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Review of Two Strings

Two Strings

Jake Shulman-Ment & Abigale Reisman

Borscht Beat

Rating: ★★★★

It's uncommon to have two violins in a klezmer band; more frequently, one violin vies with clarinet and other solo...

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: September/2025

Review of Memories of Magic – Mahō no Kioku

Memories of Magic – Mahō no Kioku

Shugorei

4000 Records

Rating: ★★★★

The first few tracks on this album are a red herring. The soft, cinematic tinkling of ‘Alchemy’ and the somewhat...

Reviewed by Rosie Esther Solomon in issue: January/2026

Review of Further From the Country

Further From the Country

William Prince

Top of the World

Six Shooter Records

Rating: ★★★★

With a deep, slightly burred voice and deadpan delivery, Canadian First Nations singer-songwriter William Prince has always grounded his art...

Reviewed by Devon Léger in issue: February/March/2026

Review of Pyhä Veri Vuotaa

Pyhä Veri Vuotaa

Pelkkä Poutanen

Top of the World

Eclipse Music

Rating: ★★★★

The early morning mist rolls in across the water and pulls you into a hidden landscape; it’s enticing, haunting, mesmerising,...

Reviewed by Buzz Bury in issue: April/2022

Review of Mutanuka and Syasiya

Mutanuka and Syasiya

Crispin Mutanuka & Edwin Syasiya

SWP Records

Rating: ★★★

The silimba (xylophone) and kanimba (thumb piano) both appeared on the splendid four-CD box set Luangwa to Livingstone (reviewed in...

Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: March/2021

Review of Shiwezwa

Shiwezwa

Namvula

Namvula

Rating: ★★★★

This is a very impressive debut from a young singer born in Zambia, but raised in Switzerland, Kenya and Scotland....

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: Jan/Feb/2015

Review of Silver Sanctuary

Silver Sanctuary

Zedashe Ensemble

Electiic Cowbell Records

Rating: ★★★★

Zedashe are an accomplished polyphonic choir from Georgia, based in the fortress city of Sighnaghi in the wine-growing area of...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: January/2021

Review of Saudade

Saudade

Thievery Corporation

ESL Music

Rating: ★★★★

The North American duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton have long mixed world music flavours into their electronic dance...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2014

Review of Illustrated Short Stories

Illustrated Short Stories

The Carrivick Sisters

The Carrivick Sisters

Rating: ★★★★

Twin sisters Charlotte and Laura Carrivick grew up playing music together and have been performing professionally since 2006. While mostly...

Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: January/February/2023

Review of Essiebons Special 1973-1984: Ghana Music Power House

Essiebons Special 1973-1984: Ghana Music Power House

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Analog Africa

Rating: ★★★★

The recently departed Ghanaian producer and label-owner Dick Essilfie-Bondzie was digitising his recording vaults right up until his death, discovering...

Reviewed by Martin Longley in issue: January/February/2022

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