by Danny Wiser | Jun 29, 2022 | Interviews
One of the most successful acts to come out of the Real World Records label, Afro Celt Sound System have made musical fusion, inter-cultural exchange, and sonic innovation their hallmarks. We spoke with band members Simon Emmerson, N’Faly Kouyaté, and Johnny...
by Danny Wiser | May 23, 2022 | Uncategorized
As we reach our 200th nation from which we have reviewed an album, we take a moment to pause and look at where we have got to thus far. When we started our descent into insanity, taking on the mission to search for and write about an album from each nation back in...
by Danny Wiser | May 10, 2022 | Reviews
The rabab shines as Essar reminds his fellow compatriots about the richness and beauty of his family’s culture.. As the son of an Israeli, I have been wholly aware of my internal battle that I have been facing for many years as to whether I should proudly...
by Danny Wiser | May 7, 2022 | Reviews
Funk meets punk in this extraordinary album that came close to never even existing in the first place This may be a rather bold statement, but before even hearing the album’s remarkable origin story, I thought to myself that of all the hundreds of albums from artists...
by Danny Wiser | May 2, 2022 | Reviews, Top Picks
One of the most iconic records of all time, the multi-talented Wonder manages to pack complex and poetic lyricism alongside intricate and catchy music… At the start of this project, the lyric “music is a world within itself with a language we all understand”...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 24, 2022 | Reviews
Demonstrating ingenuity and heart, these plucky Uruguayans sit deservedly alongside some of Latin America’s greatest ska-rockers such as Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and Maldita Vecindad… As most massive football fans will be aware, since the start of global football...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 23, 2022 | Reviews
Haunting, minimalist drone-folk may not sound like a barrel of laughs, but Katie Kim’s stunning voice and manipulation of sound makes the album worth pursuing… When reviewing music, it is important to recognise that we all have our musical predispositions...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 21, 2022 | Reviews
As many of us look for the perfect soundtrack for the sunshine, this lesser known sound of Mongolia could be the magic answer When one thinks of Swiss music, they don’t just think of yodelling, when one thinks of Spanish music, they don’t just think of flamenco and...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 18, 2022 | Reviews, Top Picks
After two years of honouring musical delights from across the globe, we don’t have to search hard in our home nation to find a gem of our own… If one decided to try to pick objectively the best artist from any largely-populated nation, one would inevitably...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 5, 2022 | Interviews
Germany’s premier Balkan-jazz-funk-afrobeat-dub-reggae-Arabic-klezmer-folk-electro band Äl Jawala are not known for being easily categorised. Their esoteric back catalogue makes them a curious case, so we decided to sit down with percussionist Markus Schumacher and...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 21, 2022 | Interviews
On the 15th of February 2022, we got in touch with Dnipro-based band Kimnata Grethen for a chat which we finalised eight days later on the 23rd February. The following day, Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Having assumed the interview was cancelled, we got in touch...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 6, 2022 | Reviews
Tell your grandma to put her earplugs in, it is time for some Middle Eastern punk rock… It feels like whenever Israeli culture is intellectualised or spoken about, it is done in the backdrop of its tangled and complicated geopolitics. Despite being an album...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 5, 2022 | Reviews
Tim Sameke’s incredibly fun Kaneka music fuses the sound of traditional tribal dance with music from the West, gives us an insight into New Caledonia’s post-colonial identity crisis… NB: This review was written when we were still operating under the...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 2, 2022 | Reviews
Another Luaka Bop classic, Bastos guides us through the sounds of his life and his country… Before this wild descent of exploration into music cultures from across the world begun, David Byrne was a name I was familiar with, though I lacked a strong opinion on...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 24, 2022 | Interviews
Throughout our time researching music from around the world, one region remained something of a mystery to us – the Pacific Islands. Though we had listened to several albums of both traditional and modern music, the area was still enigmatic. To help us understand more...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 19, 2022 | Reviews
Urker’s proud multi-influenced sound of the Steppe is repackaged with psychedelic flourishes… If Turkey is the bridge between Europe and the Middle East then it goes without saying that Kazakhstan serves as the bridge between Europe and East Asia, and boy...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 17, 2022 | Reviews
Not many albums can pull of an exclamation mark in their name, Yma Sumac’s breakthrough however most certainly deserves the attention it implies… The 1950s is a decade romanticised by some, seen as a simpler time by many, it is fair to say that the world...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 15, 2022 | Reviews
Hard-hitting political rap music is the order of the day with these Arabic-language hip-hop pioneers When reviewing an album as political as Dabke On The Moon by DAM, we try not to take sides. However, as two Jews with family in Israel and a close personal connection...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 14, 2022 | Reviews, Top Picks
This hope-infused record by Mgzavrebi is not to be ignored as it uses styles of the past whilst maintaining a current and modern feel… On the border of Asia and Europe lies Georgia. A nation with a rich culture that comes from both continents, as well as their...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 9, 2022 | Reviews
The Banban Bamboo Band demonstrate immense ingenuity on their beautiful bamboo-based bonanza… Plant life contributes to various parts of Vanuatuan culture, from the use of tree vines at Pentecost Island’s world-renowned land diving traditions, to the popularity...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 6, 2022 | Reviews
Los Prisioneros’ synth-heavy rhythms are a whole lot of fun and show themselves off as phenomenal lyricists, together earning them status as legends of the Latin new wave scene… The music of Chile that I have been exposed to is somewhat unique when...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 2, 2022 | Reviews
A respect for their nation’s ancestral and recent past are all evident within Caifanes’ music, but they bring an artistic edge to their third album that changes the game… Mexican music is great. That might sound like an overly simplistic statement...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 30, 2022 | Interviews
To mark two decades after the release of the first 1 Giant Leap film and album, we spoke to co-creator of the project Jamie Catto, filmmaker, musician, and author, to discuss the effort that went into making 1 Giant Leap, its considerable legacy, as well as Catto’s...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 27, 2022 | Reviews
The brothers record centuries of inherited musical wisdom on this pleasant kora album… A trend one might expect to find when searching for the best albums from every country in the world is that it would be challenging to find many good ones recorded in the...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 19, 2022 | Reviews
A preservation of Tonga’s beautiful music culture never felt so apt… There is nothing written about The Kingdom of Tonga Cultural Group online. No information about who they are or why this album was recorded. Attached to the album is only the year of...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 17, 2022 | Reviews, Top Picks
The master of the oud demonstrates his skill not only in his musicianship but also through his production of the record… Around November 2020, having listened to numerous albums that featured the oud front and centre, it is fair to say that I was accustomed to...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 10, 2022 | Reviews
Dance or cry to this beautiful album, Majurugenta reminds us of Mozambique’s challenging past and shows off the work of a phenomenal saxophonist… It is fair to say that my music taste has evolved a great deal over the course of the last two years. Yet,...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 9, 2022 | Reviews
On the surface, this album seems a true enigma; yet by exercising patience and acceptance its truth will surely reveal itself to you… We are yet to feature an album shrouded in such a mystery as Songs I-V. The first time I heard the album, I was unaware of the...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 7, 2022 | Reviews
Redefining the genre with a unique tenderness, Popcaan’s debut album deservedly launched him into the global public conciousness… For most people, one’s teenage years are instrumental in forming and developing one’s own music taste, as it is an...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 4, 2022 | Reviews
This East meets West album does far more than introduce Westerners to the beautiful Baul music tradition – it enables both artists to truly shine… We recently featured an album showcasing one of UNESCO’s masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 31, 2021 | Reviews
Once part of the elite in Gabonese society, Patience Dabany proves it was worth breaking free from the shackles of her former life with the release of this disco epic… Here at NoiseNomad, it is fair to say that we are suckers for quirky trivia about each nation....
by Danny Wiser | Dec 30, 2021 | Reviews
An ancient tradition performed with panache, ladles of real human emotion, and historical rigour – the Rustavi Choir prove why its worth preserving… Some of the most enchanting music traditions are indeed some of the oldest. Those whose origin story lie...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 28, 2021 | Interviews
Six years on from their previous release, and despite being hampered by the pandemic, Tuvan folk-rockers Yat-Kha delighted fans earlier this year with the release of their most stripped back album to date, We Will Never Die. Fortunate enough to be joined by lead...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 27, 2021 | Reviews
Despite questions about the album’s quality, Micronesian musician Ozeky teaches us a deeper lesson about how artists should not pay too much attention to the opinion of critics… Danny: When this journey to discover the best album we could from every...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 25, 2021 | Interviews
Known for its great warriors, wordsmiths and wise men, the legacy of Ancient Greece lives on in every aspect of modern society; breathing the energy of this era into song, singer and percussionist Katerina Papadopoulou joins us to discuss her journey in creating an...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 22, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
A whirlwind ride through many important themes, hip-hop collective Black Vulcanite create innovative rhythms whilst always speaking truth to power… The point of view that all people are created equal regardless of race and as such have the same natural capacity...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 17, 2021 | Reviews
Bab L’Bluz’s music is touted as ‘psychedelic Gnawa blues’, but what does that actually mean? Many nations hold a proud tradition of ritual poetry being sung to music. What makes Morocco’s proud tradition of gnawa music distinct is not the...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 13, 2021 | Reviews
Rocking the boat of dictatorship from the 1980s until today, this Soviet rock record by Kino is not to be ignored… As far as I am concerned, any music that undermines and disrupts the order of the day gets a seal of approval from me; when those powers that be...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 13, 2021 | Reviews
A passable record with some fun tunes, Salah Al-Zadjali’s effort may entertain some and leave others unenthused… Joel: Where to start with this album, really. Or, indeed, where not to. It’s fine. I can’t get too excited about it. It’s perfectly listenable,...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 11, 2021 | Reviews
True musical revolutionaries are few and far between, so put your headphones in, shut your eyes, and marvel in the beauty and tragedy of Víctor Jara’s struggle… In the 21st century, the 11th of September has great significance as a date across the Western...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 31, 2021 | Reviews
Soca from one of the world’s smallest countries – but is it up to scratch…? Joel: Going into this project, while I liked calypso music, I was not a huge fan of soca music. Over a year later, and though I would not say it’s my favourite genre, I have...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 30, 2021 | Reviews
The Faruma Boduberu Group have made an important album that one day may sadly serve as a legacy of this great tradition from this noble nation… When this project started, there were fears about finding albums from various countries. On some level, we never truly...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 28, 2021 | Reviews
Global rhythms are embedded seamlessly into this high-energy piece of musical mastery… Truba, also known as Balkan Brass, is a genre that I have always loved whenever I have been given an album to listen to. Whilst one would have to have a heart of stone not to...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 27, 2021 | Interviews
In the summer of 2021, we sat down to chat with fusion music pioneer Ashwin Batish to discuss his musical life in three continents, his academic legacy, as well as the key musical influences in and outside of his family… “The idea of getting better and learning...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 25, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Iconic French singer Charles Aznavour has crafted a unique record with the capacity to provoke a sense of rather deep and beautiful self-reflection about dreams, desires, and direction… I have been dealt a hand of good fortune in life that I am wholly aware of....
by Danny Wiser | Oct 16, 2021 | Reviews
The Polynesian pair perform palatable Pacific pop… Joel: Tuvalu, the 4th smallest country in the world, with a population of only around 10,000 people, we had imagined would prove to be a challenge in finding an album, though we were undeterred after having...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 14, 2021 | Reviews
Via the The Touré-Raichel Collective, Africa meets the Middle East in a glorious symposium of creative exchange… Collaboration, although a beautiful notion in principle, is sometimes a tricky thing to get right. There is always a risk that ego gets in the way...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 13, 2021 | Reviews
The brilliant Belgian dazzles with a chanson record that is more than just beautiful poetry… Having reviewed a mountain’s worth of albums from across the world over the course of the last 16 months, it is fair to say that there have been a fair number of...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 12, 2021 | Reviews
A metal album that breaks all the rules with sprinklings of disco, funk and jazz… Regular readers of the site will be aware of my recent conversion process from hating metal music to being… not exactly a hardcore fan of the heavy metal genre, but at least...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 2, 2021 | Reviews
Is Trigon’s music navel-gazing nonsense or experimental genius? You decide… Joel: Look. I have to get this out of the way. I hated this album. I truly, truly despised it from beginning to end. I’ll get into why later, but first, some background. We try not...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 30, 2021 | Reviews
A master of his craft, Kong Nay’s work serves as a vital piece of cultural preservation that can hopefully inspire a next generation… Throughout this deep dive into the music culture of each nation on the planet, we realise that most countries’ music scene...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 29, 2021 | Reviews
Heavy metal for children? More like heavy metal for everyone!… For millennia, people have tried asking life’s biggest and most unanswerable questions. These questions often root from a place of existential crisis in which we try to learn and understand who we...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 27, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Defiance is the order of the day, as technically gifted Lebanese outfit Mashrou’ Leila produce an album that is as enjoyable as it is powerful… In an age of so-called culture wars, feigning interest in a cause or giving off an air of over-appreciation...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 26, 2021 | Interviews
Poet and frontman of the Welsh-language folk rock band Bob Delyn a’r’ Ebillion Twm Morys sat down with us to talk about the music of Brittany and Wales, the inspiration he takes from Welsh poetry and verse, the revival of Welsh culture and language, as...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 20, 2021 | Reviews
Prescient lyricism, ambitious compositions and raw energy – Toque Profundo’s debut album is for the history books… If you have arrived to this page looking for a recommendation of an amazing Dominican classic, in some respects you have come to the...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 19, 2021 | Reviews
Mexican masters of music Maná prove their worth with an engaging and varied album, as well as an all-time great track for good measure… After lengthy research into the rock scenes in different countries across the world, it seems that Mexico, comparatively to...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 18, 2021 | Reviews
Traditional tropical rhythms are brought into the 21st century by Elijah L with a deft touch and some global music flavours… After listening to Kiribati’s biggest musical export, Elijah L, one might not be so surprised to hear that the island nation is the...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 5, 2021 | Reviews
Can pop stars become rock stars? Let’s head to Kuala Lumpur to find out Picture the scene. Imagine you are a musician adored by fans across the continent. Whether you are in a nightclub in Jakarta, a swanky hotel in Singapore, or even in a shop back home in...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 3, 2021 | Reviews
The Anjolok brothers stay to true to their roots while adding a modern flavour to their debut album… Danny: Having recently watched the superb one-man show A Thousand Sons written and performed by Jamie Sefton, the theme of nuclear test detonations in the...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 1, 2021 | Reviews
Sounds of the past and the present sewn together, showing off Qatar’s other side In just over a year, the small Persian Gulf nation of Qatar will be at the forefront of everyone’s attention when they host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It could be argued that...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 30, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Brown earns her crown as Zimbabwe’s “Queen of Pop” in this magnificent debut attempt… In my first forays into adulthood, I fell deeply in love. I was drawn in by her colour, her energy, the sense of liberty that she transmitted and the feeling...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 22, 2021 | Reviews
The Junaro siblings come together and unite their talents in full force, combining the best of what they have to offer… Over the course of this musical odyssey we have seen various family units come together to produce some brilliant pieces of music. From...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 20, 2021 | Reviews
Party rhythms and good times in store on an album with a much faster tempo than its makers’ homeland’s giant tortoises As a big reggae and dancehall fan, it was fair to say that I was a little bit dubious when I received the recommendation from the...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 20, 2021 | Interviews
Electronic music trio Owanj, formed of Isla Greenwood, Jemal Toussaint, and Isaac Westmore, spoke to us about the development of their debut album, embracing diverse music cultures and connecting to their precious natural surroundings… “You can spend a whole...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 18, 2021 | Reviews
Icons in their own right, known primarily for their show-stopping live act, Les Maitres-Tambours du Burundi struggle to transfer their palpable stage presence to the album format… The Maitres-Tambours du Burundi (or the Master Drummers of Burundi in English,...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 17, 2021 | Reviews
Eivør’s angelic voice penetrates the soul amidst a backdrop of danceable rhythms inspired by her tiny nation’s nature and people… Folktronica, which was once an experimental fusion genre, has swept into the broader public consciousness in recent...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 8, 2021 | Reviews
Having warmed up for Iron Maiden in the year before the album’s recording, B.T.R. go on to earn their stripes with this banging rock record… As someone who has spent much of my life avoiding ‘the dark side’ in terms of my music listening habits, I have...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 7, 2021 | Reviews
The father and sons combo that form Trio Chemirani create a deeply spriritual sound, accessible for all humankind… When this project to listen to and review music from every country in the world begun, one driving force behind it was to test out whether the...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 4, 2021 | Reviews
A remarkable talent whose music can be enjoyed passively and reveal itself actively, is the work of a master trumpeter takes you on a emotional journey, whilst honouring his South African roots… Hugh Masekela, the father of South African jazz is seen as an...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 2, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Finding the right adjective to sum up an album is not always an easy task, but the word ‘revolutionary’ is obvious in the case of Charly García’s epic sophomore solo effort… Upon what may well have been my fiftieth listen of this behemoth of an...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 27, 2021 | Reviews
Cecile Kayirebwa’s prophetic message of unity released during the genocide of 1994 includes sounds and rhythms that may remind you of another part of the globe… Despite music often being a source for good and for change, it is hard to quantify what impact,...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 25, 2021 | Reviews
The band earn their deserved popularity with the creation of their greatest hit; an anthem that transcends appreciation at concert venues and ventures instead into the deeply political… Here at NoiseNomad we pride ourselves on our USP as the first people to have...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 24, 2021 | Reviews
While LUNA features experimentalism combined with a fearless attitude, this album by plucky indie band from the Abode of Peace leaves one of us cold, the other enthusiastic… Danny: In the interest in being straight-up and honest, I will admit from the outset...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 23, 2021 | Reviews
Mounira Mitchala bridges the gap between North and Central Africa with this rather uplifting album… Though one of the largest countries by size, ranking at number 20 on the list, Chad is a country that has a surprisingly limited music scene. Despite obviously...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 20, 2021 | Reviews
Los Hermanos Flores’ family unity and musical talent puts El Salvador in a well-deserved positive light… El Salvador recently hit the headlines for becoming the first country to declare bitcoin as legal tender. Though the decision is inherently risky due...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 18, 2021 | Reviews
Serge Tonnar & Legotrip provide a multi-genred extravaganza that celebrates the language and culture of the Grand Duchy… It is fair to say that Luxembourg is a country that punches well above its weight for one of its size economically. Over the years many...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 17, 2021 | Reviews
Malouma provides an insight into what a progressive Mauritania could sound like, whilst still paying homage to the country’s beautiful musical traditions… Though I’m aware of the dangers of ranking different nations’ or regions’ music, as each...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 11, 2021 | Interviews
Band members Ashade Pearce, Jahson Gbassay Bull, and Reuben M. Koroma, all formerly displaced by the Sierra Leonean Civil War of the nineties, joined us to reflect upon their inspirational journey… “Music is the language of the soul, it touches the minds of...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 6, 2021 | Reviews
Wintry sounds abound in this confident debut album from Riit that takes Inuk music to electro pop… Born in a tiny village in the windswept frozen tundra of Canada’s newest, largest, and most sparsely populated territory named Nunavut, Riit’s debut album is a...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 4, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
A beautiful and powerful first incarnation of what can be labelled as Bholoja’s somewhat unique genre… Nowadays when people ask me what kind of music I like, I genuinely don’t have the capacity to answer with a pithy response listing the four genres that...
by Danny Wiser | Jun 27, 2021 | Reviews
Feminist pop that pays tribute to some of Chile’s greatest figures, Pascuala Ilabaca’s work is thoughtful as well as entertaining… In Europe there exists a perception that it is the continent that has produced the most important and best masters of...
by Danny Wiser | Jun 25, 2021 | Reviews
Not quite Prince, but Al Walser demonstrates similar musical vision… At NoiseNomad we are fortunate enough to speak to a range of artists for our interview section. One common theme amongst them is that most artists don’t like being pigeon-holed into a genre....
by Danny Wiser | Jun 22, 2021 | Reviews
Demonstrating Kyrgyz cultural links to both Russia and the West, Gorod 312 prove themselves to be a group with a genuine range of talents… Not only because it is home to the largest walnut forest in the world, Arslanbob, Kyrgyzstan has always been a country that...
by Danny Wiser | Jun 13, 2021 | Reviews
The Five Stars provide a lovely introduction to Faʻa Sāmoa – the ‘Samoan Way’… Aside from awareness of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s heritage, it is fair to say that I grew up knowing little else about Samoa. The island nation is in a part of the world...
by Danny Wiser | Jun 11, 2021 | Reviews
Almost half a century after their first concert, Les Bantous De La Capitale spread the joy of Congolese rumba, earning Congo-Brazzaville some well-deserved appreciation When reviewing legends Super Mama Djombo’s album Ar Puro I was rather impressed how the...
by Danny Wiser | Jun 10, 2021 | Reviews
Cultural hero Aubrey Cummings leaves his mark on two nations, but doesn’t quite do it for me… NoiseNomad is a platform that was created to share and discover music that we love or find fascinating, whilst simultaneously learning about different cultures....
by Danny Wiser | Jun 7, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Marxist policy often suppresses creative freedom, Victor Démé’s distinguished self-titled album proves itself as the exception to this rule… Over the weekend Burkina Faso has entered into the global consciousness under rather tragic consequences, when the...
by Danny Wiser | May 31, 2021 | Reviews
A cracking debut album by BfolkMuzik680 showcases a talented young hip-hop artist with depth and heart… Whilst one of the mantras on our project has been to give each country and artist ‘their fair due’, we cannot pretend that when it comes to discovering albums...
by Danny Wiser | May 29, 2021 | Reviews
An absolutely bonkers album that beautifully sums up the nation of Czechia… Czechia has a very special place in my heart. Having arrived to live in Prague for nearly a year back in 2017, I at first arrived with fairly little knowledge about the country which...
by Danny Wiser | May 27, 2021 | Reviews
Sonam Dorji honours his great nation’s musical past and delights listeners with the beauty of the delightful drangyen… Throughout this entire process of listening to albums from every nation, we have consciously tried to select a diverse range of musical...
by Danny Wiser | May 24, 2021 | Interviews
Indigenous musician and rights campaigner Pura Fé sat down to speak with us about her music, her days touring festivals, indigenous communities and the challenges they face, as well as the successes they have achieved… “When you have many lineages, all that...
by Danny Wiser | May 16, 2021 | Reviews
Stories of life’s everyday happenings are sung with amazing instrumentation behind them in a wonderful crossover of genres… One of the joys of this journey around the globe’s different music cultures is that we have of course discovered a myriad of musical...
by Danny Wiser | May 15, 2021 | Reviews
Miriam Makeba shows herself to be multi-talented, not only leaving behind a legacy as a feminist icon who fought hard for racial equality but also a sublime music artist… Miriam Makeba’s moniker ‘Mama Africa’ secures her a place in the pantheon of great world...
by Danny Wiser | May 13, 2021 | Reviews
Michele Henderson’s debut album introduces the world to her impressive vocal talent… As an internationalist with a keen sense of global identity, from a young age I took great pride in my rather abnormal interest in countries other than my own. Whilst most...
by Danny Wiser | May 10, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Humorous, uplifting, and endearing – this palm wine record is the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing day in the sun The Beatles’ Abbey Road, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours arguably are three of the most iconic album covers of all...
by Danny Wiser | May 2, 2021 | Reviews
A message of cultural unity and care for the environment – can the Madagascar All Stars get it across?… The concept of the musical supergroup is one that, in the West, is fondly held in principle but is rarely met with much critical acclaim in practice....
by Danny Wiser | May 1, 2021 | Reviews
Take off your colonial-tinted Western goggles, don’t immediately judge that which you are not used to, and the record’s depths will reveal itself as more than exotic and zany ‘black music’… There is so much to say about this album, that I...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 29, 2021 | Interviews
The Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated producer, musician, and composer sat down to speak with us about his career in the field of world music fusion, the value of musicians in different cultures, and a very special gig in Senegal… “If I am working with somebody...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 29, 2021 | Reviews
Wild and loose, Totó La Momposina carries the torch for traditional Cumbia in this spectacular record… Recently on NoiseNomad we have published a review of Comorian singer Maalesh’s Wassi Wassi. In the piece we discussed his ability to reflect the...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 18, 2021 | Reviews
Havea’s independently released debut album is a set of genuinely uplifting and engaging tunes… The sense of wanderlust and adventure that characterises many backpackers is something that shines through in Tonga-born Joel Havea’s wonderful debut...
