Reviews Search | Songlines

Reviews

Review of Direct-to-Dub

Direct-to-Dub

Scientist

Night Dreamer

Rating: ★★★★★

Scientist is one of the iconic producers of Jamaican dub music. In his late teens, he found himself deep in...

Reviewed by Max Reinhardt in issue: November/2024

Review of Nandakke?

Nandakke?

Aili

Eskimo Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

Following the warm reception that greeted the release of their 2021 debut EP Dansu, Japanese/Belgian duo Aili return with their...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: June/2024

Review of A Fiestar

A Fiestar

Andy Gola & Colé Colé Orquesta

Tumi Music

Rating: ★★★

With a horn section like Earth Wind & Fire on amphetamines, furious percussion, a wailing guitar and potent vocals, the...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: June/2025

Review of Bootleg Series Volume 18: Through The Open Window, 1956–1963

Bootleg Series Volume 18: Through The Open Window, 1956–1963

Bob Dylan

Columbia Legacy

Rating: ★★★★★

Bob Dylan would go on to reinvent himself many times, but there remains something iconic about his first iteration as...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: January/2026

Review of Filin

Filin

Melissa Aldana

Blue Note Records

Rating: ★★★★

Celebrated Chilean-born saxophonist and Blue Note Records torchbearer Melissa Aldana delves into her love of the Cuban filin musical style...

Reviewed by Andrew Taylor-Dawson in issue: April/2026

Review of Monastir

Monastir

Sarah Aroeste

Aroeste Music

Rating: ★★★★

There is quite some story and a lot of work behind this album. American-born Sarah Aroeste comes from a Sephardic...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: October/2021

Review of Essential

Essential

Martin Carthy

Topic Records

Rating: ★★★★★

To celebrate the 70th birthday of England's foremost folk singer, the country's most original and innovative guitarist and a man...

Reviewed by Julian May in issue: June/2011

Review of Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane

Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane

Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane

Top of the World

Discograph/Sterns

Rating: ★★★★

If you thought the comeback of Orchestra Baobab was heart– warming, the debut solo album of Ablaye Ndiaye Thiossane will...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Apr/May/2012

Review of Volume 2: Echos Hypnotiques

Volume 2: Echos Hypnotiques

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou

Analog Africa AACD066

Rating: ★★★★

From latter-day obscurity to the plush aisles of London’s Barbican, the Orchestre Poly-Rythmo story is a typically colourful one, with...

Reviewed by Brendon Griffin in issue: March/2010

Review of Horizon

Horizon

Anyango

Jowi Music

Rating: ★★★

Beginning as it does with the out-of-place Xhosa hymn, ‘Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika’, this otherwise delightful album gets off to an...

Reviewed by Alexandra Petropoulos in issue: Aug/Sep/2011

Subscribe from only £7.50

Start your journey and discover the very best music from around the world.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Songlines magazine.

Find out more