Reviews

Nightfall

Quercus

June Tabor, saxophonist Iain Bellamy and pianist Huw Warren released their award-winning debut on ECM back in 2013, and this...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: August/2017

The Eternal Return

Irfan

Nigh on 30 years from the coining of the term, there remains a certain oddity in styling oneself a ‘world...

Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: March/2017

Nuun

Albaitil Ashwai

Albaitil Ashwai's members, who include Qais Raja (vocals and guitar), Feras Arrabi (lead guitar) and Qased Ihsan (accordion), have collaborated...

Reviewed by Marwan Shamiyeh in issue: July/2018

Pop Songs for Elk

Hillfolk Noir

As one of the new breed of edgy Americana acts, such as Elephant Revival, Pokey LaFarge or Joy Kills Sorrow,...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: October/2015

Territoire

Briga

Among a host of other influences there are strong Balkan flavours on this release from acclaimed Canadian violinist Briga, who...

Reviewed by Simon Cross in issue: March/2021

Gadalokos

Auļi

Although advertised as a mass bagpipe and drum group, Latvian group Auļi leaven their uncompromising sound with bowed and plucked...

Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: Jan/Feb/2017

A to Z

Atongo Zimba

This is Atongo Zimba’s first international release after 14 years and he could not have re-entered the musical fray in...

Reviewed by Bram Postumus in issue: January/February/2022

Outra Margem

Vila Navio

It is a tricky path, the one Vila Navio find themselves exploring: taking Portuguese traditional music and injecting it with...

Reviewed by GonÇalo Frota in issue: Aug/Sep/2019

Klezmer from the New World

Susi Evans & Szilvia Csaranko

This is a clarinet and accordion duo, Susi Evans being one of the best klezmer clarinettists of our day, playing...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: March/2021

Elesa

Mze Shina

A quintet of American, Peruvian, French and Iranian origin, based in Rennes, Brittany, is a pretty odd collective of musicians...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: April/2023