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Review of C’est La Vie

C’est La Vie

Khaled

Universal

Rating: ★★

Many listeners admired the king of rai’s last couple of albums, notably Liberté, which heard his characterful voice unchained from...

Reviewed by Peter Culshaw in issue: June/2013

Review of Can't You Hear the Mountains Calling

Can't You Hear the Mountains Calling

Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys feat Charlie Sizemore

Rounder Records 1166106142

Rating: ★★★★

From the time he formed the original Clinch Mountain Boys with his brother Carter Stanley, while bluegrass music was in...

Reviewed by Jeff Kaliss in issue: June/2010

Review of The Smithsonian Folkways Collection

The Smithsonian Folkways Collection

Lead Belly

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Rating: ★★★★★

The recordings of Lead Belly, made between his discovery in prison in 1933 by the folklorists John and Alan Lomax...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2015

Review of Ar Puro

Ar Puro

Super Mama Djombo

Smekkleysa SM148

Rating: ★★★

The music of Guinea-Bissau – a tiny wedge of mangroves and jungle hidden between the borders of Senegal and Guinea...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: July/2010

Review of Where the Soul Never Dies

Where the Soul Never Dies

Mike Block & Sandeep Das

Top of the World

Bright Shiny Things

Rating: ★★★★

Mike Block is one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene. A cellist and member of...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: July/2021

Review of Classical & Contemporary Chinese Music

Classical & Contemporary Chinese Music

Mei Han and Red Chamber

Top of the World

ARC Music

Rating: ★★★★

Growing up in Maoist China, Mei Han had to undergo numerous hardships to study her chosen instrument, the guzheng (21-stringed...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: December/2016

Review of Les Percussions de Guinée Vols 1 & 2

Les Percussions de Guinée Vols 1 & 2

Les Percussions de Guinée

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★★

A welcome reissue of the two classics from Guinea's national supergroup, this was assembled to promote Guinean culture on the...

Reviewed by Barak Schmool in issue: March/2013

Review of Nordic Choro

Nordic Choro

Nordic Choro

Aania Records

Rating: ★★★

You might describe choro as having the sensibilities of classical music alongsidethe earthiness of street music. It grew up in...

Reviewed by Fiona Talkington in issue: Jan/Feb/2011

Review of Music to My Ears

Music to My Ears

Ricky Skaggs

Skaggs Family Records

Rating: ★★★

If Ricky Skaggs has ever made a bad record, I haven't heard it. Music to My Ears perfectly complements last...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of A Single Tree Does Not a Forest Make

A Single Tree Does Not a Forest Make

The London Lucumi Choir

London Lucumi Choir Records

Rating: ★★★★

Until ten years ago a new recording of Afro-Cuban Santería songs inevitably came from the US, as precious few such...

Reviewed by Jan Fairley in issue: Apr/May/2012

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