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Review of One Race (Tribute to Hilaire Penda)

One Race (Tribute to Hilaire Penda)

Kiala & Afroblaster

Tangential Music

Rating: ★★★★

Congolese guitarist Kiala Nzavotunga began his career playing in Le Grand Kalle’s Africa Jazz band, but he became tired of...

Reviewed by Łukasz Komła in issue: February/March/2026

Review of Mud Doll

Mud Doll

Niraj Chag

Buzz-erk Records

Rating: ★★★

Single-handedly produced, recorded, arranged, mixed and mastered by British talent Niraj Chag, this is ambitiously lofty (if occasionally bombastic) cinematic...

Reviewed by Jon Mitchell in issue: November/2015

Review of Kenya Special: Selected East African Recordings From the 1970s and 1980s

Kenya Special: Selected East African Recordings From the 1970s and 1980s

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Soundway Records

Rating: ★★★★

After presumably running out of crates to dig through in West Africa for Soundway's splendid series of 70s archive recordings...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Aug/Sept/2013

Review of The Best of the Black President 2

The Best of the Black President 2

Fela Kuti

Knitting Factory

Rating: ★★★★

This is consistently great music: a sublime mix of jazz, funk and a dreamy groove. Fela Kuti created a whole...

Reviewed by Alastair Johnston in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Riots in the Jungle

Riots in the Jungle

Skip & Die

Crammed Discs

Rating: ★★★★

Skip & Die are an enigmatic creative duo who've made a debut album that could and should be reviewed by...

Reviewed by Max Reinhardt in issue: March/2013

Review of Gamelan of Central Java XII: Pangkur One

Gamelan of Central Java XII: Pangkur One

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Felmay FY 8166

Rating: ★★

‘Pangkur’ is the keystone of the repertoire of central Javanese gamelan, a tune that anyone acquainted with the music is...

Reviewed by John Whitfield in issue: July/2010

Review of Esa Flor

Esa Flor

Adan Pedroso

Astar AARCDA005

Rating: ★★★★

A few years ago, Adan Pedroso and Asere, the group he founded, created the beautiful ‘Romántica’, a love song that...

Reviewed by Jan Fairley in issue: March/2010

Review of Lines: Parts One, Two and Three

Lines: Parts One, Two and Three

The Unthanks

Rabble Rouser

Rating: ★★★

Lines, the latest of The Unthanks' many ambitious and innovative projects, is a trilogy of song cycles, each with a...

Reviewed by Julian May in issue: April/2019

Review of Rough Guide to Spiritual Blues

Rough Guide to Spiritual Blues

VARIOUS ARTISTS

World Music Network

Rating: ★★★

As the music of gambling dens, bordellos, barrelhouses and anywhere else vice was to be found, the blues swiftly earned...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: October/2020

Review of Come Back To Me

Come Back To Me

Peter One

Verve Records

Rating: ★★★

Originally from the Ivory Coast Peter One emigrated to the US to escape Civil War. Prior to this, he released...

Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: June/2023

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