Reviews

Kismet

Kolektif Istanbul

Since their debut as Kolektif Istanbul, Krivoto (which came out nearing the peak of the Balkan hype in 2008), the...

Reviewed in issue November/2021

Silence

Coşkun Karademir, Tord Gustavsen, Derya Türkan & Ömer Arslan

A master of the traditional Turkish long-neck lutes, Coşkun Karademir has released several remarkably adventurous recordings. With The Secret Ensemble...

Reviewed in issue November/2021

Tülay German & François Rabbath

Tülay German & François Rabbath

Vocalist Tülay German cut her teeth as a jazz singer in Istanbul nightclubs in the early 60s before bursting onto...

Reviewed in issue November/2021

Âlem

Altɪn Gün

While Amsterdam-based sextet Altin Gün are known as 21st-century purveyors of Turkish psych-folk, their last album, Yol, released in February...

Reviewed in issue November/2021

Anatolian Dances

Dem Trio

It is interesting to see and hear how Turkish wedding dances have changed over the years. From slow and decorous...

Reviewed in issue November/2021

Assolist

Efruze

These sentimental tracks come from the golden, pre-Arabesk, age of Turkish gazinos, venues where mixed crowds would come, eat and...

Reviewed in issue October/2021

Norwegian Oud

Yinon Muallem & Guy Mintus | Yinon Muallem

Conceived and recorded throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Norwegian Oud is the latest album from oud player, percussionist, and composer Yinon...

Reviewed in issue October/2021

I May Never See You Again

Saba Alizadeh

This is another stupendous release from the emergent 30M Records. Kamancheh player Saba Alizadeh’s second solo album is an introspective,...

Reviewed in issue October/2021

Habibi Funk 015: An Eclectic Selection of Music from the Arab World, Part 2

VARIOUS ARTISTS

As the comprehensive and beautifully produced sleeve notes make clear, this compilation of 13 jaw-droppingly funky tracks from the Middle...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2021

Hanin: Field Recordings in Syria 2008-2009

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Compiled by Spanish musician and filmmaker Michel Gasco between 2008 and 2009, this collection of field recordings spans a period...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2021