Reviews

Kukaya Bili

Kukaya

An exceptional recording of traditional ‘trance’ music in the northern Malawi vimbuza style. The seven tracks are examples of healing...

Reviewed in issue March/2021

The Rough Guide to Cape Jazz

VARIOUS ARTISTS

The term ‘Cape jazz’ was apparently first used as recently as 1993 as the title of a compilation album on...

Reviewed in issue March/2021

Kaladounia

Kaito Winse

In Brussels, Rebel Up! is a promoter, record label and DJ team, as well as being general champions of global...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Che Belew (March Forward)

Ayalew Mesfin

Aficionados of Francis Falceto’s Éthiopiques series will recall Ayalew Mesfin from the extraordinary track ‘Hasabe’ on volume eight: Swinging Addis....

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Star Feminine Band

Star Feminine Band

Coming at you like an epic puppy stampede is the Star Feminine Band, a seven-strong group of Beninese girls whose...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Longoz

Ann O’aro

A brooding trombone blaring single, mournful tones; then, on top, a voice made of silk and smoke conjures an image...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Jungle Fever

GABO – Glasgow African Balafon Orchestra

Chief Chebe – aka Suleman Chebe – has tirelessly promoted African culture in the UK over the years in a...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Ala Maintso – Green World: Songs from Madagascar

Modeste Hugues & Kilema

The instrument known as the marovany is a Malagasy zither – a hollow, wooden, rectangular-shaped box with 12 metal strings...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

Barokan

Djely Tapa

Singer Djely Tapa is the daughter of the great Malian diva Kandia Kouyaté, aka La Grande Vedette Malienne, arguably one...

Reviewed in issue January/2021

The Rough Guide to Urban Mali

VARIOUS ARTISTS

This is the music you hear all around the Malian capital, Bamako: in shops, in taxis, in trendy bars, in...

Reviewed in issue December/2020