Reviews
Sixty/Black to the Future/Notes of Life
With Masekela's live dates cancelled while he recovers from prostate cancer, this budget-price reissue of a trio of classic albums...
Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2018
Mali Foli Coura
This appears to be a studio session, cut live without overdubs or technical tampering. It's a fierce modern take on...
Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2018
Kebrada
Elida Almeida is a 24-year-old Cape Verdean singer, who made a strong impression with her 2015 debut album, Ora Doci,...
Reviewed in issue December/2017
The Original Sound of Burkina Faso
Bordered by Mali, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Niger, and with a population that spans some 60 different...
Reviewed in issue December/2017
Toy Raha Toy
Toko Telo means ‘Group of Three’ in Malagasy and the band is a trio of Madagascar's top-level talent: D'Gary, Monika...
Reviewed in issue December/2017
Gnawa or Never
Maalem Said Damir & Gnawa Allstars
It is difficult to record Gnawa music well – the sonic mix of the gimbri's (lute) deep bass and the...
Reviewed in issue December/2017
The Rough Guide to the Music of West Africa
This latest update to the Rough Guide series of explorations of West African music serves as a useful reminder of...
Reviewed in issue December/2017
No Borders
At 78 years young, Masekela sounds as fiercely committed and as vibrant as ever on what is the 44th album...
Reviewed in issue December/2017
Unlearning/Open Letter to Adoniah
The credits on this double album by the young dreadlocked South African jazz guitarist and singer contain the intriguing line:...
Reviewed in issue November/2017
