ in the Romani language, nods to flamenco's gitano (gypsy) heritage. Granada born singer de la...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: June/2023

Review of Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds in the Diaspora, 1980-93

Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds in the Diaspora, 1980-93

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Soundway

Rating: ★★★

This compilation, the second in a Soundways series that started with 2009’s Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981,...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: July/2024

Review of Galgi

Galgi

Karantamba

Teranga Beat

Rating: ★★★

Gambian guitarist and bandleader Bai Janha’s storied career was so prolific that whole albums from his group Karantamba lingered unreleased...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: January/2025

Review of Wild Green

Wild Green

iyatraQuartet

iyatra Quartet

Rating: ★★★

This London-based group have blended their atypical instrumentation of clarinet, percussion, violin and cello to engaging effect on two previous...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: July/2025

Review of Your Comfort Zone

Your Comfort Zone

Peyoti For President

Sordid Soup Records

Rating: ★★★

Cumbia grooves, salsa horn riffs and calls to rebellion coalesce on this bombastic record. Opener ‘You are the Revolution’ could...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: October/2025

Review of Sonor

Sonor

Enji

Squama

Rating: ★★★★

Bewitching melodies, crisp jazz arrangements and singular vocal textures made Enji’s last album (Ulaan) a critical success. Sonor pairs the...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: August/2025

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