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Reviews

Review of Clandestino/Bloody Border

Clandestino/Bloody Border

Manu Chao

Top of the World

Because Music

Rating: ★★★★★

There are plenty of great albums that seem to define a moment in time but, as the zeitgeist moves on,...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: October/2019

Review of Border Woods

Border Woods

Frode Haltli

Hubro

Rating: ★★★★

The Norwegian accordionist Frode Haltli follows 2018's excellent Avant Folk album with this much smaller quartet formation. There are two...

Reviewed by Martin Longley in issue: October/2019

Review of Puro Tayta Shanti

Puro Tayta Shanti

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Little Axe Records VINYL & DIGITAL ONLY

Rating: ★★★★

From the first moments of this compilation, it's impossible not to feel transported to another plane. The repetitive, hammering bass...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: October/2019

Review of Engine 54

Engine 54

The Ethiopians

Dr Bird

Rating: ★★★★

The Ethiopians were among the first Jamaican artists to signal their pride in Africa. They then achieved the remarkable feat...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: October/2019

Review of Da Hora

Da Hora

Vitto Meirelles

Cooking Vinyl

Rating: ★★★

The ten seconds of ghostly harmonium that comprises this album's prelude comes courtesy of iconic French actor Denis Lavant (as...

Reviewed by Brendon Griffin in issue: October/2019

Review of Liag

Liag

Dermot Byrne, Éamonn Coyne, John Doyle

eamonncoyne.com

Rating: ★★★★

Here's something to relish: three musicians at the top of their games – Dermot Byrne (accordion), Éamonn Coyne (tenor banjo),...

Reviewed by Michael Quinn in issue: October/2019

Review of La Mélancolie Royale

La Mélancolie Royale

Kudsi Erguner

Seyir Muzik

Rating: ★★★

Anyone who has visited the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul will know what a monstrous mess was created by the Ottomans...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: October/2019

Review of Karsilama

Karsilama

Abdo Buda Marconi

Felmay

Rating: ★★★

From a Turkish word meaning ‘meeting’ or ‘welcome’ comes the title of this resolutely acoustic album. The trio, based on...

Reviewed by Francesco Martinelli in issue: October/2019

Review of Clint Eastwood/Many Moods of the Upsetters

Clint Eastwood/Many Moods of the Upsetters

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters

Dr Bird

Rating: ★★★

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry needs little introduction, being both a celebrated pioneer and producer of Jamaican music and an in-demand performer...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: October/2019

Review of 1990

1990

Szászcsávás Band

Fonó Records

Rating: ★★★★

The village of Szászcsávás in Romania only has 1,000 inhabitants, but its fame far outweighs its size thanks to its...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: October/2019

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