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 Joel Dwek | May 7, 2022 | Reviews
Tackling a number of genres through the lens of hip-hop instrumentals, this album lives up to its title… On his Spotify page, Azerbaijani musician Akshin Alizadeh describes himself as a “music hobbyist” who makes music “occasionally just for fun and not for...
by Joel Dwek | May 3, 2022 | Reviews
This fusion album reinterprets Turkish folk music through the lens of modern funk as well as the 1970s Turkish rock scene… Based in the Netherlands and comprising of Turkish and Dutch members, Altin Gün (translating to Golden Day from Turkish) have an...
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 Joel Dwek | Apr 21, 2022 | Reviews
An unusual combination has once again born fruitful results with Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band’s Caribbean sounds merging with a wide range of genres… We have been working on this project and this website for a long time now. We’re coming up to two years...
by Joel Dwek | Apr 19, 2022 | Reviews
Serbian new romantic music with funky inflections makes for highly entertaining listening Examining music from around the world is always an interesting process for us, but often when looking for music from dictatorships, it can become more interesting due to there...
by Joel Dwek | 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 Joel Dwek | Mar 5, 2022 | Reviews
Repurposing surf rock for the modern day alongside a host of other styles, Hungarian outfit Fran Palermo burst with exuberant energy and verve… Fran Palermo is not an Italian musician as I had initially assumed when I first listened to this, but rather a band...
by Joel Dwek | Mar 3, 2022 | Reviews
Electronic music with several twists, this album takes the listener on a journey into the diverse musical stylings of its creators… Portuguese musician Benjamim and British electronic music producer Barnaby Keen look determined on the cover art of their 2017...
by Joel Dwek | Feb 18, 2022 | Reviews
Border-defying desert blues by way of Syria, Israel, and Europe is how this stateless rock duo express their musical free spirit… As a music review site based around covering all countries and as many territories as possible, our review of TootArd’s Laissez...
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 Joel Dwek | Feb 3, 2022 | Reviews
Returning to a genre he helped inspire, Henri Salvador serenades the listener with charming bossa nova-inspired chanson… If I were to ask you what is France’s longest land border, what would you answer? Germany, maybe? No, surely it’s Spain, with that long...
by Joel Dwek | Feb 1, 2022 | Reviews
Breezy jazz-pop allows Slovenian singer Nana Milčinski to pay tribute to her famous grandfather… The arts can often be a family affair, with there being many famous families of writers, actors, and, of course, musicians. On this very site we’ve covered musical...
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 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 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 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 Joel Dwek | Dec 29, 2021 | Reviews
Afro-Cuban music inspired pianist Kishon Khan as a young man, and the result is this epic album of Latin-South Asian fusion… While the music is always the most important part of an album, there are certain extraneous details that can be important as well. Things...
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 | 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 Joel Dwek | Nov 15, 2021 | Reviews
Enjoyable pop with some interesting flourishes, yet Šako Polumenta’s music does not stand out from the crowd… The European region of the Balkans has a truly fascinating history and an extremely rich musical heritage. Whether it’s the brass band music...
by Joel Dwek | Nov 14, 2021 | Reviews
Guitar virtuoso Jukka Tolonen is at his best on this album which not only shows off his skills, but his ear for interesting combinations of sound… Finnish jazz guitarist Jukka Tolonen has had a life of ups and downs, to put it very mildly. Starting his career in...
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 Joel Dwek | Oct 29, 2021 | Reviews
From piano ballads to synth pop, Italian duo Colapesce & Dimartino manage to impress in an expansive album… In the sphere of culture, Italy has had a titanic influence in many areas, even if one discounts the Renaissance era. Federico Fellini and Roberto...
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 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 Joel Dwek | Oct 17, 2021 | Reviews
Fondo Flamenco stand on the shoulders of giants as they try to take flamenco into a new era… In 1979, a revolution happened in the world of Spanish music, where the once staid and old-fashioned genre of flamenco was revitalised, causing controversy along the...
by Joel Dwek | Oct 15, 2021 | Reviews
Taking Greek-language pop music and adding interesting elements, Cypriot singer Konstantina’s voice shines through on a solid album… Cypriot musician and singer Konstantina released her album Tha Fygo Me Tous Filous Mou Gia Kairo (roughly translating into...
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 Joel Dwek | Oct 11, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Looking across the Atlantic for inspiration, the Swiss musician raputures and entrances her listeners with soft instrumentation and her beguiling voice… Though she may not sound it, Danit is from Switzerland. In fact, the album, which is sung mostly in Spanish...
by Joel Dwek | 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 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 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 Joel Dwek | Sep 23, 2021 | Reviews
Indie rock with a pop sensibility, Peha manage to make their mark on Slovakian music The small European nation of Slovakia is well-known in the UK, where I am from, for its pilsener style beers, its mountains, as well as its history of being joined up with the Czech...
by Joel Dwek | Sep 22, 2021 | Reviews
Rap rock all’Italiana? If anyone will convince you of the genre, it’s Caparezza… Before this process, I used to be rather rigid in my tastes. I more or less only listened to The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, and AC/DC, with a few forays...
by Joel Dwek | Sep 4, 2021 | Reviews
Taking inspiration from the indie rockers of the past, Nemra manage to place Yerevan on the world map of rock… Hailing from sunny Armenia, rock band Nemra, clearly like to have fun with words. The title of their debut album is Mubla, which is album backwards,...
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 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 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 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 | 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 | 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 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 | 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 | 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 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 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 Joel Dwek | Feb 3, 2021 | Reviews
Sun Glitters’ lo-fi beats and ambient interludes make for a unique listening experience that aim to relax as well as engage… Luxembourgish lo-fi electronica musician Sun Glitters’ album, from its very name, gives you a hint as to what the style of music...
by Joel Dwek | Feb 1, 2021 | Reviews, Top Picks
Full of interesting musical ideas and consummate musicianship, Under Byen’s third album certainly succeeds in creating an intellectually and emotionally engaging masterpiece… The avant-garde stylings of Danish post rock group Under Byen (which translates...
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 Joel Dwek | Jan 24, 2021 | Reviews
A seemingly solid indie pop record, reveals itself as more than that with its hidden lyrical depths… The brainchild of Swiss singer Valeska Steiner and German bassist Sonja Glass who together form the indie pop duo BOY, Mutual Friends initially appeared to me to...
by Joel Dwek | Jan 20, 2021 | Reviews
An experimental album that fails as often as it succeeds is just saved by Alina Orlova’s unique vocal talents… Born to a Polish-Lithuanian father and a Russian mother in what is now modern-day Lithuania, Alina Orlova’s music reflects those diverse cultural...
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 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 Joel Dwek | Jan 13, 2021 | Reviews
Evocative of a Nordic winter, Aurora’s debut album features a song you’ll never forget… The unusual yet compelling sound of Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora’s debut album could perhaps be, in part, down to her own self-described isolated childhood...
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 Joel Dwek | Dec 25, 2020 | Reviews
A celebration of the kora and Gambian music in general, Jobarteh manages to keep true to tradition while also managing to adapt the music for the times… The Gambia is mainland Africa’s smallest nation. Shaped snake-like, as if acting as a buffer for the Gambia...
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 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 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 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 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 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 Joel Dwek | Dec 8, 2020 | Reviews
Fleet-footed finger-work abound, Carlos Paredes takes us on a breakneck tour of Portuguese fado music… When I was 12, I went on a school trip to Barcelona, and one of the events we participated in during the trip was to attend a concert of flamenco dancing and...
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 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 | 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 Joel Dwek | Nov 26, 2020 | Reviews
A wide range of styles come together superbly in this wonderful album… What initially struck me about Dutch-New Zealander band My Baby (strange name for a band, I agree) is how retro and yet how modern they sound. They mix blues, funk, country and electronic...
by Joel Dwek | Nov 24, 2020 | Reviews
Estonian electronic rock outfit Sopruse Puiestee attempt many things in the form of an album with many overarching themes and ideas… Sopruse Puiestee are a band from Estonia, a small nation on the Baltic Sea, near their linguistic brethren, Finland. Formed in...
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 Joel Dwek | Nov 20, 2020 | Reviews
L’Eden dei lunatici provides a chilled out selection of enjoyable rock tunes that entertain, if not delight… Despite having been released in 2020, L’Eden dei lunatici by Italian singer-songwriter Umberto Palazzo has a distinctly 90s indie feel to it, with...
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 Joel Dwek | Oct 31, 2020 | Reviews
French DJ Llorca’s debut album mixes in soul, jazz, bossa nova, and funk alongside electronica and house, and a sonic journey into his own musical origins… The French house musician Ludovic Llorca got his start releasing records in 1997 on a small record...
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 Joel Dwek | Oct 27, 2020 | Reviews
Albanian folk music meets pop in this largely successful and interesting fusion album… One of the great joys of this whole experience for me has been the ability to learn about the culture and people of the countries where we are searching for music, and there...
