Reviews | Songlines

Reviews

Review of The Rough Guide to the Best World Music You’ve Never Heard

The Rough Guide to the Best World Music You’ve Never Heard

VARIOUS ARTISTS

World Music Network

Rating: ★★★

Much has been written about ‘world music’ as a genre – going back to David Byrne's 1999 New York Times...

Reviewed by Howard Male in issue: May/2016

Review of New York Afternoon

New York Afternoon

Snowboy & the Latin Section

Top of the World

Snowboy Records

Rating: ★★★★

Any momentary disquiet on hearing guest vocalist Marc Evans’ lounge-lizard take on the title-track was quickly dispelled by what follows....

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: May/2016

Review of Up

Up

Karsh Kale

Six Degrees Records

Rating: ★★★★

Two decades into a career that began by defining the Asian Underground scene, Karsh Kale's work has continued to develop...

Reviewed by Amardeep Dhillon in issue: May/2016

Review of Kalo-Yele

Kalo-Yele

Aly Keïta, Jan Galega Brönnimann, Lucas Niggli

Intakt Records

Rating: ★★

A trio built around the sound of the balafon (West African xylophone), bass clarinet and percussion sounds like a promising...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: May/2016

Review of Zanzibara 9: Masika, Un Souffle Frais de Tanzanie (1972-74)

Zanzibara 9: Masika, Un Souffle Frais de Tanzanie (1972-74)

Mbaraka Mwinshehe & Orchestra Super Volcano

Buda Musique (2 CDs)

Rating: ★★★

Following up the very different, and rather sinuous taarab music showcased on volume 8 of Buda's excellent Zanzibara series devoted...

Reviewed by Jon Lusk in issue: May/2016

Review of Quelbe!

Quelbe!

Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Knights

Smithsonian Folkways

Rating: ★★★

A few years after Frémeaux's two-CD compilation Virgin Islands Quelbe and Calypso 1956-60, comes a new release from a contemporary...

Reviewed by Charles De Ledesma in issue: May/2016

Review of Never More Together

Never More Together

Oliver Swain's Big Machine

Oliver Swain

Rating: ★★★

Oliver Swain is clearly a very talented chap. Not only does he play double-bass, banjo and guitar extremely well, but...

Reviewed by Matt Milton in issue: May/2016

Review of Wa Di Yo

Wa Di Yo

Lakou Mizik

Top of the World

Cumbancha

Rating: ★★★★

Grabbing you by the scruff of the neck from the get-go, this nine-strong collective pays homage to Haiti's varied traditions,...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: May/2016

Review of How the City Sings

How the City Sings

Sam Carter

Captain Records

Rating: ★★★★

Sam Carter is a brilliant guitarist and songwriter who combines the observational with social comment and personal reflection. He has...

Reviewed by Tim Cumming in issue: May/2016

Review of Konono No 1 Meets Batida

Konono No 1 Meets Batida

Konono No 1 & Batida

Top of the World

Crammed Discs

Rating: ★★★★★

It's 12 years now since Congotronics, the debut album of Konono No 1, but their manic roots energy continues to...

Reviewed by Max Reinhardt in issue: May/2016

Subscribe from only £7.50

Start your journey and discover the very best music from around the world.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Songlines magazine.

Find out more