Reviews

Song of Lahore

The Sachal Ensemble

It's sad that the conductor of The Sachal Ensemble, Najat Ali, still feels it necessary to state that ‘we will...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016

Aukai

Aukai

Aukai is German multi-instrumentalist and composer Markus Sieber; his stage moniker is a Hawaiian word meaning ‘traveller.’ His ambient-hippy instrumental...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016

Poland-Pakistan: Music Without Borders

Karolina Cicha & Shafqat Ali Khan

Nine Languages, the debut CD of Polish singer Karolina Cicha was an award-winning disc in which she sang songs in...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016

Amalgam

Amjad, Amaan & Ayaan Ali Khan & Elmira Darvarova

Ever since Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin recorded the violin and sitar duos of West Meets East in the 1960s,...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016

Osmosis

Tafahum

The opening track ‘Wiladah’ (perhaps named after the renowned poetess from 11th century Andalusian Córdoba) sounds like Frank Zappa and...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016

Via Maris

Melange

Melange are an eight-piece ensemble formed by cellist Shirley Smart following a ten-year period living and working in Jerusalem soaking...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016

Carpe Afternoon

Loco Ironico

Loco Ironico are vocalist Joe Cang and pianist Matteo Saggese. I know nothing about these men although photos on the...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016

One Takes

Daymé Arocena

Authenticity is impossible to manufacture. Daymé Arocena might be only 24, but she has a soul and a sensuousness belying...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016

The Fruited Thorn

Kaela Rowan

Formerly the singer with Gaelic band Mouth Music for several groundbreaking albums in the 90s before joining ‘acid croft’ pioneers...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016

Japanistan

Kengo Saito

This recording by Paris-based instrumentalist Kengo Saito appears to occupy a niche of one, being a cross-section of music from...

Reviewed in issue Aug/Sep/2016