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Review of Alabaraka Mussolu

Alabaraka Mussolu

Jali Fily Cissokho

Kaira Arts

Rating: ★★★

Jali Fily is a griot (praise-singer) from the Casamance region of southern Senegal: one in a long line of prominent...

Reviewed by Rose Skelton in issue: July/2011

Review of The Ripple Effect

The Ripple Effect

Béla Fleck & Toumani Diabaté

Rounder Records Vinyl Only

Rating: ★★★★★

A dozen years ago, the American banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck took a journey across Africa to research the origins of...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: May/2020

Review of Mongolia: Kazakh Songs and Epic Traditions of the West

Mongolia: Kazakh Songs and Epic Traditions of the West

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Ocora

Rating: ★★★★

Ethnomusicologist Alain Desjacques made most of these field recordings of Kazakh, Uriangkhai and Zakhchin Mongol musicians in 1984, though some...

Reviewed by Michael Ormiston in issue: Apr/May/2011

Review of The Very Best of Osibisa

The Very Best of Osibisa

Osibisa

Golden Stool 002

Rating: ★★★

My introduction to African music came in 1972, when I saw Osibisa playing with Roxy Music at one of the...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Jan/Feb/2010

Review of Rwandance

Rwandance

Andi Otto

Shika Shika

Rating: ★★★★

Moments in German multi-instrumentalist Andi Otto's third album could easily find home on experimental dance floors, but that doesn't mean...

Reviewed by Nick Hann in issue: December/2019

Review of The Poacher's Fate

The Poacher's Fate

Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp

Broken Token Records

Rating: ★★★★

It's always refreshing to hear music that has nothing to hide behind. The London-based folk duo of Laura Smyth &...

Reviewed by Matt Milton in issue: Jan/Feb/2018

Review of The Pure and the Golden

The Pure and the Golden

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Metro Select

Rating: ★★★

The entire world knows and loves South Africa's premier Zulu ensemble. Joseph Shabalala's group has such a vast repertoire, recorded...

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

Review of Alter

Alter

Nynke

Top of the World

Crammed Discs

Rating: ★★★★

Nynke Laverman is a big voice from a small country, which has an even smaller mother tongue. A native of...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: July/2013

Review of Shango

Shango

Peter King

Secret Stash Records

Rating: ★★

Towards the end of the 90s, a penchant for turning up new club-friendly tunes encouraged a slew of record aficionados...

Reviewed by Chris Menist in issue: June/2013

Review of Marinai, Profeti e Balene

Marinai, Profeti e Balene

Vinicio Capossela

Ponderosa Records

Rating: ★★★★

This idiosyncratic Italian songwriter has often been compared to Tom Waits and Paolo Conte but vocally, and also in regard...

Reviewed by Howard Male in issue: July/2012

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