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Review of Barretto-Power

Barretto-Power

Ray Barretto

Craft Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

The late great conguero, vocalist and bandleader Ray Barretto was the first US-born percussionist to bring the African-based conga drum...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: March/2021

Review of Vidrio

Vidrio

Titanic

Unheard of Hope

Rating: ★★★★

If the notion of Mexican jazz is fairly obscure to Western ears, it’s not until ‘Hotel Elizabeth’, the final track...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: December/2023

Review of Nubes Selva

Nubes Selva

Grecia Albán

Folkalist Records

Rating: ★★★★

Ecuadorian singer Grecia Albán’s first UK release Nubes Selva, which loosely translates as ‘Cloud Jungle’, reinvents traditional Ecuadorian, and South...

Reviewed by Charles De Ledesma in issue: August/2025

Review of Salsa Explosion: The Salsa Revolution 1969-1984

Salsa Explosion: The Salsa Revolution 1969-1984

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Fania/Strut Records

Rating: ★★★★

There are so many Latin compilations available these days that it almost warrants a separate tab on confused.com. But never...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: Nov/Dec/2010

Review of Gagok Lyrical Songs

Gagok Lyrical Songs

Kim Wol-ha

Ocora Radio France

Rating: ★★★★

Kim Wol-ha died 20 years ago. She was one of the last musicians who had trained in the most prestigious...

Reviewed by Keith Howard in issue: Apr/May/2015

Review of Doğu Ekspresi

Doğu Ekspresi

Café Türk

Top of the World

Sound Concept Records

Rating: ★★★★

The border town of Kars in the far north-east of Turkey holds a special allure in the Turkish imagination. The...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: April/2025

Review of Indian Talking Machine Part Two: Instrumental Gems from the 78rpm Era

Indian Talking Machine Part Two: Instrumental Gems from the 78rpm Era

VARIOUS ARTISTS | Various Artists

Sublime Frequencies

Rating: ★★★★★★★★

Compiled by musician, author and Indian classical music collector Robert Millis, this captivating collection of instrumental Hindustani, Carnatic and folk...

Reviewed by Paul Bowler in issue: June/2026

Review of Of the People

Of the People

Kabantu

Humanati Records

Rating: ★★★★

Audacious, in-yer-face eclecticism characterises this debut album from the Manchester quintet. Having changed their name from the questionable Project Jam...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: April/2018

Review of Will You?

Will You?

Shujaat Husain Khan, Kevin Hays, Katayoun Goudarzi, Tim Ries & Dibyarka Chatterjee

Tames Records

Rating: ★★★★

Perhaps there is something about the texts of the great Persian-language poet Rumi that chime with the times we are...

Reviewed by Maria Lord in issue: December/2017

Review of Almas Rebeldes

Almas Rebeldes

Che Sudaka

Cavernícola Records

Rating: ★★★

Sudaka is a racial slur for ‘South American,’ used as often ironically as pejoratively. With this album of upbeat, cumbia-influenced...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: Aug/Sep/2018

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