Reviews

Susuma

Jembaa Groove

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

Baró Drom

Luis de la Carrasca

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

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

VARIOUS ARTISTS

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

Galgi

Karantamba

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

Wild Green

iyatraQuartet

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

Your Comfort Zone

Peyoti For President

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

Sonor

Enji

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

Tour of Japan

Minyo Crusaders

Japan’s min’yō folk tradition is rooted in the work songs of farmers, fishermen and miners who sang unaccompanied about their...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: August/2025

Tu

Yijia

The Chinese character from which this album takes its name refers to soil and carries an association with outmoded things....

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: December/2025