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Reviews

Review of Molende

Molende

Titi Bakorta

Nyege Nyege Tapes

Rating: ★★★★★

Sticking true to the experimentalism of Nyege Nyege Tapes’ releases, Titi Bakorta’s debut album, Molende, gathers vastly distinct soundscapes and...

Reviewed by Nick Hann in issue: November/2023

Review of Source of Denial

Source of Denial

Nihiloxica

Crammed Discs

Rating: ★★★★★

Nihiloxica were one of the highlights of this year’s WOMAD festival, after their scheduled appearance in 2022 was stymied by...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: November/2023

Review of Vapor

Vapor

Bixiga 70

Top of the World

Glitterbeat Records

Rating: ★★★★

This engrossing fifth album from the São Paulo groove collective finds the band exploring a much wider musical palette. A...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: November/2023

Review of Sawa Sawa

Sawa Sawa

Sawa Sawa

Jinn Records

Rating: ★★

Sawa Sawa (‘all together’ in Sudanese Arabic) is a project that unites artists from across Sudan to make a statement...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: November/2023

Review of Kora World

Kora World

Maher Cissoko

Ajabu!

Rating: ★★★★

Best-known for a series of fine albums as a duo with his kora-playing Swedish wife Sousou, on this fine solo...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: November/2023

Review of Mapendo

Mapendo

The Mighty Cavaliers

Want Some Records

Rating: ★★★★

50 years ago, the Starlight Club in Nairobi was one of the hottest nightspots in East Africa, a venue that...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: November/2023

Review of Baiana

Baiana

Baiana

Absolute Label Services

Rating: ★★

Liverpudlian Laura Doyle certainly fooled this particular Anglophone. Hearing the opening ‘Samba Mortal’, upbeat carnival music sung convincingly in Portuguese,...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: November/2023

Review of Inventor Vol 1

Inventor Vol 1

DJ Znobia

Nyege Nyege Tapes

Rating: ★★★

Born in Luanda’s Barrio do Rangel, DJ Znobia began experimenting with audio production tool FruityLoops in the early 90s, mixing...

Reviewed by Olivia Cheves in issue: November/2023

Review of Leon Keïta

Leon Keïta

Leon Keïta

Analog Africa

Rating: ★★★★

Born in Conakry, Guinea, guitarist Leon Keïta eventually became a significant figure on the Malian scene, helping to form the...

Reviewed by Martin Longley in issue: November/2023

Review of Off the Grid

Off the Grid

Onipa

Top of the World

Real World Records

Rating: ★★★★

‘The word [Onipa] means ‘human’ in Akan, the ancient language of the Ashanti people of Ghana,’ frontman Kweku Sackey (aka...

Reviewed by Max Reinhardt in issue: November/2023

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