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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

Review of Flowers in the Desert

Flowers in the Desert

VARIOUS ARTISTS

EMI

Rating: ★

As fans of world music, we rejoice when Western rock stars, whether it's Damon Albarn, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: March/2011

Review of CuCuLand

CuCuLand

CuCu Diamantes

Wrasse Records WRASS237

Rating: ★★★

A suitably theatrical spoken word overture – clinking glasses, a call for silencio, the tap of heels and the flare...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: June/2010

Review of Brass Noir: On the Trans-Balkan Highway

Brass Noir: On the Trans-Balkan Highway

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Piranha

Rating: ★★★★

Piranha Records was the first world music label to effectively promote Balkan brass – issuing seminal albums by Boban i...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: March/2012

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