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Reviews

Review of Orchestre National de Mauritanie

Orchestre National de Mauritanie

Orchestre National de Maurianie

Sahel Sounds

Rating: ★★★★

For a national orchestra, this combo had previously had a remarkably small discography: one 7” single to show for an...

Reviewed by Mark Hudson in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of Aljawal

Aljawal

Débruit & Alsarah

Soundway Recoids

Rating: ★★★★

A refined product courtesy of two years of musical interplay, Aljawal is a distinctive and sonically potent album, unlike anything...

Reviewed by Edward Craggs in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of An Anthology (1857-1912)

An Anthology (1857-1912)

Abd Al-Hayy Hilmi

AMAR Foundation

Rating: ★★★★★

This is a cross¬section of the legacy of Egyptian singer Abd Al-Hayy Hilmi, whose final years of life coincided with...

Reviewed by Neil van der Linden in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe

Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe

Noam Pikelny

Top of the World

Compass Records

Rating: ★★★★★

It might not come as a surprise to those familiar with the music of genius banjo player Noam Pikelny that...

Reviewed by Rose Skelton in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of Peru Maravilloso

Peru Maravilloso

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Tiger''s Milk Records

Rating: ★★

It’s obvious that much crate-digging has been done to put together this compilation, which features many rare tracks and little-known...

Reviewed by Russ Slater in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of Brasslands: A Motion Picture Soundtrack

Brasslands: A Motion Picture Soundtrack

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Evergreene Music

Rating: ★★★★

When Miles Davis ventured to the annual brass festival in Guca, in western Serbia, he was astonished. “I didn’t know...

Reviewed by Nige Tassell in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of Bluebird

Bluebird

De Fuego

De Fuego

Rating: ★★★

A girl next door. A young man with a beard. A rocking flamenco-ish sound. Lots of cheeky harmonics, agile arpeggios...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of Red Hot + Fela

Red Hot + Fela

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Knitting Factory Records

Rating: ★★★★★

This is the latest in the series of albums that the Red Hot organisation have released to raise money and...

Reviewed by Max Reinhardt in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of Tu Comu Stai?

Tu Comu Stai?

Trinacria

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★★

These two albums feature different perspectives on Sicilian musical traditions. Trinacria, taking its name from the old Greek name of...

Reviewed by Ciro De Rosa in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

Review of 800% Ndagga

800% Ndagga

Mark Ernestus presents Jeri-Jeri

Ndagga

Rating: ★★★★

These two releases have come out with little fanfare, which belies what is a unique musical pairing. Berlin’s Mark Ernestus...

Reviewed by Chris Menist in issue: Jan/Feb/2014

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