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Review of Transitional Times

Transitional Times

Dawda Jobarteh

Sterns

Rating: ★★★

Bai Konté, the grandfather of Dawda Jobarteh, was responsible for some of the classical kora repertoire still played today and...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Jan/Feb/2017

Review of Cajun Accordion Kings (and the Queen)

Cajun Accordion Kings (and the Queen)

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Valcour Records

Rating: ★★★

Valcour Records is run by Joel Savoy – of the celebrated Savoy Family Cajun Band – and he does a...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: November/2017

Review of El Mito de la Pérgola

El Mito de la Pérgola

Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna

Top of the World

Petit Indie

Rating: ★★★★

If any musician is going to reconfigure the airy strangeness of Andean music, Chilean singer Pascuala Ilabaca might be the...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: December/2018

Review of Sequana

Sequana

Souad Massi

Top of the World

Backingtrack Productions/Wrasse Records

Rating: ★★★★★

Since winning best newcomer at the inaugural BBC Radio 3 World Music awards 20 years ago, Massi’s career has followed...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: November/2022

Review of A Gathering of Strangers 2021

A Gathering of Strangers 2021

Transglobal Underground & Our European Friends

Mule Satellite

Rating: ★★★

A Gathering of Strangers first saw light in 2010 when it was released by a pan-EU collective headed by dubtronic...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: June/2021

Review of Tutku

Tutku

Kalaha + Hilal Kaya with Aarhus Jazz Orchestra

April Records

Rating: ★★★

Danish quartet Kalaha first tackled a Turkish tune on their third album, 2019’s Mandala, which was also the first time...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: November/2022

Review of Got to Be Tough

Got to Be Tough

Toots and the Maytals

Tiojan Jamaica

Rating: ★★★★

The first Toots and the Maytals release in over ten years is a big deal for reggae enthusiasts. The 77-year-old...

Reviewed by Clyde Macfarlane in issue: October/2020

Review of Welcome Joy and Welcome Sorrow

Welcome Joy and Welcome Sorrow

Spiro

Top of the World

Real World Records

Rating: ★★★★★

The folk quartet Spiro rework English dance tunes under the aegis of minimalism and systems music; these are tunes that...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: June/2015

Review of A Trip to Bolgatanga

A Trip to Bolgatanga

African Head Charge

Top of the World

On-U Sound

Rating: ★★★★

‘A bad attitude is like a flat tire / You can't go anywhere until you change it,’ declares King Ayisoba...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: August/September/2023

Review of Martin Carthy

Martin Carthy

Martin Carthy

Topic Records

Rating: ★★★★★

This seminal 1965 debut from the godfather of the 60s English folk revival is reissued on vinyl as part of...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: April/2024

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