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Review of Into the Loam

Into the Loam

Cormac Begley & Liam O’Connor

Cormac Begley

Rating: ★★★★

From the first opening notes of ‘Ryan’s Rant’, it’s clear this is an unusual take on Irish trad. Into the...

Reviewed by Devon Léger in issue: April/2026

Review of Ragna

Ragna

Ragna

GO Danish Folkmusic

Rating: ★★★★

The Danish revival powers on with the new trio Ragna, fronted by Stine Elbæk on vocals/violin, Carina Juul Birch on...

Reviewed by James Rorison in issue: April/2026

Review of SafarNameh

SafarNameh

Ziya Tabassian

Ziya Tabassian

Rating: ★★

Ziya Tabassian is an Iranian-born percussionist based in Canada. His main instrument is the tombak, the Persian goblet-shaped drum on...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: April/2026

Review of Eternal Birth

Eternal Birth

Eliza Marshall

One World Records

Rating: ★★★★

Eliza Marshall has enjoyed a remarkable career. Go-to flautist for many leading folk and pop musicians and orchestras, she’s played...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: April/2026

Review of Istanbul Sessions: Mahalle

Istanbul Sessions: Mahalle

Ilhan Ersahin

Nublu Records

Rating: ★★★★

Here’s the sixth studio LP by Istanbul Sessions, the collective assembled by Turkish tenor saxophonist and Nublu empire-founder Ilhan Ersahin....

Reviewed by Martin Longley in issue: April/2026

Review of Humanicity

Humanicity

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & ERM

ERM

Rating: ★★

The Upsetter is back, and this time he's wearing a curly yellow clown's wig and sounding as if he's left...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Keep Hauling (Music from the Movie)

Keep Hauling (Music from the Movie)

Fisherman's Friends

Island Records

Rating: ★★★★

Thirty years ago a group of friends – some actually fishermen – got together on the Platt (the hard ground...

Reviewed by Julian May in issue: May/2019

Review of 968 CR13

968 CR13

Massilia Sound System

Le Chant du Monde

Rating: ★★★★

Massilia Sound System surged out of the 80s underground party scene in Marseille. They're the group that pretty much single-handedly...

Reviewed by Ed Stocker in issue: March/2013

Review of Sanguis Meus, Mama!

Sanguis Meus, Mama!

Ilkka Heinonen Trio | Pekko Käppi & K:H:H:L

GAEA Records

Rating: ★★

You’ve got to admire the Finns. They revive one of the world's most unpromising instruments – the jouhikko, a rather...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: Aug/Sep/2015

Review of I Speak Luganda

I Speak Luganda

Joel Sebunjo

Multicultural Media

Rating: ★★★

The endongo is an eight-stringed lyre from the area around the Great Lakes in East Africa. Joel Sebunjo has performed...

Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: Aug/Sep/2015

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