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Review of Dunya

Dunya

ComboNations

Grappa Musikkforlag

Rating: ★★★★

Convened and led by Javid Afsari Rad, a santur (hammered dulcimer) player with Iranian roots, ComboNations capitalise on a variegated...

Reviewed by Martin Longley in issue: October/2017

Review of Mountains of the Moon

Mountains of the Moon

Ganda Boys

Big World Records

Rating: ★

Ganda Boys are two Ugandans and an American based in the UK. This is the group's third album and –...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: November/2015

Review of Cliffs

Cliffs

Garefowl

Penny Fiddle Records

Rating: ★★

The St Kilda archipelago, located 50 miles west of the Outer Hebrides and evacuated 90 years ago this year, exercises...

Reviewed by Rob Adams in issue: November/2020

Review of Abrazo Abierto

Abrazo Abierto

London Tango Orchestra

London Tango Orchestra

Rating: ★★★

This London-based octet, led by violinist Caroline Pearsall, play for TV shows, dance events and workshops. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the group...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: April/2022

Review of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2013

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2013

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Proper Folk (3 CDs,)

Rating: ★★★★★

At just over two hours long, and with 31 tracks from artists such as Kathleen MacInnes, Lau, Karine Polwart and...

Reviewed by Billy Rough in issue: June/2013

Review of La Samba Contemporain: Samba Recordings by CPC UMES, 1998-2007

La Samba Contemporain: Samba Recordings by CPC UMES, 1998-2007

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Frémeaux & Associés

Rating: ★★★★

‘E bom Cantar’ (It’s time? to sing) is just one of 36 versions of contemporary samba on this dedicated compilation...

Reviewed by Sue Steward in issue: Aug/Sep/2011

Review of Moreïne/Déclives

Moreïne/Déclives

La Tène

Les Disques Bongo Joe

Rating: ★★★★

It proves very difficult to tell what is electronic and what isn’t on La Tène’s cavernous and insistent new record,...

Reviewed by Rosie Esther Solomon in issue: January/2026

Review of Fire Over Babylon: Dread, Peace and Conscious Sounds at Studio One

Fire Over Babylon: Dread, Peace and Conscious Sounds at Studio One

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Soul Jazz

Rating: ★★★★

Studio One was known as the Jamaican Motown because countless artists emerged from its training ground, including Bob Marley and...

Reviewed by David Katz in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of Salsa de la Bahia: A Collection of SF Bay Area Salsa and Latin Jazz

Salsa de la Bahia: A Collection of SF Bay Area Salsa and Latin Jazz

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Patois Records

Rating: ★★★★

In this double-disc third volume of the Salsa de la Bahia series, documentary-maker and timbales-player Rita Hargreaves highlights the contributions...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: June/2025

Review of Nippon Guitars: Instrumental Surf, Eleki & Tsugaru Rock 1966-1974

Nippon Guitars: Instrumental Surf, Eleki & Tsugaru Rock 1966-1974

Takeshi Terauchi

Big Beat

Rating: ★★★

The Dead Kennedys’ former lead singer Jello Biafra is a big fan. Reinvented Jap-rock historian Julian Cope has also expressed...

Reviewed by Nige Tassell in issue: Apr/May/2012

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