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Review of The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son

Ry Cooder

Top of the World

Concord Records/Caroline International

Rating: ★★★★★

Ry Cooder's first band, back in the 1960s, was called the Rising Sons; here the prodigal comes home by returning...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2018

Review of 5 Star Motel

5 Star Motel

Gitkin

Top of the World

Wonderwheel Recordings

Rating: ★★★★

It's hard to find out anything about Gitkin. It appears that this is the almost-one-man-band's debut record; 5 Star...

Reviewed by Jim Hickson in issue: June/2018

Review of Ageless Garden

Ageless Garden

Mehmet Polat

Aftab Records

Rating: ★★★★

Mehmet Polat is from Urfa in Turkey, overlooking the Euphrates, so looking towards Syria and Iraq rather than Istanbul. He...

Reviewed by Neil van der Linden in issue: June/2018

Review of Illusion & Doubt

Illusion & Doubt

The Dead South

DevilDuck Records

Rating: ★★★★

Like a backfiring, smoke-belching, fluid-dripping jalopy from a bygone era, The Dead South pop, chuff and wheeze their way across...

Reviewed by Doug Deloach in issue: May/2018

Review of The World of Traditional Music

The World of Traditional Music

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Ocora Radio France

Rating: ★★★★★

Alongside Nonesuch's Explorer series, Ocora is perhaps the most important mother lode of authentic 20th-century field recordings of world music....

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: May/2018

Review of One People One World

One People One World

Femi Kuti

Knitting Factory

Rating: ★★★

Around the same time as Seun Kuti's excellent new album Black Times, elder brother Femi has also returned to the...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: May/2018

Review of For

For

Úna Monaghan

Una Monaghan

Rating: ★★★★

Describing herself as ‘a harper, composer and sound artist,’ Úna Monaghan holds a degree in astrophysics from Cambridge University and...

Reviewed by Michael Quinn in issue: May/2018

Review of Communion

Communion

Park Jiha

Glitterbeat Records

Rating: ★★

There's a dynamic and healthy scene in South Korea right now, in which young musicians are using traditional instruments to...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: May/2018

Review of Angathin

Angathin

Monsieur Doumani

Top of the World

Monsieur Doumani

Rating: ★★★★★

This is another great disc, possibly their best yet, from the Cypriot trio Monsieur Doumani. They push the musical boat...

Reviewed by Maria Lord in issue: May/2018

Review of Voun

Voun

Zanmari Baré

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★★

Zanmari Baré is an exceptionally talented musician. He sings in Creole, with a high, yearning voice that is a little...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: May/2018

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