Délivrance

From Albuquerque, New Mexico, a young pair of musicians in love with Balkan fever have forged a new sound with Klezmer swing.

On Délivrance, Jeremy Barnes (accordion and percussion) and Heather Trost (violin) are in a...

publication date : 06/12/2009 Read review : Délivrance

A Hawk and A Hacksaw | United States

Visions of Dawn

Visions of Dawn, is a ‘lost’ recording, consigned to oblivion along with countless other long neglected tapes. This album was shelved for over thirty years, and its recent rediscovery is cause for celebration.

Together in...

publication date : 06/09/2009 Read review : Visions of Dawn

Joyce | Brazil

Legends of Benin - Afro-Beat, Cavacha, Agbadja, Afro-Funk 1969-1981

Following on from the mighty African Scream Contest – Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds from Benin & Togo 70s and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou’s visceral The Vodoun Effect, Analog Africa’s...

publication date : 06/03/2009 Read review : Legends of Benin - Afro-Beat, Cavacha, Agbadja, Afro-Funk 1969-1981

Gnonnas Pedro | Benin

Panama! 2 - Latin Sounds, Cumbia Tropical and Calypso Funk on the Isthmus 1967-77

I’ve always loved compilation albums going back to the heights of The Rock Machine Turns You On, Nice Enough To Eat and This Is Soul – albums that acted as calling cards for entire catalogues (CBS, Island and...

publication date : 05/28/2009 Read review : Panama! 2 - Latin Sounds, Cumbia Tropical and Calypso Funk on the Isthmus 1967-77

Los Dinamicos Exciters | Panama

Comfusões 1 - From Angola To Brasil

In what feels like a labour of love, Rio producer Mauricio Pacheco took a hand-picked collection of Angolan tracks to a select crew of Brazilian remixers. The results are soulful and dreamy.

Sourcing songs from the archives of the Angolan...

publication date : 05/20/2009 Read review : Comfusões 1 - From Angola To Brasil

Mauricio Pacheco | Brazil

Léman

As Blick Bassy’s voice wafts from the speakers the impact of a disheartening, grey April morning recedes in time to the gentle pulse of the opening song, Africa. Soulful, subtle harmonies surf along on waves of...

publication date : 04/22/2009 Read review : Léman

Blick Bassy | Cameroon

Lhasa

When you get hold of a new album by an artist who has given you some of the most beautiful musical moments of your life, excitement and the fear of disappointment battle it out. It’s best to clear the mind, stay calm and, if you are a...

publication date : 04/21/2009 Read review : Lhasa

Lhasa | Canada, Mexico

Sim

Vanessa da Mata shot to fame in Brazil with her sweet, poppy hit Não me Deixa So in 2002; following it up with the similar Ai, Ai, Ai in 2004. She seemed little more than the archetypal middle-class...

publication date : 04/15/2009 Read review : Sim

Vanessa da Mata | Brazil

Seya

Oumou Sangaré is back. The singer who has charmed the world with her subtle stylings of the music of Wassoulou, the south-western region of Mali, had not released an album since...

publication date : 03/09/2009 Read review : Seya

Oumou Sangaré | Mali

Noble Beast

Chicago born Andrew Bird has always sounded like he’s writing from his own lost wilderness, the setting for a fairy tale turned creepy where ‘the kittens have pleurisy’. A master violin player and expressive...

publication date : 02/04/2009 Read review : Noble Beast

Andrew Bird | United States