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Reviews

Review of Hayti Lives

Hayti Lives

Vox Sambou

Delicious Tunes

Rating: ★★★

Haiti-born, Montreal-based Vox Sambou co-founded acclaimed Canadian hip-hop collective Nomadic Massive in 2004, while also launching a parallel solo career...

Reviewed in issue August/2025

Review of It’s Been a Long, Long Time

It’s Been a Long, Long Time

Rose Room

Rose Room

Rating: ★★★

As the title of their fourth full-length suggests, it been too long since we had an album by Scotland’s premier...

Reviewed in issue August/2025

Review of Give Water to Birds

Give Water to Birds

Zöj

Top of the World

Parenthèses Records

Rating: ★★★★

Zöj are an intriguing Australian band who defy easy categorisation. Their name means ‘Couple’ in Farsi; they started as a...

Reviewed in issue August/2025

Review of MEL

MEL

Efrén López, Ciro Montanari & Jordi Prats

Worlds Within Worlds

Rating: ★★★★

A welcome return for Spanish/Italian trio, Efrén López, Ciro Montanari and Jordi Prats, who play rabab (Afghan lute), tabla (hand...

Reviewed in issue August/2025

Review of Northern Rhapsody

Northern Rhapsody

Eishan Ensemble

ACEL Productions

Rating: ★★★★

Led by Persian tar virtuoso and composer Hamed Sadeghi, Sydney-based jazz quartet Eishan Ensemble return with their fourth album –...

Reviewed in issue August/2025

Review of Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic XVII: Gnawa World Blues

Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic XVII: Gnawa World Blues

Majid Bekkas with Nguyên Lê, Hamid Drake

ACT Music

Rating: ★★

Gimbri and oud player Bekkas, guitarist Lê and drummer Drake: each has an extensive CV of collaboration through and between...

Reviewed in issue August/2025

Review of Àse

Àse

BOM

Paper Recordings

Rating: ★★★

From British electronic dance music specialists, Den Davis and Tom Lonsborough, here’s a cheerfully varied and upbeat African-influenced set named...

Reviewed in issue July/2025

Review of Stealing Time

Stealing Time

Matthew Byrne

Matthew Byrne

Rating: ★★★★

I rarely use the phrase ‘golden voice’, but on this new album from Newfoundland folk singer Matthew Byrne, his voice...

Reviewed in issue July/2025

Review of Darrere els Horts/Behind the Orchards

Darrere els Horts/Behind the Orchards

Ferran Orriols

Great Canyon Records

Rating: ★★★★

In the liner notes to Catalan singer-songwriter Ferran Orriols’ second album, Darrere els Horts, what stands out is the sheer...

Reviewed in issue July/2025

Review of Divergence

Divergence

Freya Rae

Mere Cat Records

Rating: ★★★★

Scottish multi-instrumentalist Freya Rae’s new album, Divergence, is a stirring collection of self-composed tunes that riff on traditional sets and...

Reviewed in issue July/2025

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