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Review of The Willow Collection

The Willow Collection

Cassie and Maggie

Top of the World

Cassie & Maggie

Rating: ★★★★

Albums do not usually come as beautifully conceived and packaged as The Willow Collection from young Nova Scotian sisters Cassie...

Reviewed by Tim Woodall in issue: March/2017

Review of The Somerset Sessions

The Somerset Sessions

Seth Lakeman

Honour Oak Records

Rating: ★★★

Lakeman sings and plays several instruments but his great gift, drawing on the folk tradition, is for narrative. The Somerset...

Reviewed by Julian May in issue: October/2023

Review of Oy Vesna Krasna

Oy Vesna Krasna

Karolina Węgrzyn

Karolina Węgrzyn

Rating: ★★★

Karolina Węgrzyn is a Polish-born singer now resident in the UK. Oy Vesna Krasna (Oh, Beautiful Spring) is her debut...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: April/2025

Review of Ethiopiques 31

Ethiopiques 31

Muluken Mèllèssè

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★★

One assumed that the Ethiopiques catalogue had run its course, as it’s now almost a decade since the last volume...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: April/2026

Review of Brasil Bam Bam Bam

Brasil Bam Bam Bam

Sonzeira

Talkin’ Loud/Virgin EMI

Rating: ★★★★

‘What was a French boy, living in South London, doing putting up aerials at the age of 15 so he...

Reviewed by Brendon Griffin in issue: July/2014

Review of Opa Hey!

Opa Hey!

Kottarashky

Top of the World

Asphalt Tango CD-ATR 2609

Rating: ★★★★

On first glance, young producer Kottarashky could be seen as some slow-off-the-mark Johnny-come-lately. The Balkans are, after all, a territory...

Reviewed by Nige Tassell in issue: March/2010

Review of Botyiaki Ntembe

Botyiaki Ntembe

Wendo Kolosoy

IglooMondo

Rating: ★★★★

This two-CD package reissues two albums that book-ended the latter part of the veteran Congolese troubadour’s musical career. Antoine Wendo...

Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of Benin Vol 4: Yehouessi Leopold Batteur

Benin Vol 4: Yehouessi Leopold Batteur

TP Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou

Acid Jazz

Rating: ★★★

When Dahomey gained its independence from its French colonial masters in 1960 and became Benin, a surge of artistic creativity...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: May/2021

Review of Future Sounds of Buenos Aires

Future Sounds of Buenos Aires

VARIOUS ARTISTS

ZZK Records

Rating: ★★★★

It been several years – six, in fact – since ZZK Records first started to whip the cool kids into...

Reviewed by Ed Stocker in issue: Jan/Feb/2013

Review of Access Denied

Access Denied

Asian Dub Foundation

X-Ray Production

Rating: ★★★

Brexit, Trump and the rise of right-wing populism has positively cried out for the militant intervention of Asian Dub Foundation,...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: October/2020

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