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Reviews

Review of Turnar

Turnar

Hekla

Phantom Limb

Rating: ★★★

Named for the medieval French castle tower in which it was partly recorded, Turnar is the third album from Icelandic...

Reviewed by Olivia Cheves in issue: May/2025

Review of Tatekieto

Tatekieto

PulciPerla

Prado Records / Cie Pulcinella / The Pusher

Rating: ★★★

What’s in a name? PulciPerla is the marriage of two long-standing groups: the high-energy Toulouse quartet of drums, bass, accordion...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: May/2025

Review of Live in the Khaleej!

Live in the Khaleej!

Ghazi Faisal Al-Mulaifi & Boom.Diwan with Arturo O’Farrill

Boom.Diwan

Rating: ★★★★

This project is inspired by Al-Mulaifi’s grandfather, one of the last of a generation of Kuwaiti master pearl divers, and...

Reviewed by Tom Spargo in issue: May/2025

Review of Sunce Te Gleda

Sunce Te Gleda

Donja Jeka

Donja Jeka

Rating: ★★★

With a title translating as ‘Sun is Looking at You’, the album cover hints that this is a sequence of...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: May/2025

Review of Una Oportunidad Más de Triunfar en la Vida

Una Oportunidad Más de Triunfar en la Vida

Los Pirañas

Glitterbeat

Rating: ★★★

The tireless and protean Eblis Álvarez is back in another form. The Meridian Brothers artist hitches up with Mario Galeano...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: May/2025

Review of Kiniata

Kiniata

Kin’Gongolo Kiniata

Hélico

Rating: ★★★★

Kinshasa is surely one of the world’s most exciting musical cities, and Kin’Gongolo Kiniata are the latest proponents of that...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: May/2025

Review of Senu Mi Venu Mi

Senu Mi Venu Mi

VS Tempet + Điger

Own label

Rating: ★★★

Described as “Croatian traditional singing with modern musical sound” and “fresh interpretations of Croatian musical heritage”, this is an album...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: May/2025

Review of Ritual

Ritual

Rita Donte

Ansonia Records

Rating: ★★★★

Links between Cuba and Mexico go back a long time: there is evidence of multiple prehistoric population movements. On Ritual,...

Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: May/2025

Review of Roi De L’Agbadja Moderne 1974–1983

Roi De L’Agbadja Moderne 1974–1983

Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes

Analog Africa / Modulor

Rating: ★★★★★

Best known as the lead singer of salsa legends Africando between 1996 and his death in 2004, Gnonnas Pedro was...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: May/2025

Review of Journeys

Journeys

Brian Molley Quartet & The Asin Langa Ensemble

BGMM Records

Rating: ★★★

This record deepens the engagement of Scottish saxophonist Molley with Indian music. On 2022’s Intercontinental, Molley’s focus was on Tamil...

Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: May/2025

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