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Reviews

Review of Ananda Shankar and His Music

Ananda Shankar and His Music

Ananda Shankar

Mr Bongo

Rating: ★★★★

Originally released in 1976, this album by Indian sitarist Shankar would later find cult popularity in the 90s UK rare...

Reviewed by Charlie Cawood in issue: February/March/2025

Review of Maouzoun

Maouzoun

Maouzoun

Fiol

Rating: ★★★

Norway’s Inger Hannisdal grew up playing classical violin and a little jazz on the side before studying Arabic music at...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: February/March/2025

Review of A Dance More Sweetly Played

A Dance More Sweetly Played

Kyle Shepherd Trio

Matsuli Music

Rating: ★★★★

It’s rare, as a reviewer, to be sent an album you’ll have on repeat. A Dance Sweetly Played is such...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: February/March/2025

Review of Temple of Hope

Temple of Hope

Saba Alizadeh

30M Records

Rating: ★★★★

How can a sense of beauty be found amid fear and cruelty? Saba Alizadeh, on his third album now, continues...

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: February/March/2025

Review of Songs of the Rising Sun

Songs of the Rising Sun

WSPAK

Fortune

Rating: ★★★

WSPAK is Polish duo Adrianna (Ada) Kafel-Woźniak and Aleksandra (Ola) Pura-Cidyło from Białystok in the north-east of the country. They...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: February/March/2025

Review of End of the Middle

End of the Middle

Richard Dawson

Domino Records

Rating: ★★★★

Richard Dawson’s ability to squeeze complex multi-character storytelling into stripped-back folk songs has seen the Newcastle native earn the title...

Reviewed by Olivia Cheves in issue: February/March/2025

Review of Ponda

Ponda

Patrick Bebey

Africa Seven

Rating: ★★★★

With Ponda, Cameroonian pianist and singer Patrick Bebey delivers a record that seamlessly fuses jazz, African tradition and Western folk...

Reviewed by Andrew Taylor-Dawson in issue: February/March/2025

Review of Entre Tus Flores

Entre Tus Flores

Miramar

Ansonia Records

Rating: ★★★

Miramar – Reinaldo ‘Rei’ Alvarez, Laura Ann Singh and Marlysse Simmons – are a Puerto Rican-US trio specialising in bolero,...

Reviewed by Huw Hennessy in issue: February/March/2025

Review of Tears of Injustice

Tears of Injustice

Mdou Moctar

Matador Records

Rating: ★★★

Mdou Moctar, dubbed ‘the Hendrix of the Sahara’ for his blistering electric guitar riffs, has, on this acoustic companion piece...

Reviewed by Russell Higham in issue: February/March/2025

Review of Slåtter på Kontrabass

Slåtter på Kontrabass

Håkon Thelin

Motvind Records

Rating: ★★★★

The title is simple – Folk Tunes for Double Bass – but the concept is not. For solo double bass…...

Reviewed by Fiona Talkington in issue: February/March/2025

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