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Review of Game, Set and Nach

Game, Set and Nach

Achanak

Nachural Records

Rating: ★★★

Achanak are legendary on the UK bhangra scene, and while their ventures into the world music festival circuit have made...

Reviewed by Amardeep Dhillon in issue: Jan/Feb/2018

Review of Returning Minimalism: New Works for Balinese Gamelan Gong Kebyar

Returning Minimalism: New Works for Balinese Gamelan Gong Kebyar

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Vital

Rating: ★★★★

A bird sings and insects hum in the background. A metallophone begins playing a rapid three-beat pattern. Another, played with...

Reviewed by John Whitfield in issue: June/2012

Review of Kvite Fuglar

Kvite Fuglar

Unni Boksasp Ensemble

Unni Boksasp

Rating: ★★★★

Kvite Fuglar (White Bird) is accompanied, in the liner notes, by a short statement from Unni Boksasp: ‘I've written all...

Reviewed by Fiona Talkington in issue: July/2013

Review of Benin Awake Vol 1

Benin Awake Vol 1

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Sheer Sound

Rating: ★★

Masterminded by Sheer Publishing, better known for placing African-authored songs in homegrown films like Tsotsi and District 9, this triumvirate...

Reviewed by Brendon Griffin in issue: June/2013

Review of #Mr Lakaaye

#Mr Lakaaye

Lekan Babalola

Oyeku Meji Records

Rating: ★★★

Lekan Babalola has an impressive track record as a musician (percussionist and composer/arranger) and filmmaker. One of Nigeria’s outstanding jazz...

Reviewed by Max Reinhardt in issue: March/2022

Review of Zama Zama

Zama Zama

Battlefield Band

Temple Records COMD2012

Rating: ★★★

A Zulu expression, roughly translating as let‘s try our luck’, might not seem the likeliest choice of title for a...

Reviewed by Sue Wilson in issue: March/2010

Review of Suelta

Suelta

La Yegros

Top of the World

X-Ray Production

Rating: ★★★★

The third album from La Yegros (aka Mariana Yegros, the queen of nu cumbia), the French-based singer-songwriter with family in...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: June/2019

Review of Africa Express Presents…

Africa Express Presents…

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Africa Express AE001/Puma Creative

Rating: ★★★★

Africa Express is a loose cooperative of like minds (with Damon Albarn somewhere near the hub) that takes Western rock...

Reviewed by Mark Ellingham in issue: Jan/Feb/2010

Review of Guo Gan ‘Swordmen’ Trio

Guo Gan ‘Swordmen’ Trio

Guo Gan

Felmay Records

Rating: ★★★★

Over the last two decades, Paris-based erhu virtuoso Guo Gan has established himself as one of the leading ambassadors of...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: October/2022

Review of Hope in an Empty City

Hope in an Empty City

Joseph Tawadros

Joseph Tawadros

Rating: ★★★★

Recorded in New York before the onset of COVID-19, this latest album by Egyptian/Australian oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros is a...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: November/2021

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