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Review of Kaléidoscope

Kaléidoscope

Fanga

Boomerang Records

Rating: ★★★

It's easy to feel the pulse of Afrobeat — funky, percussive grooves and jazzy arrangements often paired with conscious, passionate...

Reviewed by Jordan Barnes in issue: April/2017

Review of Shadow of Plenty

Shadow of Plenty

Furnace Mountain

Furnace Mountain

Rating: ★★★

Two characteristics set the music of Furnace Mountain apart: singer and bassist Aimee Curl's tremolo-laden voice and the band's reverence...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: Jan/Feb/2017

Review of Inde du Nord: Bilaskhani Todi, Kinari Bhairavi, Misra Pilu

Inde du Nord: Bilaskhani Todi, Kinari Bhairavi, Misra Pilu

Balaram Pathak

Ocora Radio France

Rating: ★★★★

Although he was considered a major force among sitar players in India, Balaram Pathak (1923-1991) is virtually unknown in the...

Reviewed by Jameela Siddiqi in issue: Jan/Feb/2016

Review of L’Oeil Du Coeur

L’Oeil Du Coeur

Maloumi, Meftah & Laâbi

Institut du Monde Arabe

Rating: ★★★

This is not your everyday easy listening album. For those without a strong grasp of Arabic and/or French, either a...

Reviewed by Gus Isherwood in issue: October/2013

Review of The Nile: The Song of the Rivers

The Nile: The Song of the Rivers

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Accords Croisés

Rating: ★★★★

Rivers can be the basis of a beautiful musical journey. Songlines #1 covered a splendid Virgin Classics three-CD set that...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: Nov/Dec/2012

Review of Hurry the Jug

Hurry the Jug

Leonard Barry, Declan Folan & Shane McGowan

Barry Folan & McGowan

Rating: ★★★★

Leonard Barry, Declan Folan and Shane McGowan's long comradeship in countless live sessions pays crisp, spryly accented dividends aplenty in...

Reviewed by Michael Quinn in issue: April/2020

Review of Banjophony

Banjophony

Damien O'Kane & Ron Block

Top of the World

Pure Records

Rating: ★★★★

The poor old banjo has long been the butt of jokes – even banjo maestro Ron Block himself has been...

Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: October/2018

Review of Black Tarantella

Black Tarantella

Enzo Avitabile

CNI

Rating: ★★★★

The Neapolitan composer, saxophonist and singer crosses paths here with a dozen world music artists, rock celebrities and prominent Italian...

Reviewed by Ciro De Rosa in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of Sam Sweeney's Fiddle: Made in the Great War

Sam Sweeney's Fiddle: Made in the Great War

Sam Sweeney

RootBeat Records

Rating: ★★★★

In 2008, Sam Sweeney bought a new instrument – at least, it appeared to be new. But a label inside...

Reviewed by Julian May in issue: Nov/Dec/2014

Review of Walk With Me

Walk With Me

The Skatalites

Wrasse Records

Rating: ★★★

It’s been a tough couple of years for The Skatalites. Two of the legendary ska group’s founding members passed away...

Reviewed by Clyde Macfarlane in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

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