Reviews

Kijombo

Yasser Thejeda & Palotré

One might start by pointing out that the musicianship on this recording, the second from this joint Dominican and New...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

The Quintessence

Yma Sumac

Some superstars travel at light speed into obscurity. Peruvian singer Yma Sumac died as recently as 2008, aged 86. Her...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Calypso Travels

Lord Invader & His Calypso Group

One of three initial releases in the Smithsonian Folkways Vinyl Reissue Series, Calypso Travels features native Trinidadian Lord Invader (born...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Braziliance!

Marcos Valle

‘First came Gilberto, then Jobim, and now MARCOS VALLE BRAZILIANCE!’ runs the breathless blurb on the original sleeve of this...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Galactic Gala

Silla + Rise

Mixing century-old traditional vocals with the latest sonic technology has always been an attractive yet dangerous musical venture. More often...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Sombras

OKAN

The Afro-Cuban roots group OKAN present their first full-length release of jazz-influenced music paying tribute to the sonic traditions of...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

The Rough Guide to Blues Divas

VARIOUS ARTISTS

The stereotypical image of the early blues pioneers as black itinerant males playing bottleneck guitar on the plantations of the...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Birds

Da Lata

Can that be the sweet sound of spring? On the strength of this fourth album by beloved London-based tropicalistas Da...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

The Rough Guide to Blues Divas

VARIOUS ARTISTS

The stereotypical image of the early blues pioneers as black itinerant males playing bottleneck guitar on the plantations of the...

Reviewed in issue April/2020

Back to Sustain

The Pine Hearts

Like a light hike on an easy trail on a sunny spring afternoon, The Pine Hearts' fourth studio album doesn't...

Reviewed in issue April/2020