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Review of Bardik Springs

Bardik Springs

Elfic Circle

Suriya Recordings

Rating: ★★★

Bardik Springs is very much an album of two halves. The first CD offers an elegant fusion of Indian classical...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: June/2018

Review of Sài Gòn, Saïgon

Sài Gòn, Saïgon

Huong Thanh & Franck Tortiller

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★

To Saigon for a postmodern nostalgia trip; here, veteran Vietnamese vocalist Huong Thanh revisits the songs of French colonial Vietnam,...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: June/2017

Review of Hermitage

Hermitage

Jambinai

Bella Union

Rating: ★★

Portentous track titles such as ‘Abyss’ and ‘Echo of Creation’ hint at the nature of this South Korean trio's crusade....

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: July/2016

Review of Clap & Applause

Clap & Applause

Coreyah

Plankton Music

Rating: ★★★★

From K-drama on Netflix to K-beauty in Boots, South Korea has been on a remarkable rise to prominence in the...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: November/2020

Review of Hà Noi Duo

Hà Noi Duo

Nguyên Lê & Ngô Hong Quang

ACT Records

Rating: ★★★

French guitarist Nguyên Lê and Vietnamese singer and multi-instrumentalist Ngô Hong Quang take the clash of the modern and traditional...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: June/2017

Review of Igbo Amaka

Igbo Amaka

Okwy Osadebe & Highlife Soundmakers International

Palenque Records

Rating: ★★★

Highlife music is most closely associated with Ghana, but the genre's roots extend across West Africa and beyond. Okwy Osadebe...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: July/2023

Review of Journeys

Journeys

Brian Molley Quartet & The Asin Langa Ensemble

BGMM Records

Rating: ★★★

This record deepens the engagement of Scottish saxophonist Molley with Indian music. On 2022’s Intercontinental, Molley’s focus was on Tamil...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: May/2025

Review of The Tapi Project

The Tapi Project

Tapi

Songdew

Rating: ★★★

Tapi put their best feet forward on opener ‘Paigam’, with a surando (folk fiddle) sample introducing a reflective vocal refrain....

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: July/2019

Review of North South East West

North South East West

Inger Hannisdal

Jazzland Recordings

Rating: ★★★

Norwegian folk and Arabic maqam engage in an understated courtship on this debut record by violinist Inger Hannisdal. Bass, drums...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: December/2022

Review of Zorongo Blu

Zorongo Blu

New Bojaira

New Bojaira

Rating: ★★★

Zorongo Blu offers an accomplished but not entirely comfortable fusion of jazz and flamenco. The group take their name from...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: Aug/Sep/2019

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