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Reviews

Review of El Sonido Bastardo

El Sonido Bastardo

Danzón El Gato

Lovemonk Records

Rating: ★★★★

Madrid’s Danzón El Gato occupy a similar sonic space to US band Khruangbin, melding psychedelic rock influences with a plethora...

Reviewed by Paul Bowler in issue: June/2025

Review of Diboli

Diboli

Tamala

Muziekpublique

Rating: ★★★★

The Tamala quartet certainly draw inspiration from an eclectic range of cultural influences. Led by the impassioned vocals of Mola...

Reviewed by Tom Spargo in issue: June/2025

Review of La Marche du Bonheur

La Marche du Bonheur

&Fusion

Buda Musique / Socadisc

Rating: ★★★★

Celebrating cultural differences, the richness of their respective heritages and the chance to further decolonise France’s imperial past, this virtuosic...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: June/2025

Review of Vie Kaz

Vie Kaz

Votia

Ajabu!

Rating: ★★★★

Votia, a group from La Réunion, come steeped in tradition: powerfully voiced lead singer Marie-Claude Philéas Lambert is the daughter...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: June/2025

Review of Ajo Rebirth

Ajo Rebirth

Wura Samba

Sambabe Records / Ajazco Records

Rating: ★★★★

Wura Samba (Wura meaning ‘gold’ in Yoruba) from Nigeria and his nine-piece “drumming and percussion” band return with Ajo Rebirth,...

Reviewed by Lucy Hallam in issue: June/2025

Review of Cancionera

Cancionera

Natalia Lafourcade

Top of the World

Sony Music

Rating: ★★★★★

We know Natalia Lafourcade can turn on the intimacy and intensity. On 2024’s Live at Carnegie Hall, she managed to...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: June/2025

Review of Journey Through Life

Journey Through Life

Femi Kuti

Top of the World

Partisan

Rating: ★★★★

As its title suggests, Femi Kuti’s new album – his first since the release in 2021 of double LP Legacy...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2025

Review of Luna, Cera e Vino

Luna, Cera e Vino

Brigan

Liburia Records

Rating: ★★★

From southern Italy comes what is described as a “dreamlike journey through memories, recollections and new images” of the ancient...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: June/2025

Review of The World That I Knew

The World That I Knew

VARO

Top of the World

Varo

Rating: ★★★★

Dublin-based duo VARO – singers and fiddlers Lucie Azconaga and Consuelo Nerea Breschi, from France and Italy respectively – are...

Reviewed by Alexandra Petropoulos in issue: June/2025

Review of Cançons a l’Ombra

Cançons a l’Ombra

La Baula

Segell Microscopi

Rating: ★★★

La Baula are a new Catalan group committed to collecting and spreading the traditional songs from their region. The title...

Reviewed by GonÇalo Frota in issue: June/2025

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