Reviews
Venti
Francesco Loccisano and Marcello De Carolis
The chitarra battente (literally ‘beating guitar’) is an Italian variation of the instrument, closer to a lute or mandolin, with...
Reviewed by Francesco Martinelli in issue: May/2021
The King of Ramps (The Music of Melvin Wine)
Old-time fiddler and banjo player Ben Townsend pays homage to a revered master of West Virginia fiddling, Melvin Wine, on...
Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: May/2021
Umculo Umuthi
With lead singer Buyisiwe Njoko armed with shakers, whistles and the proclamatory vuvuzela, and an album title translating as ‘Music...
Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: May/2021
First Farewell
This is a remarkable album by a singersongwriter, multi-instrumentalist, activist and writer who grows more impressive as the years go...
Reviewed by Robin Denselow in issue: May/2021
Rakes and Misfits
Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne plays melodeons and concertinas, including a rare Lachenal 30-key bass Anglo concertina on which he performs ‘parping accompaniment...
Reviewed by Julian May in issue: May/2021
Tirana 100
Over the last half a century or so there have been many attempts to reveal ‘Europe’s unknown music,’ which usually...
Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: May/2021
Fall Like Rain
From the opening title-track, a brilliantly rendered bluegrass cover of Eric Clapton’s song from his 1998 LP Pilgrim, to the...
Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: May/2021
Anticipation
Born out of a tour around Trans-Pecos (west Texas), this first album of instrumental duets by guitarists Knowler and Winter...
Reviewed by Amy Hollinrake in issue: May/2021
Excavated Shellac: An Alternative History of the World’s Music
What should you give someone who listens to a broad swath of ‘global music’? How about a 100-track compilation of...
Reviewed by Jeff Kaliss in issue: May/2021
A Pegada Agora é Essa
This exciting project from multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Antonio Neves asks a simple question: what’s the sound of Rio today? Rather...
Reviewed by Alex De Lacey in issue: May/2021
