Reviews Search | Songlines

Reviews

Review of Smile Som Sumarsole

Smile Som Sumarsole

Firil

Etnisk Musikklubb

Rating: ★★★

Hallingdal is a Norwegian valley whose music is traditionally dominated by the Hardanger fiddle, and hailing is the name of...

Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: Aug/Sept/2013

Review of Language of the Heart

Language of the Heart

Santiago Quartet with Julian Rowlands

Arrastre Records

Rating: ★★★

Who exactly is playing here – and playing what – is a challenge to explain. The Santiago Quartet are UK-based...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: April/2018

Review of Amidst Fiery Skies

Amidst Fiery Skies

The Willows

Elk Records

Rating: ★★★

This is the second album from the Cambridge-based five-piece who blend Americana with English folk music. Here on Amidst Fiery...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: March/2015

Review of Soundscapes of Nicosia

Soundscapes of Nicosia

Nābu Pēra

Zero Nove Nove

Rating: ★

Nābu Pēra are a trio from the Greek Cypriot capital Nicosia on vibraphone (Natasa Hadjiandreou), flute (Demetris Yiasemides), frame-drum (Savvas...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: January/2026

Review of Viene de Mi

Viene de Mi

La Yegros

Top of the World

ZZK Records

Rating: ★★★★

If you thought Argentinian music was all just about tango, then how very wrong you were. Cumbia, Latin America's dance...

Reviewed by Ed Stocker in issue: Aug/Sept/2013

Review of Back to Soweto

Back to Soweto

Lucas Nwananga & His Band

Umsakazo Records

Rating: ★★★★

Umsakazo Records is a UK-based label making a mark with lovingly reissued vintage township jive and mbaqanga from the likes...

Reviewed by Diane Coetzer in issue: March/2021

Review of Farima

Farima

Bamba Wassoulou Groove

Editions Label Bleu

Rating: ★★★★

Anyone seeking pure guitar energy and signs of a healthy musical revival in Bamako need look no further. Led by...

Reviewed by Daniel Brown in issue: July/2015

Review of Out of Mind

Out of Mind

Cardboard Fox

Cardboard Fox

Rating: ★★★

Formed in late 2014, after the sweetly harmonising Carrivick Sisters (guitar player Charlotte and fiddler Laura) joined forces with mandolin...

Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: July/2016

Review of Vida, Pasión y Tango

Vida, Pasión y Tango

Sexteto Mayor

Intuition

Rating: ★★★

When José Libertella died in December 2004, it seemed inevitable that Argentina’s best-known post-Piazzolla orchestra would have to accept its...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: Apr/May/2011

Review of Zumra

Zumra

Amira & Merima Kljuco

World Village 450012

Rating: ★★★★

Amira Medunjanin is Bosnia's most charis– matic contemporary singer of sevdah – the lyrical but melancholy song form that has...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: June/2010

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