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 Joel Dwek | Aug 19, 2021 | Reviews
Taking the mantle from her father, the Azerbaijani vocalist and pianist uses her immense talents to put her own mark on the unique genre of jazz mugham… Like many of the musicians we have reviewed on this site, the Azerbaijani singer and jazz pianist Aziza...
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 Joel Dwek | Aug 16, 2021 | Reviews
Dobet Gnahoré’s unorthodox musical education and fiery natural talent make for an album that mixes a wide range of African styles within a modern sensibility… When thinking about what to write for this review, I kept thinking back to a question I have...
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 Joel Dwek | Aug 6, 2021 | Reviews
American styles sung in Nepali by a powerhouse vocalist in the form of Arthur Gunn, this is a debut album that makes you pay attention… Born in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, Dibesh Pokharel, later known professionally as Arthur Gunn, moved to the...
by Joel Dwek | Aug 5, 2021 | Reviews
Stereossauro’s electronic beats meet the passion and saudade of fado in this entertaining melange of an album… We don’t often consider the artwork of an album as necessarily integral to the album itself, though it often is. It is always some kind of...
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 Joel Dwek | Aug 2, 2021 | Reviews
Keeping it in the family, the aunt and niece duo of Las Hijas Del Sol remind us of the culture of the persecuted Bubi people, whilst honouring their obvious Hispanic influences… You may not know much about the small African nation of Equatorial Guinea, but you...
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 Joel Dwek | Jul 22, 2021 | Reviews
Blurring the boundaries between tradition and progression, the Uzbek diva shows us her country by combining old songs with a new sound… When it comes to the field of acting, it is said that no actor is more than six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon. When...
by Joel Dwek | Jul 21, 2021 | Reviews
The first and only solo studio album from one of Nicaragua’s proudest sons, Salvador Cardenal Barquero’s skill for catchy tunes and bittersweet lyricism are on full display… Hailing from the world’s most triangular country, Nicaragua,...
by Joel Dwek | Jul 20, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
The beloved Sudanese icon gives a masterclass in musical expression with an album that combines soulful vocals and musical fusion… Known affectionately as the King of Sudanese Jazz, Sharhabil Ahmed’s profile in his homeland of Sudan has been high ever since the...
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 Joel Dwek | Jul 8, 2021 | Reviews
A complex but flawed piece of work, does the Spanish rap star manage to bring flamenco into the 21st Century? Over the course of listening to so much music from around the world, I have surprised myself at how little music I have totally disliked. Even in genres that...
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 Joel Dwek | Jul 6, 2021 | Reviews
The Ukrainian DJ takes us on a magical mystery tour of his own, calling at Athens, Bucharest, and Chisinau… The idea of taking the listener on a journey through music is probably as old as music itself, with many concertos, operas, and symphonies all taking that...
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 Joel Dwek | Jun 26, 2021 | Reviews
The smooth Swede goes back to his roots and reflects on his career in this somewhat transcendental album… Atelje is the pseudonym of Swedish musician and producer Dan Lissvik, who was once part of the successful electronic music duo, Studio. Lissvik was a key...
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 Joel Dwek | Jun 24, 2021 | Reviews
Eclectic electro from innovative individuals, this is an album not to be ignored… John Wizards is the self-titled debut (and to date, only) album from this particular South Africa-based electronic music group. However, to simply call them an electronic music...
by Joel Dwek | Jun 22, 2021 | Reviews
When in the company of Malinda Jackson Parker, throw away all your preconceptions of what music should be – where we’re going we don’t need rules… The music of Congress-woman Malinda Jackson Parker can easily be dismissed, laughed off, not...
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 Joel Dwek | Jun 20, 2021 | Reviews
Subgenres of rock galore – Bohemia Suburbana demonstrate their supreme talent… It has become a cliché among myself and Danny that whenever I listen to a rock album that was released after 1990, I always end up comparing it to the works of iconic American...
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 Joel Dwek | Jun 11, 2021 | Reviews
Challenging beats and rhythms are the hallmark of Nídia’s experimental electro album… The sound of Não Fales Nela Que A Mentes will not be for everyone. As electronic albums go, it’s certainly on the more experimental end, and that is what makes it...
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 Joel Dwek | Jun 9, 2021 | Reviews
This Latin jazz rock fusion piece is not only entertaining, but provides a fascinating look into the Filipino-American community in 1970s California Few artists can truly be labelled ahead of their time. Hannah Gadsby famously riffs on this on her stand-up special...
by Joel Dwek | Jun 7, 2021 | Reviews
A folk album with a lovely sentiment, Hüsnü Şenlendirici and Trio Chios aim to showcase the shared musical heritage of their two nations… One of the great joys of music is its ability to bring people together, despite other factors that may otherwise divide...
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 Joel Dwek | May 27, 2021 | Reviews
One of Ethiopia’s biggest stars, Mahmoud Ahmed takes us on a journey through the uniquely Ethiopian genre of tizita… Some musicians seem destined for their careers. Though it is not true, as luck and circumstance play a huge role in determining who makes...
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 Joel Dwek | May 26, 2021 | Reviews
Rowdy party music with a cynical edge, Russian rockers Leningrad hide a nihilistic message within their upbeat tunes… Russian ska punk rockers Leningrad certainly know how to make some noise. The album title translates to minced meat, and even before you’ve...
by Joel Dwek | May 25, 2021 | Reviews
Daði Freyr creates retro pop with a funky disco beat – it’s fun, but is it enough?… The day before I sat down to write this, Icelandic musician and knitwear enthusiast Daði Freyr and his band Gagnamagnið have just lost the Eurovision song contest....
by Joel Dwek | May 24, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Mahsa Vahdat’s sensuous vocals and gentle jazz combine with Iranian traditional music in a beautiful confluence of sounds… Many, though not all, of the musicians we feature as ‘Album of the Week’ tend to be famous, either worldwide, in the...
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 Joel Dwek | May 14, 2021 | Reviews
The gulf state’s finest gifts us with a great introduction to khaliji music… Hailing from the United Arab Emirates, singer Mehad Hamad’s 2014 album Matredny Hdood is a very enjoyable set of tunes in the modern Arab pop style, inasmuch as it combines...
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 Joel Dwek | May 11, 2021 | Reviews
A perfect blend of post-rock and indie-rock, Días de Septiembre’s self-titled record differs greatly from much other Latin rock… The genre of post-rock is one that is associated with cold, industrial soundscapes that are harsh on the ear occasionally but...
by Joel Dwek | May 10, 2021 | Reviews
Taking pleasant party vibes and mixing them up a bit, Barbadian musician Rupee reveals his strengths and his flaws… In his review for the John Travolta-led sci-fi box office bomb and critical failure Battlefield Earth (which, if you haven’t seen, is genuinely...
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 Joel Dwek | Apr 30, 2021 | Reviews
Taking afro-soul to a new level, Faith Mussa’s idiosyncratic style and innovative form allows this album to surprise as well as entertain… Known as Malawi’s one-man electronic band, Faith Mussa’s style of mixing traditional African rhythms and beats with...
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 Joel Dwek | Apr 28, 2021 | Reviews
Singing in his balladeering style, Kosovan pop maestro Sabri Fejzullahu manages to mix in traditional folk music with extraneous elements in a charming style… Balkan music has, so far, not disappointed during this musical odyssey, and the well-regarded Kosovan...
by Joel Dwek | Apr 26, 2021 | Reviews
The Moranbong Band’s state-sanctioned propaganda power pop meant to entertain the North Korean masses is interesting as both a document of contemporary North Korean culture and a collection of pleasant songs, yet its provenance remains mysterious and...
by Joel Dwek | Apr 26, 2021 | Reviews
The swansong for one of Mali’s finest musical exports, Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux demonstrate exactly why they are still a world music lodestar… In the history of African popular music, there is perhaps no band more influential than Les Ambassadeurs....
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...
by Joel Dwek | Apr 16, 2021 | Reviews
The first Djiboutian album recorded for international release, Groupe RTD announce a fascinating music culture onto the global scene… Located in East Africa in between Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia, Djibouti’s coastal location on the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb has...
by Joel Dwek | Apr 16, 2021 | Reviews
Consummate pop music performed perfectly – but is there enough of it to satisfy? The first song on Taiwanese indie band The Fur.’s 2018 album Town is called Short Stay, which sums up my only real issue with the album, and it’s an uncommon criticism for me to...
by Joel Dwek | 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 Joel Dwek | Apr 12, 2021 | Reviews
Indie rock that musically harks back to grunge and classic rock, there is much to enjoy in Airport Impressions’ well-made album… Though I adore rock music more than any other genre, I have always been slightly sniffy towards the indie rock music artists of...
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 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 Joel Dwek | Apr 2, 2021 | Reviews
Breaking through boundaries in multiple senses, the Zimbabwean musician and singer shines a light on feminist issues in her native country Whatever else you may think about Hope Masike’s 2019 album, it is undeniable that it has a very mysterious and evocative title....
by Joel Dwek | Apr 1, 2021 | Reviews
The unique ‘tick-ish’ feeling is something that these Andalusian flamenco-rockers transmit in abundance… Formed in Cádiz in 1998, Andalusian rock group Los Delinqüentes (and that’s not just a Spın̈al Tap style unnecessary heavy metal umlaut, the...
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 Joel Dwek | Mar 30, 2021 | Reviews
A bastion of Pamir culture, Fesov helps preserve his culture with this accomplished pop-folk fusion record… Graduating from the Dushanbe College of Arts in 1990, Oleg Fesov was not initially intending on a career in music. In fact, before turning his talented...
by Joel Dwek | Mar 28, 2021 | Reviews
Combining their fearsome talents with New Orleans-based musicians, Lakou Mizik aim to highlight musical links to the US, while also challenging assumptions about Haiti and its culture… The nation of Haiti has a fascinating history that is compelling by turns...
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 Joel Dwek | Mar 18, 2021 | Reviews
Synths, industrial beats, smart production – it’s electro, but not as we know it My first impressions of Saudi Arabia-based electronic music producer MSYLMA’s debut album Dhil-un Taht Shajarat Al-Zaqum were that it is immediately attention-grabbing and...
by Joel Dwek | Mar 17, 2021 | Reviews
Hard rock mixed with ballads and experimental flourishes, Potato manage to put their own spin on the rock genre… Despite the fact that I do like this band and I like this album very much, we must address the elephant in the room, which is the fact that Potato is...
by Joel Dwek | Mar 15, 2021 | Reviews
Charmingly eclectic, French gypsy swing musicians Opa Tsupa have created an album with an irresistibly fun atmosphere… Combining light guitar music with gypsy violins and rhythms, Opa Tsupa were one of the pioneers of the so-called ‘gypsy swing revival’,...
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 Joel Dwek | Mar 7, 2021 | Reviews
Challenging the stereotypes of their nation, Staritsa have made a folk-electro album with a mission statement… Folk fusion can be a tricky genre to pull off. Folk music, depending on the country of course, can have an image as a stuffy and old-fashioned genre...
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 Joel Dwek | Mar 4, 2021 | Reviews
A superb collaboration between Auli & Tautumeitas that elevates the bagpipes from an object of derision to showcase a stunning sounding instrument… The humble bagpipe is often mocked and maligned in the UK and the USA. It is popular in Scotland as its...
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 Joel Dwek | Mar 3, 2021 | Reviews
The powerful vocals and contemporary style of this album is what made this such an influence on the Turkish music scene… When Sezen Aksu rose to prominence, she changed the face of Turkish pop music, and became embedded as an enduring figure of Turkish pop...
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 Joel Dwek | Mar 1, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Their first album after their main songwriter left the band, the remaining members of Indonesian outfit Sore seized the opportunity to reinvent their sound… When a band loses its lead songwriter, it can be disastrous, or it can lead to a rebirth. One only need...
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 Joel Dwek | Feb 20, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
State-supported coladeira music that challenges themes of injustice and colonialism across the globe… Formed in 1969 in the small island nation of Cape Verde, Os Tubarões, meaning ‘The Sharks’, went on to become Cape Verde’s most popular singing group, in no...
by Joel Dwek | Feb 19, 2021 | Reviews
Perfectly pleasant Pacific pop tunes are the order of the day with these Cook Island music specialists… Though their name may suggest to outsiders and people unfamiliar with the myriad of different nations, territories and islands that comprise the Oceanic...
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 Joel Dwek | Feb 16, 2021 | Reviews
Rattling along at a breakneck pace, King Ferus shows off his abundant talents in this album of Balkan brass… The American actor and writer of the 1920’s and 1930’s Will Rogers is known for having said that “I’ve never met a man I didn’t like.” Whether you take...
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 | 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 Joel Dwek | Feb 6, 2021 | Reviews
Balancing poetic lyrics and musical invention, Bahraini pop artist Ala Ghawas shows off his songwriting skills… Bahraini musician Ala Ghawas got his start in making music while he was a Fulbright Scholar studying in Boston in 2007. He released several EPs which...
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...
