Reviews | Songlines

Reviews

Review of Mashasha

Mashasha

Mashasha

Elegwa Music

Rating: ★★★★

Peter ‘Mashasha’ Mujuru is a Zimbab–wean bass guitarist, session musician and member of jazz group Too Open. He currently lives...

Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Congo – Pygmy Polyphonies from North Congo

Congo – Pygmy Polyphonies from North Congo

VARIOUS ARTISTS

VDE Gallo

Rating: ★★★★

This is a stunning collection of one of the world’s most extraordinary vocal expressions: yeli, the polyphonic yodeling from the...

Reviewed by Martin Sinnock in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Our Latin Thing

Our Latin Thing

Fania All-Stars

Strut/Fania

Rating: ★★★★★

This special edition package celebrates the 40th anniversary of a very special night. On Thursday August 26 1971, the stellar...

Reviewed by Mark Sampson in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Amachal

Amachal

Toumast

Green United Music

Rating: ★★★

On their second album, Toumast create a new form of Touareg guitar music, substantially evolved from the trademark sound we’ve...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Jiangnan Sizhu Music

Jiangnan Sizhu Music

Lingling Yu & Guo Gan

Felmay

Rating: ★★★

Two more Chinese virtuosi, another enjoyable record. The sizhu in the title refers to ‘silk and bamboo’, as in the...

Reviewed by Michael Church in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Golden Beirut: New Sounds From Lebanon

Golden Beirut: New Sounds From Lebanon

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Out Here

Rating: ★★★

Two years ago, I spent a week in Beirut lecturing to journal¬ism students. In the evenings, after classes were done,...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Romeo Scaccia meets Kočani Orkestar

Romeo Scaccia meets Kočani Orkestar

Romeo Scaccia

Morgenland

Rating: ★★★★

The notion of a collaboration between an Italian pianist and film composer and a Macedonian brass band, might inspire anticipation...

Reviewed by Kim Burton in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Cigala & Tango

Cigala & Tango

Diego El Cigala

Edge Music/Universal

Rating: ★★

Tango and flamenco have elemental, thematic, tonal and rhythmic differences due to their entirely separate, and exceptional, cultural histories. On...

Reviewed by Chris Moss in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Note of Hope: A Celebration of Woody Guthrie

Note of Hope: A Celebration of Woody Guthrie

VARIOUS ARTISTS

429 Records

Rating: ★★★

The Woody Guthrie industry continues to thrive as we approach 2012, the centenary of his birth. After the two Mermaid...

Reviewed by Nigel Williamson in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Review of Beginner’s Guide to the Caribbean

Beginner’s Guide to the Caribbean

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Nascente

Rating: ★★★★

In a compilation¬exhausted market, do we need yet another Caribbean greatest hits set? The short answer would be no, unless...

Reviewed by Charles De Ledesma in issue: Jan/Feb/2012

Subscribe from only £7.50

Start your journey and discover the very best music from around the world.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Songlines magazine.

Find out more