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Review of Shona Ritual Music

Shona Ritual Music

Ambuya Nyati

Ocora Radio France

Rating: ★★★★★

The mbira or lamellophone has one of the world's most hypnotic and transcendental sounds. Often called the thumb piano, a...

Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: Aug/Sept/2013

Review of Yalla Yalla!

Yalla Yalla!

Sultans of String

McKhool Recordings

Rating: ★★★

Rumba flamenco rhythms may be at the base of this endearing instru¬mental recording by Toronto-based Sultans of String, but you’ll...

Reviewed by Li Robbins in issue: Aug/Sep/2011

Review of Roots of Life

Roots of Life

Los Chicharrons

Tummy Touch Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

Here's some Malian-inspired musical innovation from an unlikely source: maverick dance music producers Los Chicharrons, also known as the odd...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: June/2011

Review of Isle of Magic

Isle of Magic

Mop Mop

Agogo Records

Rating: ★★★★

Who are Mop Mop? It appears they are a multi-instrumental Italian seven-piece who have a passion for African diaspora music...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: July/2013

Review of Intizar

Intizar

Mohammad Motamedi & Rembrandt Trio

Just Listen Records

Rating: ★★★★★

When I visited the national Fajr Music Festival in Tehran for the first time, I walked into a performance by...

Reviewed by Neil van der Linden in issue: April/2024

Review of Y Su Descarga Internacional

Y Su Descarga Internacional

Bosq

Bacalao Records

Rating: ★★★

US producer Bosq has been making tropical bass since the early 2010s, regularly working with musicians from Africa and the...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: January/2021

Review of Magia Negra: The Beginning

Magia Negra: The Beginning

Omara Portuondo

World Village

Rating: ★★★

For her latest offering, the octogenarian diva and former Buena Vista Social Club singer has revisited the first LP she...

Reviewed by Philip Sweeney in issue: Apr/May/2015

Review of African Soul Revolutionary

African Soul Revolutionary

Baaba Maal

Nascente

Rating: ★★★

Every slick studio release Baaba Maal puts on the market tends to prompt someone to release some unmixed, live or...

Reviewed by Katharina Lobeck Kane in issue: Nov/Dec/2010

Review of Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol 1

Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol 1

The Ninetree Stumblers

Nanny State Records

Rating: ★★★

Take a cursory glance at Complete Recorded Works and you’d be forgiven for thinking it was the latest release from...

Reviewed by Matt Milton in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of Hâfez & Goethe: Divân

Hâfez & Goethe: Divân

Abed Azrié

Doumtak

Rating: ★★★

Abed Azrié is the sort of intellectual musician who could probably only flourish in France. Born in Syria’s most cultured...

Reviewed by Bill Badley in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

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