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Reviews

Review of Yedi Kedi

Yedi Kedi

Balamuc

Balamuc

Rating: ★★

Hailing from Eastern Europe and elsewhere, the members of Balamuc joined forces in London where they have produced this musical...

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of Tales

Tales

Firasso

GLM Music

Rating: ★★★★

In trying to sum up the output of German instrumental trio Firasso, the best I can do is chamber folk....

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of Be Here Whenever

Be Here Whenever

Danielle de Gruttola, Henry Kaiser, Benedicte Maurseth & Stein Urheim

Jazzland Recordings

Rating: ★★★

After the plaintively beautiful but solitary sound of Benedicte Maurseth’s self-titled solo album (reviewed in the November 2019 issue, #152),...

Reviewed by Tony Gillam in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of Mande Guitar: African Guitar Series, Vol 1

Mande Guitar: African Guitar Series, Vol 1

Boubacar ‘Badian’ Diabaté

Top of the World

Lion Songs

Rating: ★★★★

This first release on a new label launched by Banning Eyre, presenter of the Afropop Worldwide radio show and all-round...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of Couleur

Couleur

Dobet Gnahoré

Cumbancha

Rating: ★★★★

Three years after her masterpiece, Miziki, Ivorian singer Dobet Gnahoré has now taken up the challenge to produce another highly...

Reviewed by Pierre Cuny in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of The Rich are Only Defeated When Running for Their Lives

The Rich are Only Defeated When Running for Their Lives

Anthony Joseph

Heavenly Sweetness

Rating: ★★★★

The eighth album by British-Trinidadian Renaissance man Anthony Joseph takes its title from a line by legendary Trinidadian theorist CLR...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of The Lost Mystique of Being in the Know

The Lost Mystique of Being in the Know

Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia

Rating: ★★★★

Full disclosure: your reviewer fully anticipated not raving about this album. While appreciating Rising Appalachia’s raison dêtre, my ears have...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of Dance

Dance

Leni Stern

Leni Stern Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

Since her debut as a leader in 1986, the Munich-born New Yorker has recorded a further 23 albums, of which...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of The Voices and Bridges

The Voices and Bridges

Ehsan Matoori

Bright Shiny Things

Rating: ★★★★

The number of recording locations worldwide for this album is extraordinary, but perhaps that was the only way to create...

Reviewed by Neil van der Linden in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

Review of Echo Land

Echo Land

Bùmarang

Fallen Tree Records

Rating: ★★★

This is a strong debut from Montréal-based Celtic trio Bùmarang (yes, the Scots Gaelic name does mean ‘Boomerang’), featuring David...

Reviewed by Li Robbins in issue: Aug/Sep/2021

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