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Reviews

Review of The YoYouMeTú Trilogy: Vol 1 & 2

The YoYouMeTú Trilogy: Vol 1 & 2

Zemog el Gallo Bueno

Zemog el Gallo Bueno 2 CDs

Rating: ★★★★

Never judge a book by its cover. And here's the proof: behind the clumsy Photoshop artwork and liner notes there...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2016

Review of La Légende de Dakar

La Légende de Dakar

Le Sahel

Celluloid

Rating: ★★★★

One thing that can never be faked or replicated is the easy, yet super-tight swing of a band that has...

Reviewed in issue Jan/Feb/2016

Review of Lost in Mali

Lost in Mali

Various Artists

Top of the World

Riverboat Records

Rating: ★★★★

There has long been a suspicion that the world music we get to hear is only part of the story,...

Reviewed in issue December/2015

Review of African Harmonies

African Harmonies

Insingizi

ARC Music

Rating: ★★★★

African ground hornbills don’t sing, but they do emit calls that can apparently be heard from a distance of about...

Reviewed in issue December/2015

Review of Sabaru

Sabaru

Sekou Kouyaté

One World Records

Rating: ★★★

Sekou is the son of Guinean kora player M’Bady Kouyaté, but takes tradition further, using amplification and effects pedals. He...

Reviewed in issue December/2015

Review of Herança

Herança

Lura

Top of the World

Lusafrica

Rating: ★★★★★

While Mayra Andrade, Lura’s compatriot, has been steering away from traditional Cape Verdean sounds, husky-voiced Lura does the opposite on...

Reviewed in issue December/2015

Review of Singles As Bs & 12 Inches

Singles As Bs & 12 Inches

Osibisa

Repertoire

Rating: ★★★

Osibisa were brave pioneers – a band of Ghanian, Nigerian and Caribbean musicians who came together in London at the...

Reviewed in issue December/2015

Review of Songs of Paapieye

Songs of Paapieye

SK Kakraba

Awesome Tapes from Africa

Rating: ★★★★

SK Kakraba is a Ghanaian musician living in Los Angeles, and his instrument is the gyil. This pentatonic xylophone of...

Reviewed in issue December/2015

Review of Let Them Speak

Let Them Speak

The Umoza Music Project

Nub Country Records

Rating: ★★★

This is an album recorded by 18 musicians, separated by 18,000km. The Umoza Music Project is a joint Malawian and...

Reviewed in issue December/2015

Review of Change

Change

N’Faly Kouyaté

Namun Records

Rating: ★★

This kora- and balafon-playing singer-songwriter from Guinea is best known for his dashing presence within the ranks of Afro Celt...

Reviewed in issue December/2015

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