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Review of The Father of Libyan Reggae

The Father of Libyan Reggae

Ibrahim Hesnawi

Habibi Funk

Rating: ★★★★

Often artists may be hailed as originators of a certain musical style when actually, it’s a matter of taste and/or...

Reviewed by Max Reinhardt in issue: December/2023

Review of Black Beauty

Black Beauty

Allen Kwela

Matsuli Music

Rating: ★★★★

Originally released on the Soweto label back in 1975, Black Beauty is a classic album of early South African township...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: December/2023

Review of Guajiro Sonero

Guajiro Sonero

José Alberto ‘El Ruiseñor’

Tumi Music

Rating: ★★★

José Alberto, nicknamed ‘The Nightingale’ to distinguish him from the other José Alberto, ‘The Canary’, is from Bayamo in Eastern...

Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: December/2023

Review of Me Chama de Gato Que Eu Sou Sua

Me Chama de Gato Que Eu Sou Sua

Ana Frango Elétrico

Mr Bongo

Rating: ★★★

A pleasant surprise that the ‘electric chicken’ follows up their Latin Grammy-nominated second LP with an album full of upbeat...

Reviewed by Andy Cumming in issue: December/2023

Review of Sones de Mariachi

Sones de Mariachi

Mariachi Los Comperos

Smithsonian Folkways

Rating: ★★★

Mariachi music, removed from the mezcal-sipping, ant-eating cantinas of its homeland, still has the power to entertain and surprise. Its...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: April/2024

Review of Diamond Days

Diamond Days

Brooks Williams

Red Guitar Blue Music

Rating: ★★★

Diamond Days may be his first solo album in four years but Brooks Williams is no slouch. Since 2020’s Work...

Reviewed by Tony Gillam in issue: April/2024

Review of Martin Carthy

Martin Carthy

Martin Carthy

Topic Records

Rating: ★★★★★

This seminal 1965 debut from the godfather of the 60s English folk revival is reissued on vinyl as part of...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: April/2024

Review of Out of the Ashes

Out of the Ashes

Julie Abbé

Julie Abbé

Rating: ★★★★

Folk, blues, swing, world music and jazz combine to weave their trade winds across UK-based French singer Julie Abbé’s fine...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: May/2024

Review of Flexūs

Flexūs

La Viu-viu

Segell Microscopi

Rating: ★★★

This album was apparently inspired by labyrinths, whether ‘imagined… astronomical… constructed… danced [or] natural …. and especially the mineral labyrinth...

Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: May/2024

Review of Mama Africa

Mama Africa

Miriam Makeba

Milan Records

Rating: ★★★★★

Ignore the title. For although Makeba – who died in 2008 aged 76 – richly deserved the ‘Mama Africa’ soubriquet,...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: July/2015

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