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Reviews

Review of Botyiaki Ntembe

Botyiaki Ntembe

Wendo Kolosoy

IglooMondo

Rating: ★★★★

This two-CD package reissues two albums that book-ended the latter part of the veteran Congolese troubadour’s musical career. Antoine Wendo...

Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of Marcha!

Marcha!

Lo Cor de la Plana

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★

This is the third album from the male voice choir from the quartier of La Plaine in Marseille, who go...

Reviewed by Phil Sweeney in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of Radio Beirut: Sounds from the 21st Century

Radio Beirut: Sounds from the 21st Century

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Galileo

Rating: ★★★

There’s an inevitable overlap between Radio Beirut, compiled by the German journalist Dagmar Golle, and last year’s Golden Beirut CD...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of Fasl-i Rembetiko

Fasl-i Rembetiko

Café Aman Istanbul

Kalan

Rating: ★★★★

Deep currents are crossing the blue Aegean – the Greek economic crisis and the Turkish ascent are altering old balances,...

Reviewed by Francesco Martinelli in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of If Like Birds and Angels I Could Fly

If Like Birds and Angels I Could Fly

Hossein & Raha Alizadeh with the Hamavayan Ensemble

Traditional Crossroads

Rating: ★★★

Perhaps the most striking aspect of this recent album by Hossein Alizadeh & the Hamavayan Ensemble is its showcasing of...

Reviewed by Laudan Nooshin in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of The Bear’s Revenge

The Bear’s Revenge

Moulettes

Balling The Jack Records

Rating: ★★★★

Moulettes have been conjuring up a mystical world with poetic lyrics and richly textured music for the last ten years,...

Reviewed by Tim Woodall in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of Timbuktu Tarab

Timbuktu Tarab

Khaira Arby

Clermont Music

Rating: ★★★★

The absolute highlight of WOMAD Charlton Park last year for me was the Malian singer Khaira Arby from Timbuktu. Surrounded...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of Tide

Tide

Mokoomba Rising

Top of the World

IglooMondo

Rating: ★★★★★

Hearing this new album by Zimbabwean funksters Mokoomba for the first time is a truly exciting experience, on a par...

Reviewed by Rose Skelton in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of Baladi Blues 3: The Art of Baligh Hamdi

Baladi Blues 3: The Art of Baligh Hamdi

Guy Schalom & The Baladi Blues Ensemble

Ethnomusic Records

Rating: ★★

Baladi is a very particular Egyptian fusion. The name literally means ‘my country’ and its roots lie in the rural...

Reviewed by Bill Badley in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

Review of Twinklings of Hope

Twinklings of Hope

Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat

Top of the World

KKV

Rating: ★★★★

I first heard Iranian sisters Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat in Istanbul in 2006. The power in their voices, so perfectly...

Reviewed by Simon Broughton in issue: Aug/Sep/2012

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