Reviews
La Guinéenne
Youssou N’Dour might be still defined by ‘Seven Seconds’, his 1994 smash hit with Neneh Cherry, had he not gone...
Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: October/2012
The Best of the Black President 2
This is consistently great music: a sublime mix of jazz, funk and a dreamy groove. Fela Kuti created a whole...
Reviewed by Alastair Johnston in issue: Apr/May/2013
The Raven's Rock
This solo album from Lúnasa's Cillian Vallely has been a long time coming. Happily, the wait has been worth it....
Reviewed by Michael Quinn in issue: December/2016
The Royal Chase
Nation Beat are a new name to me, but a cursory internet search reveals they have existed for more than...
Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: March/2021
The Morning Tempest
Having recently picked up Radio 2's Young Folk Award, Josie Duncan and Pablo Lafuente have released their debut album, and...
Reviewed by Billy Rough in issue: May/2018
The Phosphorescent Blues
Every mention of Chris Thile inevitably describes him as the best mandolin player in the world. Reviews of Punch Brothers’...
Reviewed by Matt Milton in issue: March/2015
Ikon: The Best of Gregory Isaacs, The Cool Ruler
Few Jamaican vocalists hold as much emotional power as Gregory Isaacs, whose haunting sadness reflected a life of not-quite-fame, unlucky...
Reviewed by Clyde Macfarlane in issue: Aug/Sep/2018
The Cook, the Clown, the Monk & the Accordionist
London-based Italian musician Maurizio Minardi ventures here into the porous terrain that lies somewhere between folk, classical, jazz and improvisation....
Reviewed by Ciro De Rosa in issue: July/2013
Light Up the Dark
There is a stadium feel to The Outside Track's music. The pan-Celtic quintet (from Ireland, Scotland and Cape Breton) have...
Reviewed by Tim Woodall in issue: Jan/Feb/2016
The Servants' Ball
This exuberantly entertaining album came about after double bass player Ben Nicholls, reading about Sussex concertina player Scan Thester, found...
Reviewed by Julian May in issue: April/2020
