Album reviews | World Music Central

The cover presents a woman with pale skin, dramatic eye makeup, and glossy black gloves against a black background. She holds an ornate circular frame that glows with warm light around the title The Ring. The band name Ashavahishta appears below.

Album reviews

Ashavahishta Channels Rumi On Trance-Driven The Ring

Ashavahishta – The Ring (X Dot 25 Music, 2025) World fusion trance group Ashavahishta released its new album The Ring on October 31, 2025. The…

Wesli - Makaya cover artwork. A photo of Wesli smiling.

Album reviews

Wesli’s Impressive ‘Makaya’ and The Echo Of Revolt

Angel Romero December 10, 2025 No Comments Afrotronix André Desilets Caribbean music David Charbonneau David Mobio Donald Dogbo Emmanuella Michel Etienne Lebel Gaya Sanya Michel Elie Guy Khé Haitian music Jean François Ouellet Joaquin Diaz Karl Henry Bréseaux Kattam Laraki Cote Kokou Damawou Lasso Sanou Marilyn Felix Martin Lizote Martine Labbe Mathieu Van Vliet Maxime Saint Pierre Michel Medrano Brindis Moïse Matey Yawo Namouri Cissé Nicolas M’Tima Nicolas Therrien Noel Mpiaza Balu Pascal Laraque Rachel Therrien Ronald Nazaire Sara Renelik Sika Valmé Sylphir Charest Ti Fane Stéphanie Séjour Watson Joseph Wesli world fusion world music

Wesli – Makaya (WUP, 2025) Makaya, the expansive and awe-inspiring 24-track double album from Haitian-Canadian singer, guitarist, and folklorist Wesli stretches to nearly one hour…

Cristina Branco in an orange jacket pulls the collar toward her face, meeting the camera. Behind her, a wall layered with graffiti. White lettering at the side announces the album title.

Album reviews

Disobedience Required: A Review of Cristina Branco’s Mulheres de Abril

John Alan Urquhart December 9, 2025 No Comments Cristina Branco fado Mulheres de Abril Portuguese music world music

Cristina Branco – Mulheres de Abril (Locomotiva Azul, 2025) For over thirty years, Cristina Branco has been reinterpreting fado, Portugal’s national music, for an ever-increasing…

The two musicians stand against a blue metal wall adorned with a geometric border. One holds a trumpet, the other a traditional string instrument.

Album reviews

Rabab Meets Trumpet: Sangat Intertwines Sikh & Sufi Lines

Angel Romero December 8, 2025 No Comments Sangat world fusion world music

Sangat – Sangat (2025) Afghan American rabab virtuoso Qais Essar and Sikh American trumpet player-singer Sonny Singh released their joint debut album Sangat recently. The…

Phoenyx - Keepers of the Flame cover artwork. A Celtic pattern over a black background.

Album reviews

Phoenyx Rekindles the Celtic Rock Fire: Keepers of the Flame Returns

Angel Romero December 7, 2025 1 Comment Celtic music Celtic rock Phoenyx world music

Phoenyx – Keepers of the Flame (Prometheus Music, 2025) Phoenyx was a pioneering Celtic rock band that was well known in the San Francisco Bay…

A swirl of deep blue and violet surrounds a burst of orange, with scattered black marks. The lower right corner presents the artist’s name, Shane Shanahan, above the title Audacity (Live) in modern lettering.

Album reviews

Shane Shanahan’s Audacity (Live) Rallies An All-Star Ensemble

Madison Quinn December 6, 2025 No Comments Shane Shanahan world fusion world music

Shane Shanahan – Audacity (Live) (Bright Shiny Things, 2025) Percussionist Shane Shanahan released Audacity (Live), a project that highlights his cross-cultural collaboration. These stem from…

A riverside scene fills the cover, where two people travel in a long wooden canoe across still greenish water. Soft reflections ripple beneath them, and a tree-lined shore stretches in the distance. Yellow lettering announces Djékady above and Benkan below.

Album reviews

Djékady’s Innovative ‘Benkan’ Intersects Malian Heritage and American Roots

Angel Romero December 5, 2025 No Comments Djékady world fusion world music

Djékady – Benkan (Bright Shiny Things, 2025) Benkan introduces Djékady, a superb six-piece ensemble co-led by Malian balafon maestro and singer Balla Kouyaté and American…

Antonio Andrade - Here We Go cover artwork. A photo of Antonio next to a black guitar.

Album reviews

From Ballparks To “Love Shack”: Antonio Andrade Drops Here We Go!

Ryan Emmert December 4, 2025 No Comments Antonio Andrade

Antonio Andrade – Here We Go! (Life Shakes Records, 2025) Antonio Andrade’s, Here We Go!, presents a covers collection developed during the shutdown months of…

Various Artists - Brasil Calling Volume 22 cover artwork. A listing of the artistsincluded over a cream background.

Album reviews

Brazil Meets The World In Brasil Calling Volume 22

Angel Romero December 4, 2025 No Comments Abacaxepa Alessandra Leão Brazilian music Bruno Capinan Carlos Rennó Chico César Chico Lobo Da Cruz Daúde Edu Lobo Grupo Você Vai Se Quiser JØY Brandt Lia de Itamaracá Lucas Caram LuDom Mandinga Beat Maurício Tagliari MELO-T Ney Marques Nina Nicolaiewsky Orchestra Baobab Quinteto da Paraíba Siso Thiago Bispo Tiê Victoria dos Santos Walmir Gil world music Xangai Zanna

Various Artists – Brasil Calling Volume 22 (2025) Brasil Calling Volume 22 highlights 15 tracks that weave Brazil’s regional traditions with contemporary collaborations across continents.…

Andy Nevala - El Rumbón cover artwork. A photo of Nevala leaning on his piano.

Album reviews

Andy Nevala’s “El Rumbón (The Party)”—Afro-Cuban Jazz, Reimagined

Iliana Cabrera December 3, 2025 No Comments Andy Nevala Cuban music Latin jazz world music

Andy Nevala – El Rumbón (The Party) (Zoho, 2025) Virtuoso pianist, composer, and educator Andy Nevala has released El Rumbón (The Party), a tasty ten-track…