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Review of Peripheries of Nahavand

Peripheries of Nahavand

Araz Salek

Worlds Within Worlds

Rating: ★★★★

Salek is a Tehran-born, Canada-based ensemble leader and tar player versed in the mores of Iran’s dastgāh system of music,...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: June/2025

Review of Synthesizing the Silk Roads

Synthesizing the Silk Roads

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Ostinato Records

Rating: ★★★★★

The title and subheading (Uzbek Disco, Tajik Folktronica, Uyghur Rock and Crimean Tatar Jazz from 1980s Soviet Central Asia) say...

Reviewed by Keith Howard in issue: November/2024

Review of Soma

Soma

John McSherry

Compass 745382

Rating: ★★★★

The Belfast uilleann piper John McSherry sprang to fame with the band Tamalin in the 1990s, before moving on to...

Reviewed by Geoff Wallis in issue: July/2010

Review of Songbirds: Albanian Music from 78s 1924-1948

Songbirds: Albanian Music from 78s 1924-1948

VARIOUS ARTISTS

JSP

Rating: ★★★★★

The great dreamer of European unity, Stefan Zweig, speaking of poetics and spiritual power, once wrote that ‘The Skipetares (Albanians)...

Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: April/2021

Review of Devla (Blown Away To Dancefloor Heaven)

Devla (Blown Away To Dancefloor Heaven)

Boban i Marko MarkoviC Orkestar

Piranha CDPIR 2339

Rating: ★★★★

Boban Markovic, one of European music’s top trumpet players, has been playing explosive Balkan Gypsy tunes for longer than almost...

Reviewed by Lemez Lovas in issue: March/2010

Review of Kokuu

Kokuu

Timo Alakotila & Yuka Fujino

Polvoron

Rating: ★★★

Last year, the prolific Finnish pianist Timo Alakotila and Japanese accordion player Yuka Fujino released Seiras, which they followed with...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: June/2025

Review of Permanent War

Permanent War

Sir Jean & NMB Afrobeat Experience

Zaine Music

Rating: ★★

This French outfit comprise singer Sir Jean accompanied by the style-shifting brass band known as the NMB Afrobeat Experience. They...

Reviewed by Martin Longley in issue: December/2016

Review of Everybody Wants to Be Like Mary

Everybody Wants to Be Like Mary

ADAM

Unroofed Records

Rating: ★★★★

Scottish folk music is no stranger to electronica – going back to the original ‘techno piper’, the late Martyn Bennett...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: February/March/2025

Review of Raag Kirwani on Tabla Tarang

Raag Kirwani on Tabla Tarang

Kamalesh Maitra

Black Truffle

Rating: ★★★★

Tabla tarang is a set of up to 16 small, wooden dayan drums, arranged in a semi-circle and tuned to...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: May/2025

Review of Dedications

Dedications

Sullow

Mossy Tapes

Rating: ★★★★

A distributary of the folk futurist group Shovel Dance Collective, Sullows are an improvising outfit consisting of Jacken Elswyth, Daniel...

Reviewed by Olivia Cheves in issue: October/2025

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