Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.

The album cover for Héritage by Songhoy Blues features a central figure with dark, glossy skin wears a traditional African mask adorned with beads. The body is partially covered in cowrie shells and golden-hued organic patterns. The background blends weathered textures with a symmetrical, mirrored design. The album title and band name appear in bold, yellow and white text within a black circle in the upper right corner.

Album reviews

Mali in Their Roots: Songhoy Blues Embrace Tradition on “Héritage”

Songhoy Blues – Heritage (Transgressive Records, 2025) Malian band Songhoy Blues returns with Héritage, their fourth album and a significant departure from their previous work.…

The album cover for Celtic Sea by Carlos Núñez features a collage-style design. At the center, Núñez is pictured wearing a yellow raincoat and a gray knit cap, gazing toward the horizon with a serene expression. Surrounding him are nine square images: ocean waves, rocky coastlines, vintage nautical maps, handwritten sheet music, a sunset over the sea, and a ferry.

Album reviews

Setting Sail on Celtic Sounds: Carlos Núñez Navigates Musical Currents

Angel Romero March 17, 2025 No Comments bagpipe Breton music Carlos Núñez Celtic music Galician music Spanish music world music

Carlos Núñez – Celtic Sea (Arfolk AR1208, 2023) Carlos Núñez’s album Celtic Sea is a musical voyage through the maritime connections that have bound Celtic…

The album cover for Koyo by Zar Electrik features a fusion of futuristic cybernetics and organic elements. At its center is a humanoid figure with a dark metallic face, intricate circuitry, and glowing golden eyes. A red hat, adorned with a delicate golden chain, sits atop the figure's head. One side of the head is partially overtaken by a small bonsai-like tree. A thick, golden snake coils around the figure’s neck. The typography is bold and futuristic, with the album title written in stylized yellow Arabic script intertwined with geometric red and yellow lines.

Album reviews

Electric Healing: Zar Electrik’s Electro-World Innovation

Angel Romero March 15, 2025 No Comments Arabic music electro-world folktronica global electronica Gnawa world fusion world music

Zar Electrik – Koyo (Jarring Effects Label & Lamastrock, 2025) After gaining recognition with their debut EP Hawa, an extensive international tour, and a recorded…

The album cover for On the Lash - Fireside featuresh a delicate watercolor illustration. Framed by a rustic brick wall, an arched window reveals a cozy interior scene: a crackling stone fireplace, a soft armchair draped with a blanket, and a small wooden shelf adorned with books, a lamp, and a vase holding a single flower. The artwork is credited to Elizabeth June LaPeer.

Album reviews

Trad-Inspired: On the Lash Ignites Irish Folk with Fireside

Angel Romero March 13, 2025 No Comments Celtic music Elizabeth June Joel Tyrone Myers John Robey On the Lash Patrick Hartson world music

On the Lash – Fireside (2025) Midwest-based Irish folk quartet On the Lash will release their debut EP, Fireside, on April 4, 2025. The ensemble…

Sam Sweeney - Escape That cover artwork. A photo of a man outdoors removing his sweater over his head.

Album reviews

Sam Sweeney Reinvents English Folk Fiddle with ‘Escape That’

Angel Romero March 12, 2025 No Comments English Folk music fiddle Sam Sweeney violin world music

Sam Sweeney – Escape That (Hudson Records, 2022) Sam Sweeney, one of England’s most accomplished traditional musicians, makes a bold leap with Escape That, his…

Violeta Parra - Las últimas composiciones de Violeta Parra. A black and white photo of the artist playing charango.

Album reviews

Violeta Parra’s Final Songs Masterpiece Returns in Original Form

Angel Romero March 11, 2025 No Comments Chilean music Violeta Parra world music

Violeta Parra – Las últimas composiciones de Violeta Parra (Vampisoul, 2025) Vampisoul is reissuing in 2025 the album Las Últimas Composiciones de Violeta Parra (the…

The album cover for Sur ces eaux by É.T.É features a delicate, hand-drawn illustration blending realism and minimalism. A woman's face, depicted in fine black lines with flowing hair, emerges from a watercolor-like blue expanse. Her serene expression is complemented by a soft blush on her cheeks. Above her head, a lighthouse stands on a small grassy island, emitting a faint yellow light. A thin black line separates the two elements, acting as both a horizon and the album title’s base. The handwritten typography of Sur ces eaux and É.T.É adds an organic, intimate touch.

Album reviews

É.T.É – Sur ces eaux: A Bold Evolution of Québécois Trad Music

Angel Romero March 7, 2025 No Comments Canadian music É.T.É Quebecois music world music

É.T.É – Sur ces eaux (self-release CDÉ03, 2022) É.T.É’s Sur ces eaux (on these waters) delivers a striking fusion of tradition and innovation, seamlessly reinterpreting…

Songhoy Blues., Oumar Touré, Aliou Touré and Garba Touré - Photo by Kiss Diouara

Artist Profiles

Songhoy Blues: A Career of Innovation and Advocacy

Angel Romero March 1, 2025 No Comments Aliou Touré desert blues Garba Touré Malian music Oumar Touré Songhoy Blues world music

(headline image: Songhoy Blues, Oumar Touré, Aliou Touré and Garba Touré – Photo by Kiss Diouara) Songhoy Blues emerged in 2013 with a distinctive sound…

The album cover for Gryphon Live: A Sonic Tonic blends medieval and psychedelic aesthetics with a live concert photo at its center. The frame is adorned with intricate illustrations of mythical gryphons, flutes, guitars, and violins. The live performance setting, bathed in atmospheric blue and purple lighting, showcases the band in full instrumental interplay.

Album reviews

Gryphon’s Live Alchemy – A Brew of Past and Present

Angel Romero February 27, 2025 No Comments English Folk music folk-rock Gryphon progressive folk progressive rock

Gryphon – Tonic for the Senses (Talking Elephant Records, 2024) Gryphon Live – A Sonic Tonic is the progressive folk band’s first live release, primarily…

Album reviews

Peter Somuah’s Highlife Bridges Ghanaian Tradition and Jazz Innovation

Angel Romero February 25, 2025 No Comments Ghanaian music Highlife Peter Somuah world fusion world music

Peter Somuah – Highlife (ACT Music, 2024) Peter Somuah’s 2024 album Highlife is a masterful mix of Ghanaian highlife traditions and contemporary jazz. At the…