Reviews
The Playhouse Sessions
‘How should I behave when I have a violin in my hand?’ asks the dazzling Norwegian violinist Bjarte Eike in...
Reviewed by Fiona Talkington in issue: January/February/2023
World Defeats the Grandfathers: Swinging Swahili Rumba 1982-1986
Issa Juma & the Super Wanyika Stars
This is another in a series of authoritative collections of golden-age rumba issued by Sterns. Whilst their recent anthologies have...
Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: June/2010
Africa Express Presents…
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
Fazendo as Pazes com o Swing
Before rock'n'roll there was swing – with big bands fronted by musicians like Benny Goodman introducing African-American syncopation and jazz...
Reviewed by Alex Robinson in issue: Apr/May/2014
Absolutely Live II: Viva Mexico!
Juan De Marcos & Afro-Cuban All Stars
Led by Juan de Marcos, the Cuban legend who provided many of the arrangements on Buena Vista Social Club, this...
Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: March/2018
Humanicity
The Upsetter is back, and this time he's wearing a curly yellow clown's wig and sounding as if he's left...
Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: Apr/May/2013
968 CR13
Massilia Sound System surged out of the 80s underground party scene in Marseille. They're the group that pretty much single-handedly...
Reviewed by Ed Stocker in issue: March/2013
Live
A veteran of Mali’s oldest dance orchestra Super Biton de Ségou, Mama Sissoko became the band’s guitarist in 1972. When...
Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: April/2024
La Onda Vampi
Vampisoul really knows how to mash it up. The Spanish label, celebrating a decade this year, has to be one...
Reviewed by Ed Stocker in issue: June/2012
