Reviews
Tour of Japan
Japan’s min’yō folk tradition is rooted in the work songs of farmers, fishermen and miners who sang unaccompanied about their...
Reviewed by Liam Izod in issue: August/2025
Born in the City of Tanta: Lower Egyptian Urban Folklore and Bedouin Shaabi from Libya’s Bourini Records 1968–75
Seemingly a world removed from the lushly orchestrated, exquisitely tasteful music of state-approved Egyptian icons like Mohamed Abdel-Wahab and Oum...
Reviewed by Paul Bowler in issue: August/2025
Lek Mak: A Footprint From Bougainville / Hamoris Lian Timor: Reviving the Sound of Timor
These new ethnographic-oriented albums document recent Pacific projects initiated by Australian-based label Wantok Musik in the two formerly war-torn island...
Reviewed by Seth Jordan in issue: December/2025
Live in Somerset
Live in Somerset might not sound very rock‘n’roll. But Steve Knightley is a true stadium star of West Country venues...
Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: June/2011
Red Hot + Fela
This is the latest in the series of albums that the Red Hot organisation have released to raise money and...
Reviewed by Max Reinhardt in issue: Jan/Feb/2014
El Saxofón Humano
Fear not, listeners. Contrary to the impression created by his nickname, Aquilino Calzado González is not the even more irritating...
Reviewed by Philip Sweeney in issue: Apr/May/2015
Omara & Chucho
Omara Portuondo & Chucho Valdes
A simple and thoroughly effective record, bringing together Cuba's most eminent pianist and one of its redis– covered national-treasure vocalists,...
Reviewed by Philip Sweeney in issue: July/2011
Músicas Para Churrasco Vol 1
Seu Jorge's latest finds the Brazilian singer back doing what he does best. His previous record, a selection of rock-leaning...
Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: July/2012
Music of the Honey Gatherers
Paban Das Baul is the foremost ambassador of Baul, the roots music from Indian Bengal and Bangladesh. Baul musicians sing...
Reviewed by Ananya Jahanara Kabir in issue: June/2010
