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Reviews

Review of Roots Rocking Zimbabwe: The Modern Sound of Harare’ Townships 1975-1980

Roots Rocking Zimbabwe: The Modern Sound of Harare’ Townships 1975-1980

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Analog Africa

Rating: ★★★★

Music scenes are strange things, ephemeral and unpredictable. The right confluence of history, politics, culture, migrations, community, geography, trends, hard...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: June/2025

Review of El Errante

El Errante

El Balcón

elbalcón

Rating: ★★★★

On their latest album, Montréal’s El Balcón have delivered a dynamite collection of self-written songs seamlessly blending lead singer Valeria’s...

Reviewed by Justin Turford in issue: June/2025

Review of Nouse Luonto – Songs of Nordic Biodiversity

Nouse Luonto – Songs of Nordic Biodiversity

VARIOUS ARTISTS | Various Artists

Nordic Notes

Rating: ★★★★

In Finland, where nature is often on your doorstep, an estimated one in nine species is endangered. Nouse Luonto is...

Reviewed by Merlyn Driver in issue: June/2025

Review of Hyldon JID023

Hyldon JID023

Hyldon & Adrian Younge

Jazz is Dead

Rating: ★★★

Younge’s output is so prolific that it must be difficult to maintain the quality, especially when he plays virtually all...

Reviewed by Andy Cumming in issue: June/2025

Review of Kotiin

Kotiin

Anne-Mari Kivimäki | Anne-Mari Kivimäki & Palomylly

Rockadillo Records

Rating: ★★★

Recorded across Finland, Estonia and Iceland, Kotiin (Homeward) blends Kivimäki’s hypnotic accordion with regional instruments such as the kantele (zither)...

Reviewed by Mateusz Dobrowolski in issue: June/2025

Review of Our Boys Are Doing It

Our Boys Are Doing It

Dennis Mpale (feat Kippie Moketsi)

As Shams / We Are Busy Bodies

Rating: ★★★★★

First issued locally in 1977, Our Boys Are Doing It was trumpeter Dennis Mpale’s first solo album, although by then...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2025

Review of Tremendo Caché

Tremendo Caché

Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco

Craft Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

Re-released and remastered on vinyl for its 50th anniversary, Tremendo Caché marked the second of a string of collaborations between...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: June/2025

Review of Bhangra Rangeela

Bhangra Rangeela

Red Baraat

Sinj Records

Rating: ★★★★

Red Baraat, the Brooklyn-based South Asian brass band with a list of great albums over the years, hardly need any...

Reviewed by Maria Lord in issue: June/2025

Review of Dicen que la Muerte murió

Dicen que la Muerte murió

Sonoras Mil

Felipe Gómez Ossa

Rating: ★★★★

With so many musical influences from all over the world, it’s hard to know where to start with this four-piece...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: June/2025

Review of The Wind

The Wind

Simin Tander

Jazzland Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

German Jazz vocalist and composer Simin Tander explores a plethora of folkloric traditions – in particular those of Spain, Italy,...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: June/2025

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