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Review of Madre: The Hypnotic Dance's Time

Madre: The Hypnotic Dance's Time

Giuliano Gabriele

iCompany

Rating: ★★★★

Born in Latium's historic town of Sora, the Italian-French singer and diatonic accordionist Giuliano Gabriele here presents his second album,...

Reviewed by Ciro De Rosa in issue: March/2016

Review of The Strings of São Domingos

The Strings of São Domingos

Ano Nobo Quartet

Ostinato Records

Rating: ★★★

Gently swaying rhythms as effortless as lapping waves, melodies infused with the sweet melancholic longing of saudades: the music of...

Reviewed by Alex Robinson in issue: May/2022

Review of In the Key of Joy

In the Key of Joy

Sérgio Mendes

Concord Records

Rating: ★★

Parental guidance: multitude of guest artists. The rapper Common, for example, (dis)graces the opening track on the venerable Mr Mendes'...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: April/2020

Review of The Irish Sea Sessions 2010

The Irish Sea Sessions 2010

VARIOUS ARTISTS

www.liverpoolphil.com

Rating: ★★★★

The inaugural Irish Sea Sessions, of which this is an electrifying live recording from last year’s Liverpool Irish Festival, brought...

Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of The Astounding Eyes of Rita

The Astounding Eyes of Rita

Anouar Brahem

Top of the World

ECM ECM2075

Rating: ★★★★★

The shadowy timbres of Anouar Brahem's last CD, Le Pas de Chat Noir, made it one of the most striking...

Reviewed by Bill Badley in issue: Jan/Feb/2010

Review of The Bell That Never Rang

The Bell That Never Rang

Lau

Top of the World

Reveal Records

Rating: ★★★★★

Captivating, exquisite, stunning. The excitable flurry of deserving superlatives that followed Lau's live performances with the Elysian Quartet were even...

Reviewed by Edward Craggs in issue: June/2015

Review of Jewish Folksongs from the Shtetl

Jewish Folksongs from the Shtetl

Olga Mieleszczuk

Olga Mieleszczuk

Rating: ★★★

Olga Mieleszczuk is a classically trained Polish singer and accordionist. In recent years she has focused on Yiddish and Jewish...

Reviewed by Helen Beer in issue: Aug/Sept/2013

Review of Prelude to the Divine Realm

Prelude to the Divine Realm

Gao Hong & Zhao Xiaoxia

ARC Music

Rating: ★★★★

While the pipa lute and guqin zither are each highly respected and culturally representative instruments of traditional Chinese music, they’re...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: May/2025

Review of Willows

Willows

Pekka Kuusisto, Sam Amidon and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

Platoon

Rating: ★★★★★★★★

Willows opens with ‘The Lark Ascending’, in which Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto strips Vaughan Williams’ tone poem of the romantic...

Reviewed by Julian May in issue: May/2026

Review of Y Bardd Anfarwol

Y Bardd Anfarwol

The Gentle Good

Bubblewrap Records

Rating: ★★

In October 2011, Welsh musician Gareth Bonello, aka The Gentle Good, journeyed to the Chinese city of Chengdu, spending six...

Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: Apr/May/2014

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