Thursday, January 26, 2023
The 10 Best New Albums from Around the World (March 2023)
Outstanding new albums from Lisa O’Neill, Guts, Orkestra Shkodra, Mostar Sevdah Reunion and more
All of these albums are reviewed in the March 2023 issue of Songlines, with one track from each album included on the cover-CD with the March issue. Never miss an issue – subscribe today
Guts
Estrellas Heavenly Sweetness
'Like a more funky, updated version of the original Buena Vista concept, and it works because the great cast were clearly enjoying themselves.' Robin Denselow
Mostar Sevdah Reunion
Lady Sings the Balkan Blues Snail Records
'The best track, and still fairly fresh to my jaded ears, is ‘Srdo Moja’, a rendition of an old anonymous Bosnian traditional, for some reason often passed over by most purveyors of the genre.' Robert Rigney
Raghunath Manet
Veena Dreams Plaza Mayor Company
'This is an album full of energy, something which you sense as soon as you are over the classically short alapana on the first track, ‘Veena Diamonds’. This is the longest track at 16 minutes and, from the moment the veena takes off one minute in, the pace and technique are dazzling.' Maria Lord
Lisa O’Neill
All of This Is Chance Rough Trade Records
'O’Neill's world view is as distinctive as her turf-coloured voice, and this album is a love song to the natural world and a lament for its despoilment. It's also the singer-songwriter's finest outing on disc to date.' Michael Quinn
Elise Boeur & Adam Iredale-Gray
Fiddle Tunes Fiddlehead Records
'This album's modest title reflects the pure reverence, unmitigated by contemporised showiness, with which these instrumentalists approach music from Ireland, France, Belgium, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the US and their native Canada.' Jeff Kaliss
Orkestra Shkodra
Like Nightingales in the Spring Oda 3
'Marked by long melodic spans and frequent, fluid changes of rhythm and tempo, these songs are barely known outside the country, and they well merit the splendid performances found on this recording from a band of veteran singers and musicians.' Kim Burton
Zène’T Panon
Maloya Malbar JuJu Sounds
'Their version of maloya (with its Creole chants and tray-like kayanm percussion instrument) not only comes invested with the rhythms of the Tamil (Malbar) ethnic group (played out on morlon, tarlon and malbar drums) but with the transformative fluidity typical of both Creole cultures and the electronic music scene.' Jane Cornwell
Russo Passapusso & Antonio Carlos e Jocafi
Alto da Maravilha Máquina de Louco
'It's hard to believe that Alto da Maravilha was recorded remotely during the pandemic, such is the alchemy on show here: we’ve got the bonhomie of a Tim Maia classic, the persuasive bass of a Bahia street party, and the most ridiculous assortment of grooves and vocal hooks around.' Russ Slater
Su-a Lee
Dialogues Sky Child Records
'Su-a Lee's cello provides the album's heart and is a thrilling, accomplished, and spirited sound. Dialogues is an enthralling release, celebrating the friendships born from musical collaboration.' Billy Rough
Baul Meets Saz
Banjara Uren Production
'With its flawless musicianship and impeccable central vocal performances, Banjara is a more than worthy continuation, and a masterful work of transcendental art.' Charlie Cawood
