Reviews

Say What?

Two Man Ting

Two Man Ting is a Bristol-based duo who have been plugging away at the festival circuit. Jon Lewis and Jah-Man...

Reviewed in issue November/2015

Good is Good

Vula Viel

This is an album of powerful instrumental jazz, based on the ancient traditional music of the Dagaare tribe and Guo...

Reviewed in issue November/2015

Go Slow to Lagos

Gangbé Brass Band

As the album's title suggests, there's a marked Nigerian Afrobeat feel to this Benin crew's latest, as well as a...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

The Indispensable 1955-1962

Miriam Makeba

Once music goes out of its 50-year copyright, open season follows on the reissues market. Two issues ago I reviewed...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Best Of

Ismaël Lô

There was a time, back in the 90s, when it seemed that Ismaël Lô was destined to become one of...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

In Conclusion

Amadou Balaké

In the latter part of his life the singer Amadou Balaké, who passed away in August 2014, was a prominent...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Oa Na Mba

Sam’M

Trained at Paris’ Conservatory of Music, guitarist Samuel Mbappe – Sam’M – hails from Douala in Cameroon. He grew up...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Nostalgic Moments

The Soil

The sepia-tinted cover shots and period costumes provide a visual counterpart to the title of this album, the second by...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Amonafi

Daby Touré

Right from the opening track, ‘Woyoyoye’, a slice of the Afro-pop perfection Daby Touré is known for, it is clear...

Reviewed in issue October/2015

Vangaza!

Brian Chilala & Ngoma Zasu

Zambia lies geographically between Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo and is one of the musically less prolific countries...

Reviewed in issue October/2015