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Reviews

Review of Banjul-London

Banjul-London

Jally Kebba Susso

Jally Kebba Susso

Rating: ★★★

Originally from the Gambia, but resident in London since 2002, Jally Kebba Susso is a kora player but he's not...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2018

Review of Bone Reader

Bone Reader

Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band

Grigri Discs

Rating: ★★★★

Washington DC isn't an obvious place to look for Afrobeat. Yet in the land of suits and carpeted corridors, Chopteeth...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2018

Review of Dounia Tabolo

Dounia Tabolo

Boubacar Traoré

Top of the World

Lusafrica

Rating: ★★★★

Now in his mid-70s, Traoré was allegedly playing African blues guitar even before the late, great Ali Farka Touré. His...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2018

Review of Sixty/Black to the Future/Notes of Life

Sixty/Black to the Future/Notes of Life

Hugh Masekela

Retroworld

Rating: ★★★★

With Masekela's live dates cancelled while he recovers from prostate cancer, this budget-price reissue of a trio of classic albums...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2018

Review of Mali Foli Coura

Mali Foli Coura

BKO

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★

This appears to be a studio session, cut live without overdubs or technical tampering. It's a fierce modern take on...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2018

Review of Kebrada

Kebrada

Elida Almeida

Lusafrica

Rating: ★★★★

Elida Almeida is a 24-year-old Cape Verdean singer, who made a strong impression with her 2015 debut album, Ora Doci,...

Reviewed in issue December/2017

Review of Mwinda

Mwinda

Lulendo

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★

A former backing singer for his late compatriot Papa Wemba, Lulendo grew up in the Angolan capital Luanda with the...

Reviewed in issue December/2017

Review of The Original Sound of Burkina Faso

The Original Sound of Burkina Faso

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Mr Bongo

Rating: ★★★★

Bordered by Mali, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Niger, and with a population that spans some 60 different...

Reviewed in issue December/2017

Review of Toy Raha Toy

Toy Raha Toy

Toko Telo

Anio Records

Rating: ★★★

Toko Telo means ‘Group of Three’ in Malagasy and the band is a trio of Madagascar's top-level talent: D'Gary, Monika...

Reviewed in issue December/2017

Review of Gnawa or Never

Gnawa or Never

Maalem Said Damir & Gnawa Allstars

Knights Production

Rating: ★★★★

It is difficult to record Gnawa music well – the sonic mix of the gimbri's (lute) deep bass and the...

Reviewed in issue December/2017

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