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Review of Urban Myths

Urban Myths

Marc Crofts Klezmer Ensemble

Frémeaux & Associés

Rating: ★★★★

Swiss/English/Ashkenazi/Sephardic violinist Marc Crofts and his Klezmer Ensemble made up of clarinet, accordion and double bass make for the classic...

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: July/2025

Review of N'Darila

N'Darila

Kankou Kouyate

One World Records

Rating: ★★★★

Member of esteemed Bamana jeli (griot) lineage from the village of Garana in Segu, Mali, Kankou made her debut in...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: September/2025

Review of Beginner’s Guide to Celtic

Beginner’s Guide to Celtic

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Nascente

Rating: ★★★★

How do you avoid the inevitable clichés of ‘Celticness’? This three-CD beginner's compilation has set itself an unenviable task. BBC...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: Apr/May/2011

Review of Fangnawa Experience

Fangnawa Experience

Fanga & Maalem Abdallah Guinea

Strut

Rating: ★★

In an era where collaboration is the key to some of the most exciting musical styles around, some fusions remain...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: Jan/Feb/2013

Review of Ommadawn

Ommadawn

Mike Oldfield

Universal UMC 532 676-1

Rating: ★★★

Examples of world music before it was called world music keep turning up in the most unlikely places, and here’s...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Aug/Sep/2010

Review of Iran: The Masters of Music, Vol 1

Iran: The Masters of Music, Vol 1

Talâ’i, Musavi & Kiâni

Ocora Radio France

Rating: ★★★★

In the 19th century, the once orally transmitted modal tradition of Persian classical music was canonised into a repertoire known...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: May/2021

Review of The Rough Guide to Ali Akbar Khan

The Rough Guide to Ali Akbar Khan

Ali Akbar Khan

World Music Network

Rating: ★★★★

It is rare for a single musician to be called the greatest living musician of his time, yet that is...

Reviewed by Jameela Siddiqi in issue: November/2018

Review of Asro

Asro

Kala Jula & Gangbé Brass Band

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★

Kala Jula and the Gangbé Brass Band have each had their own albums issued by Buda Musique, and now they’re...

Reviewed by Martin Longley in issue: May/2023

Review of Jamm

Jamm

Cheikh Lô

Top of the World

World Circuit 084

Rating: ★★★★

Albums by Cheikh Lô are rare enough to make them seem like events rather than mere record releases and Jamm...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Aug/Sep/2010

Review of Tumbuka Voices

Tumbuka Voices

Umoza

The Daisy Label

Rating: ★★

Emerging from the same cultural and geographical milieu as the recent Malawi Mouse Boys’ album, Umoza (meaning ‘togetherness’) is a...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

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