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Reviews

Review of Cape Jazz Series Vol 4: Musical Democracy

Cape Jazz Series Vol 4: Musical Democracy

The Cape Jazz Band

Mountain Records

Rating: ★★★

It would be crass to call the Cape Jazz Band ‘South Africa’s Buena Vista Social Club.’ But somebody’s got to...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2014

Review of Soô

Soô

Habib Koité

Top of the World

Contre-Jour

Rating: ★★★★★

Perhaps it was recording 2012’s Brothers in Bamako with the American bluesman Eric Bibb that persuaded Habib Koité it was...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2014

Review of Safar

Safar

Imed Alibi

Top of the World

IRL Records

Rating: ★★★★

Here comes another new project from the new Tunisia. Except it is not quite the new Tunisia, but rather, the...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: June/2014

Review of La Vendange

La Vendange

La Très Illustre Compagnie du Chat Noir

Coast to Coast

Rating: ★★★

This weird and wonderful project is the brainchild of three Dutch musicians – Marijn de Valk, Rik Bosch and Daan...

Reviewed by Nathaniel Handy in issue: June/2014

Review of La Tsadika

La Tsadika

Mor Karbasi

Gibraltar Productions

Rating: ★★★★

I reviewed Mor Karbasi’s debut album The Beauty and the Sea five years ago with heady enthusiasm. Her vibrant vocal...

Reviewed by Dennis Marks in issue: June/2014

Review of A Long Way to the Beginning

A Long Way to the Beginning

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

Knitting Factory

Rating: ★★★★

From the moment that the pounding album opener ‘IMF’ kicks in, it is clear that Seun Kuti has not only...

Reviewed by Edward Lander in issue: June/2014

Review of Tambutronic

Tambutronic

Kuenta i Tambú

Jiga Musica

Rating: ★★★★★

Meaning ‘stories and drums’ in Papiamento, the native language of the Dutch Caribbean, the five- piece Kuenta i Tambú were...

Reviewed by Andy Thomas in issue: June/2014

Review of E-and’a

E-and’a

Darol Anger

Adventure Music

Rating: ★★

At the risk of sounding like a reverse snob, it seems to be a rule of thumb now that if...

Reviewed by Matthew Milton in issue: June/2014

Review of Batuk Freak

Batuk Freak

Karol Conka

Mr Bongo Records

Rating: ★★★

A mixture of canny production, assured rapping and tough- to-extricate earworms make this debut album from Brazilian rapper Karol Conka...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: June/2014

Review of Toumani & Sidiki

Toumani & Sidiki

Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté

Top of the World

World Circuit

Rating: ★★★★★

The kora is an age-old instrument, rich in history, yet its promotion as a solo instrument is relatively recent. This...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: June/2014

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