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Reviews

Review of Bem-Ti-Vi

Bem-Ti-Vi

Nelson da Rabeca, Rolf-Erik Nystrøm, Celio de Carvalho & Dona Benedita

TrAP Music

Rating: ★★★

The rabeca is a rustic variant on the violin, with a deep, dry tone. After seeing one on TV at...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of Kanamalu

Kanamalu

Kimi Djabaté

Top of the World

Red Orange Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

Welcome to a new music label, bravely launching with a brace of albums by Portuguese-based artists, including this fine outing....

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of One Takes

One Takes

Daymé Arocena

Brownswood Recordings

Rating: ★★★

Authenticity is impossible to manufacture. Daymé Arocena might be only 24, but she has a soul and a sensuousness belying...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of Polyphonies of Georgia

Polyphonies of Georgia

Ensemble Marani

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★★

The Ensemble Marani are an exceptionally good Georgian male-voice choir based in Paris. The 12-strong group includes members of the...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of The Fruited Thorn

The Fruited Thorn

Kaela Rowan

Shoogle

Rating: ★★★

Formerly the singer with Gaelic band Mouth Music for several groundbreaking albums in the 90s before joining ‘acid croft’ pioneers...

Reviewed by Kevin Bourke in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of I’ve Always Kept a Unicorn: The Acoustic Sandy Denny

I’ve Always Kept a Unicorn: The Acoustic Sandy Denny

Sandy Denny

Island Records (2 CDs)

Rating: ★★★★★

Mick Houghton and Andrew Blatt deserve much credit for conceiving and compiling this set – and for unearthing previously unheard...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of Meeting of Hearts

Meeting of Hearts

Yinon Muallem

Top of the World

Ahenk Müzik

Rating: ★★★★

Based on the cover alone, you might assume that Meeting of Hearts was something to do with a Jewish self-help...

Reviewed by Tom Newell in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of Pingue-Pongue

Pingue-Pongue

Paulo Bellinati & Cristina Azuma

Acoustic Music

Rating: ★★★★

Though little of it reaches our shores, there's a great deal more to Brazilian music than bossa nova and 1970s-style...

Reviewed by Alex Robinson in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of Temperamento: Traditional Songs from Spain

Temperamento: Traditional Songs from Spain

Vigüela

ARC Music

Rating: ★★★★

Vigüela is a Toledo-based outfit of singers, guitarists and players of castanets, tambourines, shearing scissors, cowbells, sieves, the lute-like bandurria,...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

Review of Logos

Logos

Gerardo Núñez & Ulf Wakenius

ACT Music

Rating: ★★★★

Flamenco musicians have been testing out all kinds of fusions for decades now. Virtuoso guitarist Gerardo Núñez, who has had...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: Aug/Sep/2016

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