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Review of The Ripple Effect

The Ripple Effect

Béla Fleck & Toumani Diabaté

Rounder Records Vinyl Only

Rating: ★★★★★

A dozen years ago, the American banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck took a journey across Africa to research the origins of...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: May/2020

Review of Working Hands

Working Hands

Jenna Reid

Lofoten Records

Rating: ★★★★

Shetland Islander Jenna Reid is often seen involved with Blazin' Fiddles and fiddle quartet Rant, but here she has regrouped...

Reviewed by Glenn Kimpton in issue: May/2019

Review of Egypt Noir

Egypt Noir

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Piranha CD-PIR2337

Rating: ★★★

The idea behind this album is to present the music of the Africans from the deserts that encompass most of...

Reviewed by Alastair Johnston in issue: July/2010

Review of GALW

GALW

Tinc y Tannau

Tinc y Tannau

Rating: ★★

You've heard freeform jazz. What about freeform, avant-garde, New Age, Welsh folk music? This debut from the duo Sianed Jones and...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: May/2019

Review of Istanbul: Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723)

Istanbul: Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723)

Jordi Savall & Hespérion XXI

Alia Vox AVSA9870SACD

Rating: ★★★★★

Inhabiting that intriguing territory between ‘early music’ and ‘ world music ’ Istanbul highlights the repertoire of the 18th century...

Reviewed by Neil van der Linden in issue: Apr/May/2010

Review of 21 Spices

21 Spices

Trilok Gurtu with Simon Phillips & NDR Big Band

MIG

Rating: ★★★

Setting aside his wonderfully adventurous series of world music fusions, 21 Spices finds Trilok Gurtu returning to his early jazz...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Apr/May/2011

Review of The Original Sound of Cumbia

The Original Sound of Cumbia

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Soundway

Rating: ★★★★

These two generous CDs of Colombian cumbia, remastered from 78s, 45s and 33rpm LPs, are glorious. The subtitle, The History...

Reviewed by Jan Fairley in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Mongolia: Kazakh Songs and Epic Traditions of the West

Mongolia: Kazakh Songs and Epic Traditions of the West

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Ocora

Rating: ★★★★

Ethnomusicologist Alain Desjacques made most of these field recordings of Kazakh, Uriangkhai and Zakhchin Mongol musicians in 1984, though some...

Reviewed by Michael Ormiston in issue: Apr/May/2011

Review of Ufulu 1991-1997

Ufulu 1991-1997

Katawa Singers

1000 HZ

Rating: ★★★

In urgent need of a bucketful of wholesome joy with none of the risks of eternal damnation? Katawa Singers have...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: May/2020

Review of Sudbina

Sudbina

Eva Salina & Peter Stan

Vogiton Records

Rating: ★★★

Vida Pavlović was one of the most highly regarded Roma singers to have existed, tragically dying before her time in...

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: June/2018

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