Reviews

Gagok, Pungnyu III

Jeong Ga Ak Hoe

This is a beautifully packaged atmospheric recording, but one that may take some getting used to. The gagok repertoire, protected...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2012

My Seven-String Chadyghan: Songs from the Khahas North

Yulia Charkova

The chadyghan is a long wooden box of a zither, exquisitely played here by Khakassian singer and instrumentalist Yulia Charkova...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2012

Nippon Guitars: Instrumental Surf, Eleki & Tsugaru Rock 1966-1974

Takeshi Terauchi

The Dead Kennedys’ former lead singer Jello Biafra is a big fan. Reinvented Jap-rock historian Julian Cope has also expressed...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2012

Songs of Biboki

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Reviewing music like this is a bit like trying to slap a star rating on someone's breathing – it's rather...

Reviewed in issue Apr/May/2012

Sublime Ragas

Kartik Seshadri

A foremost protégé of sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, Kartik Seshadri has very rapidly emerged as one of the world's best...

Reviewed in issue March/2012

Nine Decades Vol 1

Ravi Shankar

Nine Decades could easily be the most exciting new series of albums in Indian music for some time: sitar king...

Reviewed in issue March/2012

Java

Sambasunda Quintet

Over the past decade or so, the Samba-sunda collective have done more than anyone to proselytise on behalf of music...

Reviewed in issue March/2012

Yodhakaa

Yodhakaa

Yodhakaa is the name of a band founded in 2005 by Chennai-based drummer and percussionist ‘Darbuka’ Siva, whose stated aim...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2012

Gabru Panjab Dha

JK

There is more JK than meet the eye. At first glance, the blinged-up boy who graces the cover of this...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2012

Arka’k Su

Kurash Sultan

Here’s another beautiful produc¬tion from the Caprice label and the Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research. Kurash Sultan...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2012