Reviews
Ouled Bambara: Portraits of Gnawa
Caitlin McNally, who produced this CD/DVD package, writes: ‘In early 2005, I headed to Marrakech, Morocco with a camera, a...
Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: Jan/Feb/2010
E-and’a
At the risk of sounding like a reverse snob, it seems to be a rule of thumb now that if...
Reviewed by Matthew Milton in issue: June/2014
Bollywood Remembers Laxmikant Pyarelal
Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar and Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma, who began their musical careers as mandolin player and violinist, formed the composer...
Reviewed by Jameela Siddiqi in issue: Jan/Feb/2010
Wildfire
Although they’re clearly rooted in the folk tradition, Keston Cobblers Club aren’t afraid of soaring, synth-based hooks and great swelling...
Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: Aug/Sep/2015
Providence
Katy Carr is an unusual and original singer- songwriter. She is fascinated by history, has a giftfor strong, upbeat melodies,...
Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: January/2021
Variācijas
At the core of the Latvian group Lata Donga are four singers from a single family who can be heard...
Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: Aug/Sep/2019
Deep Roots Observer Style
Every musical genre has its golden age and there's many a reggae enthusiast who'll routinely cast a wistful eye back...
Reviewed by Ed Stocker in issue: June/2012
Istehlal
This polyglot trio creates an eastward-leaning fusion that's somehow both timeless and, at the same time, emblematic of the cultural...
Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: March/2023
A Year of Swimming
From the off, the latest release from the incredible instrumentalist drops you into his utterly unique African guitar cosmos. For...
Reviewed by Douglas Macgregor in issue: May/2020
University of Gnawa
Aziz Sahmaoui is a marakchi – not a broad-brimmed crooner of Mexican love songs, but a native of Marrakech in...
Reviewed by Andy Morgan in issue: Aug/Sep/2011
