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 Joel Dwek | Apr 24, 2022 | Reviews
The oud pioneer manages to create a soft and smooth album of intricately constructed genre-bending melodies… The oud has a long history in the music of North Africa and the Middle East. We have reviewed albums of oud music from Arabian Peninsula nations like...
by Joel Dwek | Mar 2, 2022 | Reviews
This album of good Arabic pop songs may provide an easy entry point into the wider world of this rich genre… When I first listened to Libyan musician Salah Ghaly’s 2013 album Aghany El Thawra El Libeya, I enjoyed it, and it seemed to me like Ghaly was a...
by Joel Dwek | Feb 20, 2022 | Reviews
Adapting the music of West Africa’s griots for the modern day can be a challenge, but Noura Mint Seymali proves herself worthy Like many artists we cover, Mauritanian griot Noura Mint Seymali comes from a line of well-respected musicians. In fact, for those of...
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 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 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Aug 23, 2020 | Reviews
Dubbed the voice of the Tunisian Revolution, Mathlouthi’s protest album is full of musical ambition… Imagine you are a young woman, who after years of brutal dictatorship in your homeland that you love, has decided to speak out and use your most powerful tool,...
by Joel Dwek | Aug 21, 2020 | Reviews
Blues music returns to its homeland, as it is blended delicately with traditional Islamic rhythms Throughout this journey across the world’s music and musical styles, we have come across all sorts of genre mixes and mash-ups that we thought were unusual and could...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 13, 2020 | Reviews, Top Picks
The King of Raï Khaled earns his title as he blends the genre with a number of others to make an album full of wonderful dance tracks, bringing traditional Algerian sounds firmly into the 21st century… Foreign-language songs that become chart-toppers in the West...
by Danny Wiser | Aug 9, 2020 | Reviews
Fakroun dips his toes into a variety of genres, whilst staying true to his Libyan roots and his funky soul It came as a bit as a surprise to discover that this funky disco album was produced by the king who sits astride the greatest pillars of rock, Tommy Vance....
by Danny Wiser | Jul 29, 2020 | Reviews, Top Picks
This album poetically tells the story of the Sahrawi people, as well as the tale of the refugee experience through powerful vocals and a myriad of musical styles… It is always a treat to hear music that contains within it a blending of different styles and...
by Danny Wiser | Jul 16, 2020 | Reviews, Top Picks
The punky polyglot produces musical poetry; simultaneously playful and political… Rachid Taha’s final album, Je Suis Africain, was released a year after his tragic passing. Yet, even after his death his message remains pertinent, and his boisterous, cheeky...
by Joel Dwek | Jun 4, 2020 | Reviews, Top Picks
Ramy Essam’s powerful guitar playing and impassioned vocals make for a hugely enjoyable album… Rock is probably my favourite genre of music, nothing quite gets to me quite like it, and this is an excellent album that really rocks. What’s more, Ramy Essam...
