Reviews
Bold Champions
The second album from the trio, following 2015's Wing of Evening, Bold Champions is another strong set of traditional songs...
Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: June/2019
Gnawa or Never
Maalem Said Damir & Gnawa Allstars
It is difficult to record Gnawa music well – the sonic mix of the gimbri's (lute) deep bass and the...
Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: December/2017
Ouled Bambara: Portraits of Gnawa
Caitlin McNally, who produced this CD/DVD package, writes: ‘In early 2005, I headed to Marrakech, Morocco with a camera, a...
Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: Jan/Feb/2010
E-and’a
At the risk of sounding like a reverse snob, it seems to be a rule of thumb now that if...
Reviewed by Matthew Milton in issue: June/2014
Bollywood Remembers Laxmikant Pyarelal
Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar and Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma, who began their musical careers as mandolin player and violinist, formed the composer...
Reviewed by Jameela Siddiqi in issue: Jan/Feb/2010
Wildfire
Although they’re clearly rooted in the folk tradition, Keston Cobblers Club aren’t afraid of soaring, synth-based hooks and great swelling...
Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: Aug/Sep/2015
Providence
Katy Carr is an unusual and original singer- songwriter. She is fascinated by history, has a giftfor strong, upbeat melodies,...
Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: January/2021
Variācijas
At the core of the Latvian group Lata Donga are four singers from a single family who can be heard...
Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: Aug/Sep/2019
Deep Roots Observer Style
Every musical genre has its golden age and there's many a reggae enthusiast who'll routinely cast a wistful eye back...
Reviewed by Ed Stocker in issue: June/2012
Istehlal
This polyglot trio creates an eastward-leaning fusion that's somehow both timeless and, at the same time, emblematic of the cultural...
Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: March/2023
