Reviews

Offroad

Becaye

Becaye is a largely self-taught guitarist who spent his childhood in Dakar, Senegal, from where he developed his unique kora-like...

Reviewed in issue March/2017

Gunfan Yellem!

Damakase

‘East meets West’ is a common theme within world music fusions, but it's rare to hear one like this: Damakase's...

Reviewed in issue March/2017

Just My Soul

Erik Aliana & Picket

This is the fourth album by Erik Aliana, the first two having been in the Bikutsi and Makossa styles of...

Reviewed in issue March/2017

Malawi Grooves 1950, ’57 & ’58

VARIOUS ARTISTS

The opportunity to travel in time as well as space is all part of the appeal of world music, although...

Reviewed in issue March/2017

Elwan

Tinariwen

The seventh album from the world's favourite Touareg rockers is an album of both power and poignancy. It's a tale...

Reviewed in issue March/2017

Sadaka (The Gift)

Seydu

Born in Sierra Leone into a family of musicians, Seydu has led a storied life. He grew up listening to...

Reviewed in issue March/2017

Love Songs Vol 2

Yishak Banjaw

In 1986, Yishak Banjaw sat down at home to record an album of traditional Ethiopian music, using a borrowed Casio...

Reviewed in issue March/2017

Democratic Republic of Congo: Kibali-Ituri – Bira and Hema Music

VARIOUS ARTISTS

When it comes to documenting traditional music from around the world, the Ocora Radio France series stands out as one...

Reviewed in issue March/2017

Transitional Times

Dawda Jobarteh

Bai Konté, the grandfather of Dawda Jobarteh, was responsible for some of the classical kora repertoire still played today and...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2017

Madjafalao

Le Tout-Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou

One of the great West African big bands of the 1970s, Orchestre Poly-Rythmo were Benin’s answer to Senegal’s Orchestra Baobab,...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2017