Reviews
amaXesha
The story of Southern Africa's ‘contemporary urban folk’ music can be told in five acts: Madala Kunene, Buddy Masango, Vusi...
Reviewed by Bongani Madondo in issue: June/2023
London Ko
Fatoumata Diawara has always been the fresh voice of Malian music, pushing the boundaries of what a contemporary African music...
Reviewed by Alexandra Petropoulos in issue: July/2023
Radio Chévere
Anglo-Latin fusion has enjoyed considerable success over the years, with standout albums including David Byrne’s Rei Momo, Paul Simon’s The...
Reviewed by Huw Hennessy in issue: November/2024
Orchestral Qawwali – Live at Birmingham City Hall
Rushil Ranjan & Abi Sampa with Ben Palmer & The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Combining Sufi (Islamic mystic) qawwali (devotional singing) with Western orchestral arrangements, the Orchestral Qawwali project has been making waves for...
Reviewed by Jameela Siddiqi in issue: May/2025
Transformation Time
Best-known until now as the lead vocalist for the LA band Chicano Batman, Bardo (whose full name is Bardo Martinez)...
Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: October/2025
En Kötü Iyi Olur
Turkish trio Lalalar are a pretty convincing example of how oppression can cause unruly bursts of refusenik artistic expression. The...
Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: November/2023
The Wait
Staples on the Australian music scene since the 1980s, when they were prominently featured in The Black Sorrows band, Aussie-Tongan...
Reviewed by Seth Jordan in issue: January/February/2022
I've Forgotten Now Who I Used to Be
The producer Ian Brennan has for some years been on a mission to give a platform to the voices of...
Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2021
Down in Washington Square
A seminal figure in the American folk renaissance of the late 1950s and early 60s, Dave Van Ronk was a...
Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: March/2014
