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Reviews

Review of We Can Be Anyone

We Can Be Anyone

Open String Department

Just for the Records

Rating: ★★★★

A road-trip through Appalachia in 2012 cemented the musical relationship between three Norwegian students just out of the Trondheim Jazz...

Reviewed by Fiona Talkington in issue: April/2026

Review of Canes of Karabakh

Canes of Karabakh

Canes of Karabakh

Rozdroża

Rating: ★★★★

The best reeds for the duduk, an Armenian woodwind instrument and a symbol of Armenian culture, are made from cane...

Reviewed by Michał Wieczorek in issue: April/2026

Review of Music From Somewhere Else: The Enclosure

Music From Somewhere Else: The Enclosure

Stuart Ironside

Stuart Ironside

Rating: ★★★★

Currently based in Estonia, British guitarist and ethnomusicologist Stuart Ironside is a graduate of SOAS who blends his classical technique...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: April/2026

Review of Nineteen Seventy Seven

Nineteen Seventy Seven

Grupo Um

Far Out Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

A second lost album of jazz fusion recorded during the military dictatorship by the ever-influential Grupo Um. Expanding from a...

Reviewed by Andy Cumming in issue: April/2026

Review of Ragna

Ragna

Ragna

GO Danish Folkmusic

Rating: ★★★★

The Danish revival powers on with the new trio Ragna, fronted by Stine Elbæk on vocals/violin, Carina Juul Birch on...

Reviewed by James Rorison in issue: April/2026

Review of Zagate

Zagate

Souad Massi

Top of the World

BackingTrack Production

Rating: ★★★★

Souad Massi is moving on, yet again. Originally famed for her exquisite, folk-country influenced sad ballads in Arabic and French,...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: April/2026

Review of Vitamina Y

Vitamina Y

Yilian Cañizares

Yilian Cañizares

Rating: ★★★★

Described by Chucho Valdés no less as “a virtuoso”, the Switzerland-based, Cuban-born singer and violinist’s album, Erzulie, received five stars...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: April/2026

Review of Balafon Evolution

Balafon Evolution

Aly Keïta Trio

One World Records

Rating: ★★★★

Hailing from Côte d’Ivoire but now based in Berlin, we first came across the balafon player Aly Keïta as part...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: April/2026

Review of Başka Bahar

Başka Bahar

Umut Adan & Zebânis

Six Degrees

Rating: ★★★★

Over the last decade, there’s been a slew of European bands – often including a Turkish member – who’ve drawn...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: April/2026

Review of Where We Go

Where We Go

Jesse Appelman

Top of the World

Jesse Appelman

Rating: ★★★★

Leaving behind a career in non-profits to pursue music full-time, with his new album, Where We Go, California native mandolinist...

Reviewed by Devon Léger in issue: April/2026

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