Reviews

Northern Sky

The Friel Sisters

Anna, Sheila and Clare Friel of Donegal play the fiddle, flute, tin whistle and uilleann pipes, and between them trade...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: May/2025

The Fourth Light

Niyaz

Built around the captivating voice of the Iranian-born singer Azam Ali, the fusion of Sufi mysticism and electronic trance beats...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2015

With the Dawn

Bella Hardy

Bella Hardy's new album begins with the track ‘The Only Thing to Do’, a striking and beautiful ballad addressing love...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: June/2015

Kila Mara

Alai K

Alai K’s debut album is a potent mix of percussive practice from his native Kenya melded with the driving dance...

Reviewed by Alex De Lacey in issue: March/2022

Yeahno Yowouw Land

Langendorf United

Yeahno Yowouw Land is deep and earthy, and high and celestial; it's a land of swirling euphoria and wholesome, grounding...

Reviewed by Celeste Cantor-Stephens in issue: June/2023

Across The Sea

Anmol Mohara

Anmol Mohara’s music certainly doesn’t lack ambition. The UK-based Nepali percussionist, composer and lyricist packs in a surfeit of ideas...

Reviewed by Paul Bowler in issue: December/2025

Essam

Imarhan

Essam starts out in familiar desert blues territory, with tight, slick guitars and chanting vocals. Then the music begins to...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: February/March/2026

Inna de Yard

Ken Boothe

It's been close to 25 years since Ken Boothe last entered the studio and, in truth, he has lost a...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: Jan/Feb/2018

Ji

Jens Pollheide & Imran Khan

This pairing between German ex-Embryo bassist Pollheide and Indian sitar player Imran Khan marks the culmination of seven years of...

Reviewed by Paul Bowler in issue: March/2022

MISST.EU!

MISST

This Belgian harmony group constitutes ‘five voices – four misses and a mister.’ Having represented Flanders at the 2017 Ferrara...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: November/2021