Reviews
So Kono
Salif Keita was supposed to have stopped recording. The singer-songwriter, nicknamed the ‘African Caruso’ and the ‘Golden Voice of Mali’,...
Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: May/2025
Remains to Be Scene
Not every bluegrass album starts with a cover of Ray Davies’ ‘Last of the Steam-Powered Trains’. But that’s part of...
Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: May/2025
Kembo
Jonathan Uliel Saldanha, a prolific linchpin producer of Nyege Nyege Tapes’ back catalogue, has combined with Kingdom Ulfame Choir, a...
Reviewed by Nik Hann in issue: May/2025
Son Con Guaguancó
To mark the centennial of Cuban legend Celia Cruz’ birth, Craft Latino is reissuing a series of classic recordings. Opening...
Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: May/2025
Mizik Maladi: Disques Debs International Vol 3
Henri Debs enjoyed an extraordinary career. Describing himself as “100% Guadeloupean, of Lebanese origin and French nationality”, he was born...
Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: May/2025
Maisha Ya Mtaani
Mchiriku is a style from the streets of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, based on circular riffs and chords played on...
Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: May/2025
At the Feet of the Beloved
The brothers Rizwan and Muazzam’s new album is very much in keeping with the Khan family tradition, notably that of...
Reviewed by Jameela Siddiqi in issue: May/2025
Matchless
Formed in 2005 under frontman Steve Lewis’ direction, Deep Cabaret are a shapeshifting group who’ve made a name plumbing the...
Reviewed by Olivia Cheves in issue: May/2025
Prelude to the Divine Realm
While the pipa lute and guqin zither are each highly respected and culturally representative instruments of traditional Chinese music, they’re...
Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: May/2025
