Reviews

Azel

Bombino

The music of the Niger-born Touareg guitarist Omara ‘Bombino’ Moctar seems to have captured the imagination of the American indie-rock...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: May/2016

Suistamo Electricity

Suistamon Sähkö

This is a huge piece of theatre inspired by the history of the Karelian village of Suistamo, once part of...

Reviewed by Fiona Talkington in issue: May/2016

Amour Java

Denécheau Jâse Musette

A big welcome to the second ever record by this admirable Parisian combo, rushed out to capitalise on the success...

Reviewed by Philip Sweeney in issue: May/2016

Highland Time

Sketch

Opener ‘After the Storm’ shows where we’re heading: a crisp rhythm track overlaid with pipes and fiddle and a deranged...

Reviewed by Andrew Mcgregor in issue: May/2016

Havana Club Rumba Sessions

Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band

Beginning with the evocative, unaccompanied beat of the wooden clavé, the base of all rumba – an elemental Cuban genre...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: May/2016

Our Story

Hawa Dafi

It's not every day that an album arrives with a covering letter that announces ‘Hello, we are a band from...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: May/2016

Behave the Bravest

Nuala Kennedy

Can Nuala Kennedy really be celebrating ten years as a solo artist? It is hard to believe, but Behave the...

Reviewed by Billy Rough in issue: May/2016

The James Brothers

The James Brothers

Australian James Fagan and New Zealander Jamie McClennan's debut album was recorded in Scotland and mastered in Nashville. These songs,...

Reviewed by Tony Gillam in issue: May/2016

1001

Full Attack Band

The pace is frenetic from the off, but there's something more in the mix than just the usual racing rhythm...

Reviewed by Howard Male in issue: May/2016

Mazel Tov!

Les Nuages Ensemble

Klezmer comes in all shapes and sizes and this band is no exception – a group of Italian women with...

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: May/2016