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Review of Despite the Dark

Despite the Dark

Rura

Top of the World

Rura Music

Rating: ★★★★★

The opener ‘Dark Reel’ is an ambitious and blistering introduction to an album that is moody, earthy, haunting and passionate,...

Reviewed by Billy Rough in issue: July/2015

Review of So Bouzouk

So Bouzouk

Issa Hassan

Institut de Monde Arabe

Rating: ★★★★

On paper, the diverse musical elements that this album brings together – Kurdish traditional, flamenco and Parisian jazz – could...

Reviewed by Bill Badley in issue: October/2012

Review of The Montreux Years

The Montreux Years

Paco de Lucía

BMG

Rating: ★★★

This live recording is the latest in a series from the Montreux festival archives. Previous releases feature greats such as...

Reviewed by Jo Setters in issue: June/2023

Review of Iboto Ngenge

Iboto Ngenge

Ngwaka Son Systéme

Top of the World

Eck Echo

Rating: ★★★★★

A fine balance of danceable music which pushes the boat out sonically and a sound firmly rooted in Congolese rumba...

Reviewed by Nik Hann in issue: May/2024

Review of Haz

Haz

La Yegros

X-Ray Production

Rating: ★★★★★

Buenos Aires native Mariana Yegros absorbed from her parents a love of traditional cumbia and chamamé, a folk music distinctive...

Reviewed by Chris Wheatley in issue: April/2024

Review of Hizbut Jámm

Hizbut Jámm

Hizbut Jámm

Top of the World

Instant Classic

Rating: ★★★★

Polish guitarist and composer Raphael Rogiński has been busy. In September his solo album, Talàn, garnered rave reviews from all...

Reviewed by Olivia Cheves in issue: April/2024

Review of Harmonizing Soweto: Golden Gospel & Kasi Soul from the new South Africa

Harmonizing Soweto: Golden Gospel & Kasi Soul from the new South Africa

Diepkloof United Voice

Ostinato Records

Rating: ★★★★

Diepkloof and its neighbour, Meadowlands, were created as new zones in Soweto in the late 50s to accommodate those forcibly...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: December/2023

Review of Melodies of Light

Melodies of Light

Yosef-Gutman Levitt & Omri Mor

Soul Song Records

Rating: ★★★★

Having only recently reviewed Levitt’s Soul Song (in #190) I was surprised and delighted to see he’d released a second...

Reviewed by Tony Gillam in issue: January/February/2024

Review of Lullabies

Lullabies

Abigail Lapell

Outside Music

Rating: ★★★

Lullabies – cradle songs – a term derived from the middle English ‘lullen’ (lull) and ‘bye’ (near), and, much further...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: January/February/2024

Review of Bilambiyal (The Learning)

Bilambiyal (The Learning)

Radical Son

Wantok Musik

Rating: ★★★★★

It’s been a decade since Radical Son (aka David Leha) burst onto the Australian scene with his brilliant 2014 album...

Reviewed by Seth Jordan in issue: August/2024

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