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Reviews

Review of Plays Tanz! Live in New York City

Plays Tanz! Live in New York City

Michael Winograd

Borscht Beat

Rating: ★★★★

Michael Winograd is one of the great klezmer clarinettists of our time – and his previous albums have received strong...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2026

Review of If This Life Could Start Again

If This Life Could Start Again

Malena Zavala

Paraná Records

Rating: ★★★★

Born in Argentina and raised in London, Malena Zavala earned critical plaudits for the DIY bedroom pop of her 2018...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2026

Review of Teriya

Teriya

Djembe Tekno

Snick Snack Music

Rating: ★★★★

A collaboration between the veteran Malian percussionist Sidiki Camara and Norwegian producer Tore Gjedrem, Djembe Tekno showcases a distinctive form...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2026

Review of KABEAUSHÉ PRESENTS: I.S.U.I.L.P

KABEAUSHÉ PRESENTS: I.S.U.I.L.P

KABEAUSHÉ

Night Swim

Rating: ★★★★

The third full-length from Kabochi Gitau aka KABEAUSHÉ finds the Nairobi-born, Berlin-based artist back in full world-building form. I.S.U.I.L.P introduces...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2026

Review of When It Rains It Pours

When It Rains It Pours

Shay Hazan

Batov Records

Rating: ★★★

Tel-Aviv-based bassist Shay Hazan has released two albums foregrounding his playing of the Moroccan gimbri – and that sound makes...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2026

Review of Spove

Spove

Spove

Spove

Rating: ★★★★

The Eurasian curlew (spove in Norwegian) migrates between Norway and Syria, bequeathing a perfect name for this Norwegian/Syrian group’s debut...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2026

Review of Be The Sky

Be The Sky

Tenzin Choegyal & Philip Glass

Top of the World

Orange Mountain Music

Rating: ★★★★

Be The Sky is a heartfelt tribute to the 90th birthday of H.H. the Dalai Lama by his...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2026

Review of Powder Keg

Powder Keg

Clémentine March

PRAH Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

It would be hard to accuse French-British singer Clémentine March’s music of lacking in character. Sung in a mixture of...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2026

Review of Symphony of Self

Symphony of Self

Gao Hong & Friends | Gao Hong

Naxos World

Rating: ★★★

Symphony of Self represents an incandescent display of talent and ambition from pipa maestra Gao Hong. Hong composes, arranges and...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2026

Review of Hourglass

Hourglass

Antibalas

Daptone

Rating: ★★★★

Second-wave Afrobeat pioneers Antibalas return with Hourglass, a vibrant, fully instrumental offering that sees the Brooklyn collective reconnect with their...

Reviewed in issue January/2026

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