by Danny Wiser | Apr 15, 2021 | Reviews
Wizkid establishes himself as one of the mighty trio of Afrobeats superstars, putting the genre into the Western public conciousness in style… Danny: In 2018, I had the absolute pleasure of living with a Nigerian prince. Whilst in the wake of the Duke of...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 13, 2021 | Reviews
The wonderful music on this sega album by Cassiya serves to remind us of the perils of slavery, but allows us to celebrate the resilience of human nature… Mauritius, to many outsiders, might simply seem to be just a paradise for tourists. Famed for its...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 12, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Oryema tackles the difficult theme of being exiled from one’s homeland using the emotions from his personal hardship to guide him through this powerful masterpiece… When one ponders the term ‘exile’, it often evokes images of deposed leaders, such as...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 8, 2021 | Interviews
Completing what might be an industry first, Light Warriors alongside a series of musical collaborators have created a project that highlights both oneness and diversity. We sat down with Light Warriors founder Erik Rabasca, as well as performers Kwadjo Spiri and...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 5, 2021 | Reviews
A tapestry of rock music in which Aurthohin dip Bangladesh’s toe into the sea of hard rock in style… Growing up in the UK I took for granted the already wide range of music that had been in existence in my birthplace and as a child I naively thought that...
by Danny Wiser | Apr 3, 2021 | Reviews
Jazz singer David Emmanuel blends together Caribbean music culture with soul, funk and pop, with one delicious Easter egg hidden at the end of the album… Hailing from the ‘Island of Spice’, where people report the nation smelling like one giant scented candle...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 30, 2021 | Reviews
Afro-pop superstar Angelique Kidjo combines disparate American genres together seamlessly, highlighting their African origins… Angelique Kidjo is a titan of the world music scene (no matter how much she might hate the term used to describe the genre in which she...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 21, 2021 | Reviews
Vocal talent that earns the right to reverberate against Michelangelo’s stunning frescos… Danny: In recent centuries, Europe has seen its music culture massively diversify, as showcased by the wide range of album reviews on our site that differ wildly from...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 20, 2021 | Reviews
A wonderful album concept, laden with pastoral sounds and themes, made all the more enticing by Kim Jung Mi’s alluring vocals… I must admit that on first listen, the album as a whole failed to reveal itself to me. I was absolutely blown away by one track,...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 19, 2021 | Reviews
The Minyo Crusaders are the vanguard of the restoration of a noble Japanese music tradition by way of Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America… It is not often that an album leaves me stumped about how to start a review; when that happens it is usually because of...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 15, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Serenity, spirituality and sanctity feature as strands of this phenomenal collaboration between two musical devotees… When many in the West imagine a monastic Buddhist life they often get confused and instead picture the deprivation of asceticism. Under this...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 10, 2021 | Interviews
Having completed the huge undertaking of bringing an artist from every country together to perform on a single track, we spoke to Emma Newman and Jude Dexter Smith about their achievement, the thought process behind it, and the challenges they encountered along the...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 6, 2021 | Reviews
Comoros’ cross-continental culture is embodied by Maalesh’s debut album… ‘Africa’s moon islands’, AKA the Comoros, has this affectionate nickname as it was named after the Arabic word ‘qamar’ meaning moon. Though there are of course other African...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 3, 2021 | Reviews
Cricket statistics and anti-colonialist calypso, what more could you want in an album…? White people in the West, with little exposure to Calypso music, might rather naively associate it just with party times. Perhaps the most famous song from the genre that is...
by Danny Wiser | Mar 2, 2021 | Reviews
Kader Tarhanine and company demonstrate their talents in this glorious Tuareg blues album and inadvertently shine a light on some of the oppression their people face… In the 19th and 20th century, the so-called ‘Jewish Question’ arose across European...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 21, 2021 | Reviews
It would be criminal to suggest that the record is simply a one-hit wonder as Thin Lizzy blow the roof off, allowing their audience to momentarily fantasise about the joys of being a rock star… Legends of hard rock Thin Lizzy undoubtedly elevated themselves to...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 18, 2021 | Reviews
A hidden gem that demonstrates the beauty of cross-cultural collaboration… Hukwe Zawose, folk musician or fusion pioneer? That is the question posed by this underappreciated collaboration he made with celebrated Canadian producer and guitarist Michael Brook....
by Danny Wiser | Feb 16, 2021 | Interviews
Documentary filmmaker Nicolas Entel joined us to discuss his groundbreaking new Netflix docuseries Rompan Todo, in which he aims to construct a regional narrative behind the proliferation of rock music in Latin America… “Going to a concert in Argentina is as...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 15, 2021 | Reviews
Despite dark times, the legacy of an anti-colonialist revolutionary lives on through this beautiful album, reminding Bissau-Guineans to hold onto their hope… Guinea-Bissau gained infamy in recent years for becoming the centre of the global drug trade, with a...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 14, 2021 | Reviews
Fun, raw and multi-talented; Zucchero shows off a fusion style decades ahead of his time in a country that often fails to welcome in black music culture… When one thinks of the greatest contributors to the history of culture in Europe there is arguably one...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 7, 2021 | Interviews
Toeing the party line to earn a living whilst engaging in subversive acts to develop his craft, electro space-rock composer Stefan Elefteriu, speaks about plying his trade in the Socialist Republic of Romania, building his own synthesiser and his latest album Quantum...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 7, 2021 | Reviews
Hailing from a nation where pop music production was once a dangerous act, UTN1 have proved themselves to be an excellent boy band in their own right… When writing a review of any artist whose backstory in music is one of oppression, one has to make a decision...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 5, 2021 | Reviews
Successfully fusing three seemingly disparate genres, Ojo de Buey create a perfect chilled-out album whilst showing off the riches of Costa Rican culture… When Danny recommended me this album, he described it as reggae rock fusion, and I immediately took a deep...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 4, 2021 | Reviews
The album is enjoyable but more so than that, balances ambition and endeavour to break the status quo without relinquishing Euphoria’s obvious pop sensibility… Legends of the Indian pop game, Euphoria, decided to break convention from producing the expected...
by Danny Wiser | Feb 2, 2021 | Reviews
Proving himself to be more than just a one hit wonder, Soca star Lyttle proves collaborations might be the key to international stardom… Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, a country whose name already sounds like they could have been a successful doo-wop band in...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 26, 2021 | Interviews
Stef Conner is a self-proclaimed dead language enthusiast, as well as a musician and singer whose passion had led her to some unique avenues of exploration; she sat down with us to speak about her latest Anglo-Saxon album and much more… “We’re dealing with...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 23, 2021 | Reviews
A stalwart of Israeli music, Yehoram Gaon shows off his talent in an album of love songs and deeper wisdom… When talking about Israel as a country it is difficult to avoid the elephant in the room in terms of its history that is intertwined with conflict since...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 22, 2021 | Reviews
If an album has been released by the Real World Records record label, the artist usually either has a fascinating story or an incredible talent; in the case of Maryam Mursal it seems that she has both… Somalia is a country that, when mentioned, might immediately...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 19, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Electro masters Justice bring darkness to disco in their superb debut album… Looking at the album cover of Justice’s debut album †, one would be forgiven in thinking it might be a metal album. Whilst on the surface that might seem far from the case when one...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 18, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
State-sponsored bands often are ‘middle-of-the-road’; however, this is far from the case for these experimental Turkmen extraordinaires… Home to the ‘Gates of Hell’ (the Darvaza gas crater which still burns nearly half a century later after a...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 16, 2021 | Reviews
On the verge of perfection – but is Papa Wemba let down by a Western production team?… Papa Wemba’s decision to release an album with such an international sound, as he collaborated with Brit-pop producer of New Order and Pet Shop Boys fame Stephen Hague,...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 14, 2021 | Reviews
As old meets new on this multi-genred record, its minimalist approach is simultaneously the key to its success and also the reason for its slight downfall… Many sub-genres could be used as labels to describe this record. Yet, from nu jazz to trip-hop to acid...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 11, 2021 | Reviews
A whistle-stop tour of rock; Jadal prove themselves to be competent across the whole genre… We all have our own musical biases and I am no different. Whilst reggae, soul, and disco hit me in three different ways, my love for those genres is more visceral and...
by Danny Wiser | Jan 11, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Soul man Emmanuel Pi Djob shows off his talent as he crosses the divide of the Anglo-Francophone conflict in his native Cameroon… Many musicians from all around the world decide to sing in English. There are a variety of reasons for doing so, principal among...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 27, 2020 | Reviews
Pop-rock maestro Lucio Dalla merges an array of styles to create a beautiful sound… Despite being an immense admirer of all things Italian, as a non-Italian speaker who has never had the opportunity to live in Italy as of yet, I sometimes feel as though I cannot...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 26, 2020 | Reviews
A beautiful introduction to the world of kafi, Abida Parveen guides her listeners on a spiritual journey of devotion… Despite not being NoiseNomad’s in-house resident Sufi music expert, I do not feel overwhelmed by the task of writing a flattering review of...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 25, 2020 | Advent Calendar
IRELAND: Fairytale of New York – Christy Moore… Merry Christmas! For us, there was no doubt in our minds for what would be the king that sits astride the other World Music Christmas anthems in our countdown. Best associated with the original version...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 24, 2020 | Advent Calendar
PUERTO RICO: Feliz Navidad – José Feliciano… This is one of our favourite Christmas songs of all time. If you want to host a Christmas party and wish to get your guests dancing, then your best bet is to head over to your sound system and pop on José...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 23, 2020 | Reviews
Although ultimately a pan-Latin genre, Celia Cruz’s Cuban origins shine through the first truly seminal salsa album… When one thinks about salsa stars who were instrumental in the early development of the genre in New York, one nationality of performer seems to...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 23, 2020 | Advent Calendar
CHILE: Doña María Le Ruego – Víctor Jara… This Christmas song by Víctor Jara is, unusually for a communist, very religious in its tone. Yet, there are parallels between his communist ideology and his lapsed Catholicism that can be drawn from the lyrics of...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 22, 2020 | Advent Calendar
AUSTRALIA: White Wine In The Sun – Tim Minchin… Comedian Tim Minchin’s song is the perfect song for atheists, non-Christians and Christians who are able to laugh at the tragic comedy Christmas has become in the Western world. Whilst on this journey of...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 21, 2020 | Reviews
Perhaps the very definition of a problematic favourite, Let The People Sing poses the difficult question of whether an album can be loved despite its complicated and often reprehensible politics… Ahead of writing this review I have been tossing and turning in my...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 21, 2020 | Advent Calendar
UKRAINE: Shchedryk – Crimean Chamber Choir… This well-known Christmas carol has its origins in the Crimean region of Ukraine, which tells the story of a swallow flying into a house to declare the prophecy of the prosperous year that lies ahead. Whilst not...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 20, 2020 | Advent Calendar
PANAMA: 20 De Diciembre – Rubén Blades… Panamanian salsa superstar Rubén Blades, tackled the difficult subject of the US invasion of his home nation that took place five days before Christmas in 1989. The song, unlike much of his more upbeat work, is a...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 19, 2020 | Advent Calendar
THE NETHERLANDS: Een Heel Gelukkig Kerstfeest – De Toppers… Though this song is full of festive fun, it serves to remind us of Dutch Christmas, and thus poses questions about the way in which Christmas is celebrated in The Netherlands today. Meaning ‘A...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 18, 2020 | Advent Calendar
ISRAEL: סְבִיבוֹן סוֹב סוֹב סוֹב (Sevivon Sov Sov Sov) – Hana Laszlo… This charming Chanukah ditty is a kids’ favourite. It describes the traditional Jewish game of spinning the dreidel (known in Hebrew as a sevivon). The legend goes that in the times when...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 16, 2020 | Advent Calendar
EGYPT: Eporro – George Sadak… Though this Coptic Christmas hymn might not sound so traditional to its Western listeners, the song is in fact a part of the festive celebrations in Egypt, where the majority of Copts live. Collaborating with Chicagoan Celtic...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 16, 2020 | Interviews
Ecuadorian rock singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, award-winning sound engineer, former lawyer, and academic Antonio Vergara spoke to NoiseNomad about his background, the power of music, the Ecuadorian music scene, and revealed an exclusive about his latest...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 16, 2020 | Advent Calendar
JAMAICA: Santa Claus, Do You Ever Come to the Ghetto? – Chronixx… This cover of gospel/reggae artists Carlene Davis and Trinity’s song touches on a theme that many fail to remember during the festivities. Whilst Christmas can often be a time of materialism...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 15, 2020 | Advent Calendar
SPAIN: Campana Sobre Campana – Parchis… This particular Spanish villancico (not quite a carol, but is often ignored as a term in favour of carol) is one of the few remaining popular villancicos remaining across the Iberian Peninsula. On the face of it,...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 14, 2020 | Advent Calendar
NIGERIA: Betelehemu – African Children’s Choir… Based on a Yoruban folk text, Betelehemu is a syncretic hymn about the birthplace of Jesus. Christianity is followed by just under half of the African continent, and as such Christmas remains an...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 13, 2020 | Reviews
Andean prog-rock fusion with an interesting sound and an important message… Having not experienced an immediate visceral and emotional connection with this album when I had first listened to it, I was nevertheless intrigued by a style that I had never previously...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 13, 2020 | Advent Calendar
INDIA: Shehar Ki Pariyon Ke Peeche – Ayesha Jhulka and Aamir Khan… Not strictly a song about Diwali, this Bollywood hit is featured in the background of Diwali celebrations and has become synonymous with this festival of light. Diwali itself is a Hindu...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 12, 2020 | Reviews
Almost two decades after initially planned, stars link-up to show off their musical talent, reminding us of the evident connection Cuba has to its African roots Arguably the best and certainly one of the most renowned world music albums comes from Cuba. In fact, Buena...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 12, 2020 | Advent Calendar
GERMANY: O Tannenbaum – Ernst Anschütz… This carol is perhaps one of the most recognisable across the world. Whilst it is not explicitly about Christmas, it is about a fir tree and its evergreen nature, which is associated with Christmas. Different nations...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 10, 2020 | Advent Calendar
LEBANON: لج تلج فيروز- (Talj Talj) – Fairuz… Whilst much of the Arab world do not have a notable celebration during the festive season due to their Muslim faith, one can often forget the region also is residence to those of other faiths including Bahá’i,...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 10, 2020 | Advent Calendar
ISRAEL: Ma’oz Tzur – Yonina… Husband and wife duo Yoni & Nina Tokayer’s cover of the Chanukah classic Ma’Oz Tzur updates an 800-year-old song that has been popularly sung by Jewish communities around the world since the time of its original writing. The song...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 9, 2020 | Reviews
Thought of as a utopia of tolerance, Mari Boine’s anger at the treatment of the Sámi people serves to uncover Scandinavia’s darkest secret… Listening to the first 19 seconds of this album, to the uninitiated, it might appear that Boine is rather...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 9, 2020 | Advent Calendar
GREECE: Hronia Polla – Sakis Rouvas… For many around the world, Christmas Day is the day of giving and receiving gifts, however, not so in the Hellenic Republic (AKA Greece, to us simple folk). In fact, exchanging presents takes place on New Years’ Day,...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 8, 2020 | Interviews
Upon release of Malcura’s sophomore album, we were joined by guitarist Josh Voce to discuss a range of topics including cultural appropriation, busking days with Tash Sultana, and an impromptu gig alongside the band’s heroes… “Music’s come so...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 8, 2020 | Advent Calendar
CANADA: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Michael Bublé… In some senses, the most traditional offering we could be giving you during our World Music Advent Calendar is this extraordinary rendition of the classic Christmas song Have Yourself a Merry...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 7, 2020 | Advent Calendar
BRAZIL: Tão bom que foi o Natal – Chico Buarque… As the largest Catholic nation in the Americas, it is no surprise that there is a wealth of Christmas songs and traditions. This particular song by famed Brazilian singer-songwriter Chico Buarque is a...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 6, 2020 | Advent Calendar
SOUTH KOREA: Snow Candy – Starship Planet… This collaboration between K-pop artists K.Will, Sistar, and Boyfriend comes from a country that is not a Christian nation. Therefore, this Christmas song is continuing in the tradition pioneered in the West where...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 5, 2020 | Advent Calendar
SWEDEN: Mer Jul – Adolphson & Falk… This delightfully jaunty Christmas tune by the Swedish synth-pop superstars Adolphson-Falk details the excitement felt in anticipation of Christmas by Swedes across the land hoping for the most Christmassy day of...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 4, 2020 | Advent Calendar
ETHIOPIA: The Savior Of The World Is Born Today – Orthodox Tewahedo Church… Christianity is often thought of as being brought over to Africa by imperialist Western powers who colonised nations across the continent. This fallacy is put into check by the...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 3, 2020 | Advent Calendar
NEW ZEALAND: A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree – Kingi Ihaka… In some ways, this song is a perfect encapsulation of New Zealand today, celebrating its Maori culture, whilst also honouring its firmly Western identity. An adaptation of the popular English carol The...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 2, 2020 | Advent Calendar
LATVIA: Circeniša Ziemassvetki – Linda Leen… Armed with a beautiful maternal voice, and sung much like a lullaby, Linda Leen’s cover of Aspazija’s (Elza Pliekšāne’s) poem tells the rather sad story of a hungry boy living in poverty whose mother tries...
by Danny Wiser | Dec 1, 2020 | Advent Calendar
PHILIPPINES: Noche Buena – Joey Albert… Constituting the largest Christian nation in Asia, the Philippines has a wealth of different Christmas carols and anthems both religious and secular. Noche Buena by Joey Albert mixes the two creating a pop song about...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 29, 2020 | Reviews
Dubbed the ‘ambassadors of Paraguayan music’, Los Tres Paraguayos certainly succeed in showcasing Paraguay’s most special instrument Like most nations in Latin America in the 20th century, Paraguay shared a political history marked by the continuous shift between...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 28, 2020 | Reviews
The Sammarinese band put their nation on the map with this cromulent pop-rock album As the answer to the rather challenging pub quiz question ‘Who was the first band to represent San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest?’, Miodio also hold the rather embarrassing...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 27, 2020 | Reviews
Alsarah and The Nubatones guide their listeners down a stream of emotion-filled waters… Once again on NoiseNomad we find ourselves not only exploring the music of a new nation, but also learning about the culture and the plight of another minority group. This...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 23, 2020 | Interviews
Distraught and dismayed by the brutality of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in his native Nigeria, solicitor turned singer/songwriter Jon Scott’s latest EP emphasises the need to unite and bring harmony, almost serving as a prophecy for recent events in his...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 22, 2020 | Reviews, Top Picks
Balla Et Ses Balladins’ bittersweet masterpiece celebrates liberation from colonialism… Whilst on the surface, this might seem a fun album with songs that were at the epicentre of Guinea’s “bar dancing music” scene, with simply not much more of a story to...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 22, 2020 | Reviews
Pioneers of Sufi rock Junoon honour their predecessors, their piety and their poetry… When I think about Junoon, one quote that comes to mind is that of Isaac Newton. The legendary scientist once said: “If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 19, 2020 | Interviews
Proud African, record producer, singer, musician and former investigative journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika, known professionally as Mzee, spoke to us about the importance of musical, cultural, and linguistic African traditions being continued in popular music… “I...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 19, 2020 | Reviews
Although impossible to compete with ABBA, Look Sharp! is enough to earn Roxette a worthy number #2 slot on the list of Sweden’s greatest musical exports When the average Tom, Dick, and Harry think about Sweden, it is likely that IKEA, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and meatballs...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 17, 2020 | Reviews
A selection of varied tunes from the Mountain Kingdom, Sankomota entertain as well as serving as a reminder of the history of its larger neighbour, South Africa… Aside from being known for its comparatively cold climate compared to much of the rest of the...
by Danny Wiser | Nov 1, 2020 | Reviews, Top Picks
The sextet embrace the musician’s law – “If it feels good, do it!” in this odyssey of funk… If one is, for example, to suffer a bereavement, it is unlikely that they would have the same capacity to immediately enjoy a delicious, sweet...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 30, 2020 | Reviews
Dubbed ‘The Sultan of Shred’, Bombino earns this title in his epic second studio album as he simultaneously shows off modern Tuareg culture and his musical skills… Musicians are often capable of making powerful comments in the lyrics of their music that elevate...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 28, 2020 | Reviews
Andorran singer Marta Roure provides a hugely enjoyable set of Catalan-language pop rock tunes… Whilst Marta Roure comes from a nation known internationally mostly for its skiing resorts, the Eurovision Song Contest should have been a perfect opportunity to show...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 26, 2020 | Reviews, Top Picks
Emmanuel Jal’s repeated calls to action throughout the entire record cut through the incredibly fun and upbeat tunes… All across the world there exists a proud tradition of musicians being unafraid to bring their social and political activism into the lyrics of...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 21, 2020 | Interviews
Mexican songwriter and bassist Carlos Toledo joined us to tell us about his band’s latest album Prueba El Sabor, the salsa scene in Mexico and much more… “You don’t need to speak Spanish to enjoy and listen to the music…” That said, it might help....
by Danny Wiser | Oct 18, 2020 | Reviews
The cultural heritage of the Mongolian people is on display in Egschiglen’s album of traditional music of the steppe… Danny: I have never been more nervous about writing a review. Partially because, unlike with most albums one might not like because the...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 17, 2020 | Reviews
David Broza’s album is full of love, hope, and an important message for us all to learn… As the son of an Israeli, the eternal conflict between Israel and Palestine is one that has always been very close to my heart and plays on my mind often. When my...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 16, 2020 | Reviews
Amazing mood music, but listen closely and This Is for the White in Your Eyes will soon reveal cracks… It is not often that I am left with such contrasting feelings about an album after returning to it for the first time in a while. Yet, This Is For The White In...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 14, 2020 | Reviews
Released in the 70s, these adaptations by Brazilian musician Deodato of classical music pieces from centuries ago have an almost futuristic quality to them, making this a truly timeless record… Classical jazz fusion is perhaps a harder genre than most to get...
by Danny Wiser | Oct 3, 2020 | Reviews
Fat Freddy’s Drop bridge the gap between the electronic dance world and the world of live instrumentation perfectly – What’s not to love?… When the two of us begun this process of listening to albums from every country in the world, whilst we had...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 30, 2020 | Reviews
Soda Stereo’s iconic record reverberates across Latin America, jam-packed with raw and heartfelt emotion… When reading the likes of Pitchfork or Rolling Stone Magazine, one might notice that amongst many music journalists there is a common trope amidst...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 27, 2020 | Reviews, Top Picks
If Golden Earring were from the UK or the US they would have reached legendary status and this album would be seen as one of the great rock albums of all time – here is why… I have always been someone who chooses to avoid labelling myself as a rock fan....
by Danny Wiser | Sep 19, 2020 | Reviews
This album is proof that you should follow Amanaz’s advice to “Ask Me About Nice Artistes in Zambia”… Throughout this journey of exploring world music, Joel and I have both discovered many sub-genres which were previously unknown to us. Today’s...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 17, 2020 | Reviews
Jewish klezmer played by a Roma band, this musical confluence allows us a window into a lost world of Eastern European cultural symbiosis… Whilst I cannot claim to be a film buff like Joel can, whose film reviews you can check out here, I do of course enjoy...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 16, 2020 | Reviews
In this moody and contemplative album, Neapolitan singer-songwriter Enzo Gragnaniello cuts to the heart of what makes Italy tick… If you’ve been an active reader of NoiseNomad, you may have noticed the spectrum of Italian artists that we have reviewed so far,...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 13, 2020 | Interviews
We sat down with Slovenian electronic music producers JK Soul and Zoran Savin to discuss their career so far and their affinity for the soul genre… “It was a clear statement that JK Soul is getting back to the soul – in the soul of his soul, and the soul...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 13, 2020 | Reviews
A great introduction to the soukous genre, as well as a window into a bleak period of Tanzanian history where The Doctor’s cutting lyrics were a glimmer of hope in trying to remedy the nation’s afflictions… Throughout this journey, Joel and I have discovered...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 11, 2020 | Reviews
Kick back and relax with this slow paced cover album that explores a wide range of genres all the way from blues to folk… When discussing records between the two of us that we review on NoiseNomad, we have on several occasions found ourselves discussing the...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 10, 2020 | Reviews
Sharzy’s Iu Mi Flow could be the album for you if you are after some passable Pacific party vibes… For fans of the site who have been there from its inception, I think it is only fair that you have a better understanding of our process. We typically listen...
by Danny Wiser | Sep 7, 2020 | Reviews, Top Picks
Is Bangui Africa’s very own Detroit? Laetitia Zonzambé puts forward a convincing case… The last time I was tasked with writing an ‘album of the week’ for NoiseNomad, I discussed how Leonard Cohen opened my eyes up to the world of lyrically-driven music in...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 30, 2020 | Reviews
This electronic album, whilst fun and upbeat, could also be enjoyed as Nicola Cruz’s ethnographic tour of the spiritual hotspots of planet Earth… The Andes as a region is famed for its indigenous people’s spiritual cosmology and their belief in the sacred...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 29, 2020 | Reviews
The Pakistani pop prodigy Haroon provides an eclectic pack of pretty perfect tunes… Sometimes on NoiseNomad I find myself struggling to find the right words to intellectualise an album that I have really liked, and when I am unable to do so, I feel like I am not...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 28, 2020 | Reviews
Neil Young provides flashes of brilliance amidst an otherwise pleasant plethora of folky tunes… Full disclosure, Neil Young has always been one of my big musical blind spots. What I thought knew about him and his music was limited to a handful of songs, where I...
