Reviews

Do You Hear Me?

Batch Gueye

Like Cheikh Lô, Senegal's Batch Gueye is a member of the Baye Fall, the dreadlocked Sufi brotherhood founded by Amadou...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: April/2021

Tango Macondo

Paolo Fresu

Despite its name, Tango Macondo is not a tango record. It’s a soundscape of real and imaginary lands, born out...

Reviewed by Megan Iacobini de fazio in issue: March/2022

Daega Rek

Fofoulah

This project from Afro-dub outfit Fofoulah signals an interesting turn for the ensemble. Their self-titled debut was dub-heavy and dreamy,...

Reviewed by Alex De Lacey in issue: Jan/Feb/2019

The Rough Guide to Latin Disco

VARIOUS ARTISTS

This is hardly the first compilation to highlight the Latino love affair with disco, but it's a hugely enjoyable romp...

Reviewed by Brendon Griffin in issue: December/2015

Tche Belew

Hailu Mergia & The Walias

It has been hugely gratifying to see Ethiopian pianist and keyboard-player Hailu Mergia find a brand new audience this year,...

Reviewed by Chris Menist in issue: March/2015

The Maniacs

The Maniacs

Old English tunes and young English players have been making hay over the past few years with the likes of...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: June/2020

Sakidila

Pongo

Angolan-born, Lisbon-based singer and rapper Pongo already gained notoriety within the field of forward-thinking kuduro with her collaborations with Buraka...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: June/2022

Útera

Kaleema

In the past ten years, a particular strain of downtempo has emerged from Latin America's clubs, uniting hypnotic electronic grooves...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: June/2021

Calypso Travels

Lord Invader & His Calypso Group

One of three initial releases in the Smithsonian Folkways Vinyl Reissue Series, Calypso Travels features native Trinidadian Lord Invader (born...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: April/2020

Mielo

Maria Kalaniemi & Eero Grundström

It's hard to get beyond the first track ‘Erämorsian’ (Wildwood Bride). I play it again and again, caught up in...

Reviewed by Fiona Talkington in issue: July/2020