Reviews
Urban Myths
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
Ao Vivo
Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethânia
In 2024, Caetano Veloso and his younger sister Maria Bethânia reunited half a century after they first performed together for...
Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: September/2025
Prelude to the Divine Realm
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
Mali Kelen
For countless generations, Malian griots have passed down the mantle of musical excellence and oral history through familial connections. Saly...
Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: July/2026
Ballads: Murder, pIntrigue, Love, Discord
Topic continue to mark their 70th anniversary with the release of seven classic albums from their catalogue in sumptuously packaged...
Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: Jan/Feb/2010
Mawja
The Sahrawi refugee camps are situated out in the deserts of southern Algeria, and are home to the victims of...
Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: April/2024
Last Night a Woman Saved My Life
Last Night a Woman Saved My Life is a mesmerising journey into the space between Western minimalism and Middle Eastern...
Reviewed by Alexandra Petropoulos in issue: December/2023
1990: The Hidden Years Recording
When Madala Kunene signed to Robert Trunz’ MELT/B&W operation in 1995, the label released an album by Kunene titled King...
Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: September/2024
Similar & Different
Dal:um are a Korean duo deploying two ‘similar yet different’ traditional instruments in a contemporary context. Both instruments are plucked...
Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: Aug/Sep/2021
Egypt Noir
The idea behind this album is to present the music of the Africans from the deserts that encompass most of...
Reviewed by Alastair Johnston in issue: July/2010
