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Reviews

Review of Starling

Starling

Novar

Trad Records

Rating: ★★★

With Thierry Nouat on hurdy-gurdy, Toon van Mierlo on bagpipes, accordion and saxophone, Aurélien Claranbaux on accordion and Jeroen Geerinck...

Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

Review of Steer by the Stars

Steer by the Stars

Skipinnish

Skipinnish Records

Rating: ★★★

As one of the strongest live acts on the trad scene for the last couple of decades, and following the...

Reviewed by Billy Rough in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

Review of Oulad Lghaba

Oulad Lghaba

Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou

Top of the World

Ajabu!

Rating: ★★★★

Much fuss is being made over the young Gnawi maalma (female maalem) Asmâa Hamzaoui, who, still in her early 20s,...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

Review of Caçador de Infância

Caçador de Infância

Grazie Wirtti & Matias Arriazu

Carmo

Rating: ★★★

ECM's Carmo imprint is named after the birthplace of one of the parent company's most prolific artists, Egberto Gismonti. After...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

Review of Mambo Mundial

Mambo Mundial

Chico Trujillo

Barbès Records

Rating: ★★★

Chilean band Chico Trujillo have been blasting out raw, festive, gig-friendly cumbia for two decades – a significant milestone they've...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

Review of Rwanda, You Should be Loved

Rwanda, You Should be Loved

The Good Ones

Anti- Records

Rating: ★★★★

This recording – which was created on the farm of bandleader Adrien Kazigira and whittles 40 of his compositions down...

Reviewed by Charlotte Algar in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

Review of Rhythm of the Griot

Rhythm of the Griot

Diabel Cissokho

Kafou Music Records

Rating: ★★★★

Kora player Diabel Cissokho has long explored the connection between blues and the griot tradition, most notably on the album...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

Review of Together We Stand

Together We Stand

Abraham Inc

Label Bleu

Rating: ★★★★

It's been ten years since Abraham Inc's first album Tweet Tweet and, given the impact it still has now, any...

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

Review of Handfuls of Night

Handfuls of Night

Penguin Cafe

Erased Tapes

Rating: ★★★

There are multiple associations that weave around this fourth studio album from Penguin Cafe, Arthur Jefes' successor ensemble to his...

Reviewed by Tim Woodall in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

Review of Alegrià e Libertà

Alegrià e Libertà

Lucilla Galeazzi, Didier Laloy, Ialma, Carlo Rizzo and Maarten Decombel

homerecords.be

Rating: ★★★

This feels like a convivial affair – a motley group of musicians coming together, jamming, finding they get along really...

Reviewed by Michael Macaroon in issue: Jan/Feb/2020

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