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Reviews

Review of Haf

Haf

Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18

Bubblewrap Collective

Rating: ★★★★

A third album in little more than a year from the Welsh samba ensemble is an impressive enough achievement, even...

Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: April/2026

Review of O Que Mais Você Quer Saber De Mim

O Que Mais Você Quer Saber De Mim

Dorea

Ajabu!

Rating: ★★★

How can this Bahian folk-MPB songwriter differentiate himself from his contemporaries on his second album, when there are many others...

Reviewed by Andy Cumming in issue: April/2026

Review of Owelu Dreamhouse

Owelu Dreamhouse

Owelu Dreamhouse

HopeStreet Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

Owelu Dreamhouse is a collaborative project masterminded by vocalist Nkechi Anele and multi-instrumentalist and arranger Nic Ryan-Glenie, both formerly of...

Reviewed by Andrew Taylor-Dawson in issue: April/2026

Review of SafarNameh

SafarNameh

Ziya Tabassian

Ziya Tabassian

Rating: ★★

Ziya Tabassian is an Iranian-born percussionist based in Canada. His main instrument is the tombak, the Persian goblet-shaped drum on...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: April/2026

Review of Los Costureros

Los Costureros

Los Costureros

Los Costureros

Rating: ★★★★

From Devon comes an unlikely, charming and impressive Spanish-Brazilian fusion album. Los Costureros (Spanish for ‘the tailors’ – they feature...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: April/2026

Review of Magic Accident

Magic Accident

Della Mae

Compass Records

Rating: ★★★

It’s time to start leaving out the “all-female band” tag when referring to Della Mae. While their critical role as...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: April/2026

Review of Forgive Us For

Forgive Us For

Kronos Quartet

Phenotypic Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

After more than 50 years, Kronos Quartet are still presenting more thought-provoking music than any other string quartet in the...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: April/2026

Review of Galaxia Tropical

Galaxia Tropical

Ranil y Su Conjunto Tropical

Analog Africa

Rating: ★★★★

This is Analog Africa’s eagerly anticipated second volume of works by Jorge Raúl Llerena Vásquez, the legendary cumbia singer and...

Reviewed by Chris Wheatley in issue: April/2026

Review of Working in Wood

Working in Wood

Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow

Red Guitar Blue Music

Rating: ★★★

Don’t get me wrong: this album’s fine. It’s well-played, pleasant to listen to and seems to have its heart in...

Reviewed by Paul Slade in issue: April/2026

Review of Let Us Clap

Let Us Clap

Lamisi

Top of the World

Real World Records

Rating: ★★★★

Lamisi is a singer-songwriter from Accra with roots in the Upper East Region of northern Ghana. The project’s musical director...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: April/2026

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