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Reviews

Review of Approach to Anima

Approach to Anima

maya ongaku

Guruguru Brain

Rating: ★★

Basically a trio, the self-proclaimed ‘ragtag collective’ of maya ongaku is based in the Ace General Store on their local...

Reviewed by Keith Howard in issue: November/2023

Review of Embodied Poetry

Embodied Poetry

Mehmet Polat Quartet

Aftab Records

Rating: ★★★★

The prolific Mehmet Polat presents another album of Turkish ud jazz with inflections of other traditions. Similar to his previous...

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: November/2023

Review of Live at Café Oto

Live at Café Oto

OKI

Mais Um

Rating: ★★★★

OKI is the tonkori-wielding bard famed for bringing the endangered music of the Ainu people of Hokkaido, one of Japan’s...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: November/2023

Review of To Those Who Came Before Us

To Those Who Came Before Us

Joseph Tawadros

Joseph Tawadros

Rating: ★★★★★

In recent years, this prolific Egyptian/Australian oud player and composer has received well-deserved acclaim for his instrumental virtuosity, as well...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: November/2023

Review of MLDVA & Çınar Timur

MLDVA & Çınar Timur

MLDVA & Çınar Timur

Shapes of Rhythm

Rating: ★★★

In recent years, there’s been a surfeit of European groups dedicated to recreating the sound of 1970s Anatolian pop and...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: November/2023

Review of Upopo Sanke

Upopo Sanke

Umeko Ando

Pingipung

Rating: ★★★★★

This posthumous release was recorded in 2003, on a farm in the Tokachi district of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of...

Reviewed by Chris Wheatley in issue: November/2023

Review of Last Breaths from Aleppo

Last Breaths from Aleppo

Jawa

Muziekpublique

Rating: ★★★★

One of the side effects of the Syrian civil war has been its threat to the rich Sufi musical tradition...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: November/2023

Review of En Kötü Iyi Olur

En Kötü Iyi Olur

Lalalar

Top of the World

Les Disques Bongo Joe

Rating: ★★★★

Turkish trio Lalalar are a pretty convincing example of how oppression can cause unruly bursts of refusenik artistic expression. The...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: November/2023

Review of Moonshine

Moonshine

Maurice Louca & Elephantine

Subrosa / Northern

Rating: ★★★★

Initially a pioneer in electronic dance music with a specific Egyptian flavour, culminating in a perfect synthesis with shaabi and...

Reviewed by Neil van der Linden in issue: November/2023

Review of Jinê

Jinê

Saîdê Goyî

Saîdê Goyî

Rating: ★★★

Saîdê Goyî is a Turkish Kurdish musician and a dengbêj, or minstrel. He’s certainly got a strong and striking voice....

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: November/2023

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