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Reviews

Review of Doğu Ekspresi

Doğu Ekspresi

Café Türk

Top of the World

Sound Concept Records

Rating: ★★★★

The border town of Kars in the far north-east of Turkey holds a special allure in the Turkish imagination. The...

Reviewed in issue April/2025

Review of Yarın Yoksa

Yarın Yoksa

Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek

Big Crown Records

Rating: ★★★

Fans of groove-laden psyche will love this offering from these boundary-defying purveyors of vintage-style Anatolian soul. The silky vocals of...

Reviewed in issue April/2025

Review of Amane

Amane

Bab El West

Les Bonnes Ondes

Rating: ★★★

The Moroccan-French three-piece here deliver a well-crafted desert blues collection with strong 70s and 80s rock influences. The group work...

Reviewed in issue April/2025

Review of Aylar

Aylar

Şatellites

Batov

Rating: ★★★

In the last few years, a plethora of young bands have arisen with a mission to valorise and recreate the...

Reviewed in issue April/2025

Review of Music from the East

Music from the East

Ammar El Sherei

wewantsounds

Rating: ★★★★

Ammar El Sherei (AKA Omar El Shariyi), born in Upper Egypt in 1948, was considered a pioneer in the 1970s...

Reviewed in issue April/2025

Review of Abdallar’a Kalan / The Heritage of the Abdals

Abdallar’a Kalan / The Heritage of the Abdals

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Kalan

Rating: ★★★★

This special project, brought out by Turkey’s Kalan after three years of preparation, collects new recordings of 46 Abdal folk...

Reviewed in issue April/2025

Review of Uncovered

Uncovered

Al-Qasar

wewantsounds

Rating: ★★★

One of the most globally spread bands around, in terms of both membership and sonic concocting, Al-Qasar are currently living...

Reviewed in issue April/2025

Review of Temple of Hope

Temple of Hope

Saba Alizadeh

30M Records

Rating: ★★★★

How can a sense of beauty be found amid fear and cruelty? Saba Alizadeh, on his third album now, continues...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2025

Review of Love’s Company

Love’s Company

Djanan Turan

Boldfish Music

Rating: ★★★

There is an arch, stylised and arthouse feel to Turan. The Turkish singer-songwriter is a longtime member of the London...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2025

Review of Un Éloge d’Oblique: Confluence #1.2.3

Un Éloge d’Oblique: Confluence #1.2.3

Isabelle Courroy

Buda Musique

Rating: ★★★★

Constantly exploring and expanding the boundaries of her instrument, French kaval player Isabelle Courroy presents here a three-part album (which...

Reviewed in issue February/March/2025

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