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Reviews

Review of Keys

Keys

Nathan Bowles & Bill MacKay

Drag City Records

Rating: ★★★★

What a magical mix of thrumming and twanging strings, imaginative songwriting and improvisational prowess is Keys, the debut album by...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: June/2021

Review of A Gathering of Strangers 2021

A Gathering of Strangers 2021

Transglobal Underground & Our European Friends

Mule Satellite

Rating: ★★★

A Gathering of Strangers first saw light in 2010 when it was released by a pan-EU collective headed by dubtronic...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: June/2021

Review of Pachanga Time

Pachanga Time

Charanga del Norte

Charanga del Norte

Rating: ★★★★

With its gorgeous retro cover art and deliberate golden-age smarts ­ Side A was recorded using ribbon microphone technology –...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: June/2021

Review of With Love

With Love

wewantsounds

Rating: ★★★★

Egyptian-born Omar Khorshid was one of the finest guitarists in the Arab world, accompanying the likes of Oum Kalthoum at...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: May/2021

Review of Immigrants

Immigrants

Nitin Sawhney

Sony Masterworks

Rating: ★★★★★

When Songlines interviewed Nitin Sawhney in October 2019, he discussed the 20th anniversary of his landmark 1999 album Beyond Skin...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: May/2021

Review of Ek

Ek

Manika Kaur

Six Degrees Records

Rating: ★★★

Manika Kaur specialises in kirtan, the main communal ritual of the Sikh religion that entails the practice of singing mystical...

Reviewed by Jameela Siddiqi in issue: May/2021

Review of Dancing Tunes

Dancing Tunes

Edward II

Cadiz Music

Rating: ★★★

In their 1990s heyday, the Mancunian roots band combining Caribbean rhythms with traditional British folk songs were a global fixture...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: May/2021

Review of Super Somali Sounds from the Gulf of Tadjoura

Super Somali Sounds from the Gulf of Tadjoura

4 Mars

Ostinato Records

Rating: ★★★★

As part of their ongoing relationship with Radiodiffusion-Télévision de Djibouti, Ostinato Records launch the initial instalment of their new Djibouti...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: May/2021

Review of Sol Aurorae

Sol Aurorae

Vassilis Philippou

Vassilis Philippou

Rating: ★★★★

Here Cypriot vocalist and percussionist Vassilis Philippou has put together an excellent first album, embedded firmly in the traditions of...

Reviewed by Maria Lord in issue: May/2021

Review of They’re Calling Me Home

They’re Calling Me Home

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

Top of the World

Nonesuch Records

Rating: ★★★★★

Rhiannon Giddens is incapable of producing an album that is not simultaneously a fascinating musical education and deeply enjoyable listening...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: May/2021

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