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Reviews

Review of A Dotted Line

A Dotted Line

Nickel Creek

Top of the World

Nonesuch Records

Rating: ★★★★

A quarter-century after capturing the imagination of the bluegrass community as pre-teen prodigies, Chris Thile (mandolin/vocals), Sara Watkins (fiddle/vocals) and...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: June/2014

Review of Casa de Trova: Cuba 50s

Casa de Trova: Cuba 50s

Alejandro Almenares

Tumi Music (2 CDs)

Rating: ★★★

A decade or so ago, this album would have been one among dozens. With the decline of the CD trade,...

Reviewed by Philip Sweeney in issue: June/2014

Review of Cape Jazz Series Vol 4: Musical Democracy

Cape Jazz Series Vol 4: Musical Democracy

The Cape Jazz Band

Mountain Records

Rating: ★★★

It would be crass to call the Cape Jazz Band ‘South Africa’s Buena Vista Social Club.’ But somebody’s got to...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2014

Review of Soô

Soô

Habib Koité

Top of the World

Contre-Jour

Rating: ★★★★★

Perhaps it was recording 2012’s Brothers in Bamako with the American bluesman Eric Bibb that persuaded Habib Koité it was...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2014

Review of Safar

Safar

Imed Alibi

Top of the World

IRL Records

Rating: ★★★★

Here comes another new project from the new Tunisia. Except it is not quite the new Tunisia, but rather, the...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: June/2014

Review of La Vendange

La Vendange

La Très Illustre Compagnie du Chat Noir

Coast to Coast

Rating: ★★★

This weird and wonderful project is the brainchild of three Dutch musicians – Marijn de Valk, Rik Bosch and Daan...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: June/2014

Review of La Tsadika

La Tsadika

Mor Karbasi

Gibraltar Productions

Rating: ★★★★

I reviewed Mor Karbasi’s debut album The Beauty and the Sea five years ago with heady enthusiasm. Her vibrant vocal...

Reviewed by Dennis Marks in issue: June/2014

Review of A Long Way to the Beginning

A Long Way to the Beginning

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

Knitting Factory

Rating: ★★★★

From the moment that the pounding album opener ‘IMF’ kicks in, it is clear that Seun Kuti has not only...

Reviewed by Edward Lander in issue: June/2014

Review of Tambutronic

Tambutronic

Kuenta i Tambú

Jiga Musica

Rating: ★★★★★

Meaning ‘stories and drums’ in Papiamento, the native language of the Dutch Caribbean, the five- piece Kuenta i Tambú were...

Reviewed by Andy Thomas in issue: June/2014

Review of E-and’a

E-and’a

Darol Anger

Adventure Music

Rating: ★★

At the risk of sounding like a reverse snob, it seems to be a rule of thumb now that if...

Reviewed by Matthew Milton in issue: June/2014

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