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Review of Seiras

Seiras

Timo Alakotila & Yuka Fujino

Åkerö Records

Rating: ★★★

Finnish piano and harmonium virtuoso Timo Alakotila and the illustrious Tokyo-based accordionist Yuka Fujino unite in Seiras, a captivating blend...

Reviewed by Buzz Bury in issue: January/2025

Review of Carnatic Nomad

Carnatic Nomad

Jyotsna Srikanth

ARC Music Productions

Rating: ★★★★

This very effective album comes from Karnatak violinist Jyotsna Srikanth, ably supported by BC Manjunath on mridangam (barrel drum) and...

Reviewed by Maria Lord in issue: November/2024

Review of Kiho’alu: Stories in Song, Vol 1

Kiho’alu: Stories in Song, Vol 1

George Kuo

Dancing Cat Records

Rating: ★★★★

How delightful to have a new album from Dancing Cat Records. Founded by George Winston in the early 80s, this...

Reviewed by Devon Léger in issue: December/2024

Review of 100% Sahara Guitar

100% Sahara Guitar

Etran de l’Aïr

Top of the World

Sahel Sounds

Rating: ★★★★

Etran de l’Aïr’s job is to make people move, playing at the weddings of the working-class Touareg of Agadez, Niger....

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: November/2024

Review of Coexistence

Coexistence

Dal:um

Top of the World

Glitterbeat/tak:til

Rating: ★★★★

Korean duo Dal:um return for a second album of duelling gayageum and geomungo (plucked zithers from the Korean classical tradition)....

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: December/2024

Review of Macaronesia Vol. 1

Macaronesia Vol. 1

Entre Ilhas

CAAM

Rating: ★★★

Entre Ilhas is one of those projects that must be praised for its historical and conceptual relevance, being potentially the...

Reviewed by GonÇalo Frota in issue: September/2025

Review of Masters of Our Roots

Masters of Our Roots

Albita and Chucho Valdés

InnerCat Entertainment

Rating: ★★★★

A masterclass of 20th century Cuban-American showbiz, this has all the vintage allure of a night at Havana's Tropicana, or...

Reviewed by Philip Sweeney in issue: September/2025

Review of Lift Up This Old World

Lift Up This Old World

Hilary Hawke

Adhyâropa Records

Rating: ★★★

New York-based banjoist, vocalist and composer Hilary Hawke's résumé includes writing and performing for Broadway productions, filling in with late-night...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: September/2025

Review of A Tribute to the King of Zydeco

A Tribute to the King of Zydeco

FEATURED COMPILATION

Valcour Records

Rating: ★★★★★

This autumn, Smithsonian Folkways will release a 4-CD box set, Clifton Chenier: King of Louisiana Blues and Zydeco. Comprising 67...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: September/2025

Review of Tomorrow Held

Tomorrow Held

Spafford Campbell

Top of the World

Real World Records

Rating: ★★★★★

Opening with minimal, subliminal guitar, very quiet and very still, an expressive fiddle soon eases in, the two shapeshifting around...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: September/2025

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