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Reviews

Review of 1000 Can Die

1000 Can Die

King Ayisoba

Glitterbeat Records

Rating: ★★★★

It’s as absurd to generalise about African albums as it would be American or European albums. But over the years...

Reviewed in issue May/2017

Review of Luyando

Luyando

Mokoomba

Top of the World

Out Here Records

Rating: ★★★★★

The best young band in Zimbabwe are back at last. It has been nearly five years since Mokoomba released their...

Reviewed in issue April/2017

Review of Targ

Targ

Bargou 08

Top of the World

Glitterbeat Records

Rating: ★★★★

Hidden away between the mountains of north-west Tunisia and the Algerian border lies the Bargou valley, an isolated area that...

Reviewed in issue April/2017

Review of L'Oiseau du Ciel

L'Oiseau du Ciel

Jeannot Bel

Prosmart Studio

Rating: ★★

Congolese music has for many years been struggling to re-establish its position as one of the most potent of contemporary...

Reviewed in issue April/2017

Review of Birabiro

Birabiro

Fendika

Terp Records

Rating: ★★★★

The centres of Ethiopian traditional music are known as azmari betoch, places to enjoy the songs, dance and stories of...

Reviewed in issue April/2017

Review of Timbuktu Echoes

Timbuktu Echoes

Imarhan Timbuktu, Dintchéré & Ousmane Ag Oumar

Clermont Music

Rating: ★★★

Not one but three different Touareg acts grace this release, which bypasses the CD format completely and is available only...

Reviewed in issue April/2017

Review of Songs from Madagascar: Lasa

Songs from Madagascar: Lasa

Hanitra

ARC Music

Rating: ★★★

This is the third solo album from Hanitra Ranaivo, former singer with Malagasy group Lolo Sy Ny Tariny. She sings...

Reviewed in issue April/2017

Review of Kaléidoscope

Kaléidoscope

Fanga

Boomerang Records

Rating: ★★★

It's easy to feel the pulse of Afrobeat — funky, percussive grooves and jazzy arrangements often paired with conscious, passionate...

Reviewed in issue April/2017

Review of Djeli

Djeli

Ba Cissoko

Cristal Records

Rating: ★★★

With Ba Cissoko, great musicianship is always guaranteed. A kora player from Guinea, he is perhaps still best known for...

Reviewed in issue April/2017

Review of Body & Voice

Body & Voice

Gino Sitson

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★

Gino Sitson is a New York-based vocalist from the Bamileke region of Cameroon, whose family comes from a long line...

Reviewed in issue March/2017

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