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Reviews

Review of Beautiful Africa

Beautiful Africa

Rokia Traoré

Top of the World

Nonesuch

Rating: ★★★★★

We have come to expect a lot from young Malian pop-rock singer Rokia Traoré, who surprised the world with her...

Reviewed by Rose Skelton in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Beginner’s Guide to Africa

Beginner’s Guide to Africa

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Nascente

Rating: ★★★

These kind of compilations, which seek to present what the box describes as ‘the best of African music, past, present...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Folk Singer-Humdinger: Just About as Good as it Gets!

Folk Singer-Humdinger: Just About as Good as it Gets!

Bob Dylan

Smith & Co

Rating: ★★★★★

This collection of 45 tracks recorded by Dylan between 1961 and 62 is not an officially sanctioned release, but neither...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Null

Null

Mahmood Schricker

Mahmood Schricker

Rating: ★★★★

Null is an ‘electro Persian album inspired by electronic music, Persian traditional music and poetry’, as Toronto-based setar (lute) player...

Reviewed by Neil van der Linden in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Champagne for Gypsies

Champagne for Gypsies

Goran Bregovic

Wrasse Records

Rating: ★★

Goran Bregovió is shameless. In this album’s liner notes he makes a lovingly liberal plea for tolerance towards Europe’s Romani...

Reviewed by Garth Cartwright in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Santiman

Santiman

The Creole Choir of Cuba

Real World Records

Rating: ★★★

This is that difficult second album, from the most internationally visible of the folklore troupes of the big Haitian community...

Reviewed by Philip Sweeney in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Maan Unia, Puun Unia

Maan Unia, Puun Unia

Suo

Texicalli Records

Rating: ★★★★

Finnish runo singing, kalevala verses, ancient myths, magic spells – these are the foundations on which the now legendary Värttinä...

Reviewed by Fiona Talkington in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of The Arch

The Arch

Eva Quartet & Hector Zazou

Top of the World

Elen Music

Rating: ★★★★★

This collaboration, only released recently, may have been the last work of the respected French musician, producer and remix specialist...

Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of North

North

Mary Dillon

Back Lane Records

Rating: ★★★★

The elder sister of Cara and former frontwoman of 90s Irish powerhouse Déanta, Mary Dillon has followed up her 2010...

Reviewed by Michael Quinn in issue: Apr/May/2013

Review of Every Mortal Place

Every Mortal Place

John Kirkpatrick

Fledg’ling Records

Rating: ★★★★

For 40 years, the great English squeezebox player, singer and Morris dancer, John Kirkpatrick, has lived in Shropshire. Every Mortal...

Reviewed by Julian May in issue: Apr/May/2013

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