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Reviews

Review of Viaje a la Amistad: La Habana, Paris, Caracas

Viaje a la Amistad: La Habana, Paris, Caracas

Gérard Naulet, Orlando Valle, Orlando Poleo & Friends

Ad Lib Productions

Rating: ★★★★

The trope of a viaje a la amistad – a ‘journey to friendship’ – is integral to Latin American music,...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: June/2018

Review of Orquesta Akokán

Orquesta Akokán

Orquesta Akokán

Top of the World

Daptone Records

Rating: ★★★★

Son and salsa are soulful and sultry, but mambo has got the edge when it comes to having a laugh....

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: June/2018

Review of Raza

Raza

Darshan

Chant Records

Rating: ★★★

Darshan are a duo from New York who fuse grooves inspired by Jewish culture with gritty rap. Their album, Raza,...

Reviewed by Yousif Nur in issue: June/2018

Review of Keys to Friendship

Keys to Friendship

Aeham Ahmad meets Edgar Knecht

O-Tone Music

Rating: ★★★

This is an album with quite a story behind it. The Syrian musician Aeham Ahmad played piano in the refugee...

Reviewed by Jo Setters in issue: June/2018

Review of Mabagwe: A Tribute to ‘Los Mayores’

Mabagwe: A Tribute to ‘Los Mayores’

Los Rumberos de la Bahia

Eguin Eje Records

Rating: ★★★

Choral music often raises a question: is it for listening to or for singing along with? This homage to their...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: June/2018

Review of Visit Malphino

Visit Malphino

Malphino

Lex Records

Rating: ★★★

The continuing globalisation of cumbia has seen it travel from Colombia's Caribbean coast to urban dance halls, stadium rock shows,...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: June/2018

Review of Sun Gong/Bring on the Sun

Sun Gong/Bring on the Sun

Laraaji

All Saints Records

Rating: ★★★

Four decades ago, zitherist Edward Larry Gordon made his debut on a small US label. Then, renamed Laraaji, he collaborated...

Reviewed by Wif Stenger in issue: June/2018

Review of From Granmaw and Me

From Granmaw and Me

Hedy West

Fledg’ling Records

Rating: ★★★

These are the last recordings that the American singer and banjo player Hedy West ever made before she died in...

Reviewed by Matt Milton in issue: June/2018

Review of Three of Us

Three of Us

The Secret Trio

Kalan Müzik

Rating: ★★★★

This is the second album released by The Secret Trio, the follow-up to Soundscapes in 2012. The New York-based band...

Reviewed by Francesco Martinelli in issue: June/2018

Review of Desde el Infierno

Desde el Infierno

Héctor Guerra

Kasba Music

Rating: ★★

Héctor Guerra sprung to prominence as a member of Pachamama Crew, a hip-hop group from Madrid who railed against the...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: June/2018

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