Reviews

Tension

Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra

As the father of Ethio-jazz, the Ethiopian multi-instrumentalist and composer Mulatu Astatke has carved out a unique musical path. On...

Reviewed in issue January/2025

Dima Libre

Labess

This is the fifth album in the lengthy career of a group led by Algerian singer-songwriter, Nedjim Bouizzoul. Having migrated...

Reviewed in issue January/2025

Wani

Peni Candra Rini

Wani showcases an explosive collision between traditional Indonesian forms and Western instrumentation. It’s a daring and highly experimental project glued...

Reviewed in issue January/2025

Dar Disku

Dar Disku

Dar Disku’s debut album aims to blend the vibrant sounds of Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) with modern electro,...

Reviewed in issue January/2025

Golden Age

Gitkin

Any album that cites influences as diverse as swamp jazz, Malian desert rock, Peru’s psychedelic chicha music and ‘master of...

Reviewed in issue January/2025

DJAM!

DJAM!

The two musicians who make up DJAM! have both featured separately in recent issues of Songlines. The Dutch guitarist Joep...

Reviewed in issue January/2025

Seiras

Timo Alakotila & Yuka Fujino

Finnish piano and harmonium virtuoso Timo Alakotila and the illustrious Tokyo-based accordionist Yuka Fujino unite in Seiras, a captivating blend...

Reviewed in issue January/2025

Chromesthesia: The Colour of Sound Vol 1

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Chromesthesia: The Colour of Sound Vol 1, curated by British-Egyptian historian Hannah Elsisi, is a powerful compilation showcasing Afro-descendant electronic...

Reviewed in issue January/2025

Starlings

Dekel

Singer-songwriter Dekel’s latest release is a self-proclaimed cultural smorgasbord, rich in Eastern European sounds and old Jewish melodies. Reflecting Dekel’s...

Reviewed in issue January/2025

Flock II

Flock

There’s a right-to-fail clause inherent in all experimental music. Pushing at boundaries needs to involve mistakes, doubt in the creative...

Reviewed in issue January/2025