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Review of Tribalistas II

Tribalistas II

Tribalistas

Phonomotor DIGITAL ONLY

Rating: ★★★★★

One uses the term ‘supergroup’ with caution, but Tribalistas unite three giants of MPB, (Música Popular Brasileira). The golden-voiced Marisa...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: Jan/Feb/2019

Review of Ylh Bye Bye

Ylh Bye Bye

Sami Galbi

Bongo Joe

Rating: ★★★

A taut tension between tradition and the wide-open possibilities of the future underpins Ylh Bye Bye, the debut album by...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: July/2025

Review of Song of the Birds

Song of the Birds

Avi Avital & Between Worlds

Deutsche Grammophon

Rating: ★★★★

Avi Avital is the Israeli virtuoso of the mandolin who’s been taking this super versatile instrument into concert halls around...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: October/2025

Review of What Goes Up

What Goes Up

Chicago Afrobeat Project

Chicago Afrobeat Project

Rating: ★★★

Some years ago a collective of local musicians came together in a series of weekly jam sessions in a West...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: November/2017

Review of A Cure for the Curious

A Cure for the Curious

Solasta

Solasta

Rating: ★★★★

This super-confident debut set from the masterful trio is unorthodox and fantastic. From the sharply abrupt end to opener ‘The...

Reviewed by Glenn Kimpton in issue: December/2018

Review of Ebo Taylor

Ebo Taylor

Ebo Taylor | Ebo Taylor & Uhuru Yenzu

Mr Bongo

Rating: ★★★★

A leading innovator, musician, arranger and early collaborator with Fela Kuti, CK Mann and Pat Thomas (to name but a...

Reviewed by Peter Adjaye in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Guitarra Mía: Tangos by Gardel and Piazzolla

Guitarra Mía: Tangos by Gardel and Piazzolla

Franz Halász

BIS Records

Rating: ★★★★

Carlos Gardel (1890-1935) and Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) remain the undisputed giants of Argentinian tango. The former was a crooner, film...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: August/2017

Review of Zanzibara 7: Sikinde vs Ndekule

Zanzibara 7: Sikinde vs Ndekule

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★★

This fine addition to the confusingly titled Zanzibara series focuses on two of the leading bands from the astonishingly fertile...

Reviewed by Jon Lusk in issue: Nov/Dec/2013

Review of soFa – Elsewhere CC

soFa – Elsewhere CC

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Les Disques Bongo Joe

Rating: ★★★★

Billed as a ‘digger’s paradise for tropical gems,’ DJ soFa’s latest compilation spans 1972 to 2023, inspiring listeners to imagine...

Reviewed by Charles De Ledesma in issue: September/2024

Review of Songs of Jezireh

Songs of Jezireh

Ibrahim Keivo

Inedit W260138

Rating: ★★★

Jezireh, which means ‘island’ in Arabic, is an area of north-east Syria with a distinct identity. It lies on the...

Reviewed by Bill Badley in issue: October/2010

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