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Review of Live

Live

Fanfare Ciocarlia

Asphalt Tango CDATR 2309

Rating: ★★★★

This CD and DVD package is quite brilliant, although not altogether new. I remember, when the DVD of the 2004...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: Jan/Feb/2010

Review of Past Present Future

Past Present Future

Manu Dibango

Border Blaster

Rating: ★★

He may be almost 80, but Manu Dibango shows no sign of slowing. Both his sax playing and extraordinary basso...

Reviewed by Tim Woodall in issue: July/2012

Review of Sounds of the African Mbira

Sounds of the African Mbira

Tinashe Chidanyika

ARC Music EUCD2233

Rating: ★★★

Another release from ARC Music, who seem to have access to a bottomless wealth of folk and roots music from...

Reviewed by Rose Skelton in issue: Jan/Feb/2010

Review of Afrikalou

Afrikalou

Robin Cochrane

Jambadon Music

Rating: ★★★

Swedish percussionist Robin Cochrane resides in Stockholm, and has lately been concentrating on the balafon, West Africa’s gourd-resonating marimba-like instrument....

Reviewed by Martin Longley in issue: May/2022

Review of Places of Consequence

Places of Consequence

Cameron Knowler | Cameron Knowler & Eli Winter

American Dream Records

Rating: ★★★★

Knowler’s first full-length solo album offers 14 carefully considered and compelling songs that merge traditional folk with modern sensibilities. Spending his...

Reviewed by Amy Hollinrake in issue: October/2021

Review of Aiê

Aiê

LUIZGA & Edgar Valente

Ajabu!

Rating: ★★★★

The nomadic Brazilian singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist LUIZGA is perhaps better known as Luiz Gabriel Lopes, erstwhile member of groups...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: December/2023

Review of La Silencieuse

La Silencieuse

Meïkhâneh

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★

Meïkhâneh comprise singer Maria Laurent, Johanni Curtet on guitar and overtone singing, and Milad Pasta on Iranian percussion. Recording at...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: October/2017

Review of Keeping Company

Keeping Company

Bill Laurance & Michael League

ACT Music

Rating: ★★★★

It’s nice to see Laurance and League are still stepping away from their Snarky Puppy duties for this more introspective...

Reviewed by Alexandra Petropoulos in issue: January/2025

Review of Orbits

Orbits

The Circling Sun

Soundway Records

Rating: ★★★★

In their debut release Spirit, Auckland-based collective The Circling Sun deftly explored ensemble jazz with an appealing retro feel. Their...

Reviewed by Charles De Ledesma in issue: September/2025

Review of QAF

QAF

Ghawgha

OK World Records

Rating: ★★★

This record gives voice to the stories and sentiments of the dislocated. Ghawgha fled her native Afghanistan, undertaking an odyssey...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: February/March/2025

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