Reviews

Freehand

Kabantu

Having witnessed much of Freehand being performed by this eclectic ensemble earlier in the year, it is a pleasure to...

Reviewed by Anne Templer in issue: January/February/2023

Funky Pangolin

Kyekyeku & Super Opong Stars

The Ghanaian guitarist Kyekyeku – pronounced Tche-tche-kou – formed the Ghanalogue Highlife project in Accra a decade or so ago, although his...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: January/February/2023

Wurdiz

Sowulo

Dutch Nordic dark folk band Sowulo harks back to the times of gods where the stories and beliefs of our...

Reviewed by Buzz Bury in issue: January/February/2023

Desde un Nuevo Lugar

Santiago Molina

This impressive debut album from Buenos Aires-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Santiago Molina subtly draws together original compositions and artful reworkings...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: January/February/2023

Tudo o Que Move

Orfélia

Antera and Filipe Mattos first met in Berlin and were drawn to each other by their common language: Portuguese. She...

Reviewed by GonÇalo Frota in issue: January/February/2023

Kel Tinariwen

Tinariwen

You know Tinariwen. Hypnotic Touareg assouf music from bluesy electric guitars, slithering out of Saharan sand-encrusted amps and accompanied by...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: January/February/2023

Time Was Away

Emily Portman & Rob Harbron

Portman and Harbron are, in their different ways, leading lights of contemporary English folk – Portman as a singer, songwriter...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: January/February/2023

Ngulmiya

Ngulmiya

Ngulmiya (aka Grant) Nundhirribala hails from the Aboriginal community of Numbulwar, on the south-east coast of Indigenous Arnhem Land in...

Reviewed by Seth Jordan in issue: January/February/2023

Hawaiki

Taimane

Rising Polynesian uke star Taimane Gardner is a hapa-Samoan (part-Caucasian, part-Samoan) player raised in Hawaii. A musical prodigy, she was...

Reviewed by Seth Jordan in issue: January/February/2023

Balka Sound

Balka Sound

A rare vinyl copy of Balka Sound’s 1984 album Afro Musik Creation is currently on offer at $275 on the...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: January/February/2023