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Review of Let Me Out

Let Me Out

Balaklava Blues

Unfit Records

Rating: ★★★

War is not always amenable to great art. Feelings of horror, loss and grief give rise to a sense that...

Reviewed by Robert Rigney in issue: March/2023

Review of A Nigerian Retrospective 1966-79

A Nigerian Retrospective 1966-79

Tunji Oyelana

Soundway

Rating: ★★★

Soundway are on a roll at the moment, with new projects and compilations such as this that steadily mine the...

Reviewed by Chris Menist in issue: Jan/Feb/2013

Review of 1000 Can Die

1000 Can Die

King Ayisoba

Glitterbeat Records

Rating: ★★★★

It’s as absurd to generalise about African albums as it would be American or European albums. But over the years...

Reviewed by Howard Male in issue: May/2017

Review of Vamos a Bailar un Son (Special Edition)

Vamos a Bailar un Son (Special Edition)

Eliades Ochoa | Eliades Ochoa & Alejandro Almenares

World Circuit/BMG

Rating: ★★★

A new record by the greatest living exponent of eastern Cuban traditional son, showcasing again his unmistakeable nasal guajiro voice...

Reviewed by Philip Sweeney in issue: December/2022

Review of The Art of the Portuguese Fado Guitar

The Art of the Portuguese Fado Guitar

Custódio Castelo

ARC Music

Rating: ★★★★

Custódio Castelo is one of today's finest players of the 12-stringed Portuguese guitar. He is perhaps best known as the...

Reviewed by Michael Macaroon in issue: July/2011

Review of Ghalia Benali sings Oum Kalthoum

Ghalia Benali sings Oum Kalthoum

Ghalia Benali

Zimbraz/Music & Words MWCD3038

Rating: ★★★★

A subtle sifting through the Kalthoum songbook. Raised in Tunisia but now living in Brussels, Ghalia Benali has explored many...

Reviewed by Neil van der Linden in issue: October/2010

Review of Leila

Leila

Leila Gobi

Clermont Music

Rating: ★★★

The competition is getting tough out in the Saharan desert, but singer Leila Gobi fares well with her eponymous third...

Reviewed by Martin Longley in issue: July/2015

Review of Impredecible

Impredecible

Bareto

Top of the World

World Village

Rating: ★★★★

After plugging away through various stylistic incarnations, from the ska of their debut to the guitar-based cumbia of their subsequent...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: Jan/Feb/2016

Review of Chili Houritki

Chili Houritki

Mounira Mitchala

Lusafrica

Rating: ★★★★

One of the few singers from Chad to emerge onto the international stage, Mitchala was first heard of half a...

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

Review of The Hindustani Jazz Sextet Live at the UCLA

The Hindustani Jazz Sextet Live at the UCLA

Don Ellis

Sleepy Night Records

Rating: ★★★

This live record is a charming time capsule, taking us back to the swinging 60s and the first fumblings of...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: August/September/2022

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