Reviews | Songlines

Reviews

Review of The Berlin Session

The Berlin Session

Dur-Dur Band Int.

Outhere Records

Rating: ★★

In the 1980s, Dur-Dur Band were one of Somalia's biggest groups, in high demand and performing their uniquely Somali disco...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

Review of Sheikhs Shikhats & B’net Chaabi

Sheikhs Shikhats & B’net Chaabi

Sheikhs Shikhats & B’net Chaabi

Zephyrus Records

Rating: ★★★★

This sprawling 18-piece Belgian ensemble combines Sheikhs Shikhats and B’net Chaabi, the former a horn-dominated band fronted by a female...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

Review of Helen Nkume & Her Young Timers Band

Helen Nkume & Her Young Timers Band

Helen Nkume

Dig This Way Records

Rating: ★★★

Helen Nkume was approaching her thirties when she began her musical career in the early 1970s. Before the decade was...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

Review of Aladura Songs Book

Aladura Songs Book

Lekan Babalola

Oyeku Records

Rating: ★★★

Aladura Songs Book finds two-time Grammy Award-winning percussionist Lekan Babalola – Lagos, Nigeria-born and living in his adopted Birmingham (UK)...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

Review of A Message from Mozambique

A Message from Mozambique

Juju | JuJu

Strut

Rating: ★★★★★

Fifty years ago, change was brewing. The outrage piqued by US-backed war and civil war in Africa, by racism, injustice...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

Review of This Is Zologo Beat

This Is Zologo Beat

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Makkum

Rating: ★★★★

From the home of kologo music in Ghana's Upper East Region, comes a new dance compilation innovated by one of...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

Review of Try and Love

Try and Love

Ofege

Strut Records

Rating: ★★

Imagine Lagos, Nigeria in 1972, when Fela Kuti was flying high with recordings like ‘Shakara’ and ‘Roforofo Fight’, jùjú music...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

Review of Music Inferno: The Indestructible Beat Tour 1988-89

Music Inferno: The Indestructible Beat Tour 1988-89

Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens

Umsakazo Records

Rating: ★★★★

This collection of live recordings starts with Mahlathini telling an enthusiastic audience, “we’re going to give you the real Soweto...

Reviewed in issue June/2023

Review of On the Romance of Being

On the Romance of Being

Desire Marea

Mute

Rating: ★★★★

Based in the Amandawe township in KwaZulu-Natal, Desire Marea has held a place at the centre of South Africa's queer...

Reviewed in issue May/2023

Review of Ségou to Lagos

Ségou to Lagos

Solomane Doumbia

Mieruba

Rating: ★★★★

There are many names that come to mind when one thinks of the great Malian musicians, but despite serving as...

Reviewed in issue May/2023

Subscribe from only £7.50

Start your journey and discover the very best music from around the world.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Songlines magazine.

Find out more