Reviews
Tales of Earth and Sun
The Iranian group Rastak have been going for over 25 years, although in recent years they’ve relocated from Iran to...
Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: July/2025
Legado
Over some 32 years and 17 albums, this 12-piece globe-trotting Puerto Rican outfit has built a formidable live reputation, delivering...
Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: April/2026
Born in the City of Tanta: Lower Egyptian Urban Folklore and Bedouin Shaabi from Libya’s Bourini Records 1968–75
Seemingly a world removed from the lushly orchestrated, exquisitely tasteful music of state-approved Egyptian icons like Mohamed Abdel-Wahab and Oum...
Reviewed by Paul Bowler in issue: August/2025
Kôrôlén
Toumani Diabaté and the London Symphony Orchestra
Anyone who saw one of the symphonic concerts Toumani Diabate gave with three different orchestras in 2008 will have been...
Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2021
Soweto
Robson Banda and the New Black Eagles
Robson Banda started his career as a member of Thomas Mapfumo’s first group Acid Band. In Zimbabwe the chimurenga music...
Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: January/February/2022
It's Still Autumn
Kayhan Kalhor & the Rembrandt Frerichs Trio
The collaboration between Iranian kamancheh spike-fiddle master Kayhan Kalhor and the Dutch baroque-jazz ensemble Rembrandt Frerichs Trio has been a...
Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: Aug/Sep/2019
Rare Bird Alert
Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers
For all the fanfare about Steve Martin's multi-tasking talents, the fact remains: he's a badass banjo player. Sure, there are...
Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: July/2011
Doroja
Santiago Córdoba & The Bauls of Bengal
One of the most striking things about Baul music – a form of folk music from Bengal, South Asia – is its...
Reviewed by Shaswata Kundu Chaudhuri in issue: March/2022
Front Porch Sessions
The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
Anyone who has heard the grind and growl of the Indiana three-piece that is The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band...
Reviewed by Tim Woodall in issue: June/2017
Diversions Volume 2
The Unthanks with Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band
Having fairly recently moved to West Yorkshire, I have to agree with Unthanks pianist and composer Adrian McNally that brass...
Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: October/2012
