FONDATION SUISA, Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and artlink have put together an extensive 93-track spotify playlist to showcase Switzerland’s impressive music scene. Simon Broughton highlights some of his favourites.
The little-known Indonesian zither has a new champion determined to raise its profile. Aga Ujma speaks about her sail-powered instrument
Lockdown offered folk duo Jon Boden and John Spiers time to revisit some of the more joyful corners of the traditional English canon. They speak to Julian May about the resulting album and the process of working together again
Joachim Cooder’s most recent album recasts cuts from banjo player Uncle Dave Macon for a new generation. Jane Cornwell follows the lauded multi-instrumentalist along the path to archival reinvention
Fanfare Ciocărlia are the planet’s foremost Balkan brass band, soundtracking Guinness and Ikea ads, covered and copied, remixed and sampled, winning international awards and, night after night, taking their furious brass blast to the stage
The West African superstar talks about growing up in Benin, her various musical influences and her creative practice
Buena Vista Social Club made such an impact since its release that countless similar projects revisiting nostalgic styles or reforming veteran bands have followed in its wake. Simon Broughton selects the best of them
Simon Broughton surveys the impressive career and beguiling back catalogue of the classical Azeri singer Alim Qasimov, including his extensive collaborations with his daughter Fargana Qasimova
The US-based Indian singer combines her two loves, modular synths and Indian classical music, on debut album Under the Lilac Sky
A young throat singing trio from the mountainous Altai Republic are rapidly gaining a worldwide fanbase thanks to their online videos. Dan Shutt reports
Time to penetrate the otherworldly shamanic orbit of innovative Indonesian duo Senyawa, as the pair disclose the secrets behind their esoteric arsenal of homemade instrumentation
Jim Berenholz and Mazatl Galindo speak to Chris Moss about their 40-year-long mission to reanimate the lost sounds and instruments of ancient Mesoamerica
The perfect introduction to Fela Kuti – a true original: "Never have life, politics, art and music been so inextricably linked together in one incendiary, insurrectionary and highly danceable package"
Traditional Irish music is in fine fettle with a constant stream of fresh new talent emerging from the Emerald Isle. Here Michael Quinn introduces ten of his top Irish albums
The 16-piece are reclaiming Mande tradition and helping to educate their communities. Jane Cornwell catches up with bandleader Yahael Camara Onono
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