Album reviews | World Music Central

The album cover for Lace by Billy Eli features the artist seated in a dimly lit room, gazing thoughtfully into the distance. He wears a fringed jacket and yellow cowboy boots, with a bottle of beer beside him on a rustic wooden table topped with red roses.

Album reviews

Lace Threads Old-School Country with a Modern Stitch

Billy Eli – Lace (self released, 2024) Billy Eli’s Lace weaves classic country influences with a personal, grounded perspective. Drawing inspiration from artists like Charlie…

Album reviews

Mangrove Groove: Nidia Góngora Charts a New Course With Pacífico Maravilla

Angel Romero June 12, 2025 No Comments Adrian Viafara Alexis Montaño Alexis Play Andrés Felipe Sabogal Angie Mideli Torres Carolina Mosquera Colombian music Cristhian Salgado Dayme Arocena Djamel Kady Duván Díaz Edgardo Manuel Felipe López Felipe Tichauer Flavio Andrés Bolaño Francisco "Kiko" Castro Freddy Colorado Freiler Angulo Montaño Germán Rodríguez Harlinson Lozano Heriberto Bonilla Irma Bonilla Bonilla Jefry Cuesta Jefry Obando Jhon Alex del Castillo Jhon Fredy Vivas Johan Orlando Agualimpia Alegría Jorge Díaz José Daniel Ducuara Joseph Arango Juan José Castro Karol Díaz del Castillo Herrera Kary Sol Leissy Astrid Paz Reina Liceth Zagon Manuel Angulo Hinestroza Mayssy Cundumí Mista Savona Nicol Bonilla Nidia Góngora Sebastián Blackburn Sergio Suárez Shirley Campbell Valeria Barbosa world music Yiniva Venté Erazo Yoceline Ocoró Carabalí Yuly Magaly Castro

Nidia Góngora – Pacífico Maravilla (Positivo Records, 2025) On her long-awaited solo debut, Pacífico Maravilla (Pacific wonder), gifted Colombian singer and composer Nidia Góngora delivers…

The album cover for Stella Ariènte by Maria Moramarco features a painting of a solemn child wearing a paper crown, standing in front of a table set for a modest feast. Behind the child hangs a crucifix and star-shaped decorations.

Album reviews

Pathos and the Pilgrimage: Maria Moramarco Lights the Way in Stella Ariènte

Iliana Cabrera June 11, 2025 No Comments Italian music Maria Moramarco world music

Maria Moramarco – Stella Ariènte (Visage Music, 2021) In Stella Ariènte, Maria Moramarco channels ancient songs. With the voice of someone who’s walked those dusty…

Album reviews

Limping No More: El Pantorrillas Reclaims “Palomo Cojo” in a Bold Folk Revival

Angel Romero June 8, 2025 No Comments El Pantorrillas world music

El Pantorrillas – Palomo Cojo (Self-Released, 2025) El Pantorrillas redefines a once-pejorative term with Palomo Cojo (lame pigeon), an album rooted in southeastern Spain’s folk…

The album cover for Empire State by Greg Copeland features a sepia-toned image viewed from inside a car. Through the windshield, a herd of cattle stands in the snow, partially obscured by a windshield wiper mid-swipe. The artist's name and album title are boldly displayed in black, all-caps text on beige bands at the top and bottom, respectively.

Album reviews

Greg Copeland’s Stark Songwriting on Empire State

Ryan Emmert June 7, 2025 No Comments American folk music Americana Greg Copeland Greg Leisz Jay Bellerose Jennifer Condos Sara Watkins Tyler Chester Val McCallum

Greg Copeland – Empire State (Franklin & Highland Recordings/Hemifrån/Paraply Records, 2024) On Empire State, Greg Copeland weaves understated melodies with unflinching lyricism to examine difficult…

The album cover for Journey Through Life by Femi Kuti is a collage of personal and historical photographs. It features Femi at various life stages, alongside images of his father Fela Kuti, family members, and musicians. Set against a bold green and yellow backdrop with traditional motifs.

Album reviews

Femi Kuti’s Next Act: Journey Through Life Balances Protest With Personal Insight

Tyler Bennet June 6, 2025 No Comments Afrobeat Femi Kuti Nigeria Nigerian music world music

Femi Kuti – Journey Through Life (Partisan Records, 2025) On his 2025 album Journey Through Life, Nigerian Afrobeat stalwart Femi Kuti turns inward, pairing his…

The album cover for Brìghde Chaimbeul – Sunwise features a windswept coastal landscape with four figures walking in a large, faintly traced circle on a barren, grassy plateau.

Album reviews

Pipe Drone Zone: Brìghde Chaimbeul Returns With Sunwise

Angel Romero June 5, 2025 No Comments bagpipe Brìghde Chaimbeul small pipes world music

Brìghde Chaimbeul – Sunwise (tak:til / Glitterbeat, 2025) Scottish small pipes innovator Brìghde Chaimbeul will release her third album, Sunwise, on June 27, 2025, via…

The album cover for Now I'm a Kite by Susan Anders features a collage-style illustration with layers in shades of pink, purple, and blue. A flowing kite and a bird in mid-flight dominate the scene. The artist’s name arcs above the bird, while the album title floats beside it in a handwritten font.

Album reviews

Up and Up: Susan Anders Soars with Now I’m a Kite

Ryan Emmert June 4, 2025 No Comments American folk music Americana Susan Anders

Susan Anders – Now I’m a Kite (Zanna Discs, 2025) American singer-songwriter Susan Anders returns with Now I’m a Kite, a new collection of introspective,…

The album cover for Polaris by Folkatomik features at the center a nude figure wearing a space helmet. It floats against a starry, abstract backdrop of deep blue, orange, and black. Pixelated borders and textured blocks, while bold typography spells out the band name and album title in uppercase letters.

Album reviews

Pointing True North: Folkatomik Charts a Global Course with “Polaris”

Iliana Cabrera June 3, 2025 No Comments Folkatomik Italian music world fusion world music

Folkatomik – Polaris (Italysona, 2022) Folkatomik’s debut album, Polaris, is rooted in the traditional music of Southern Italy. At the same time, they weave in…

Album reviews

Marc Crofts Reimagines Klezmer With Urban Myths

JGurski June 2, 2025 No Comments Jewish music Klezmer Marc Crofts world fusion world music

Marc Crofts Klezmer Ensemble – Urban Myths (Frémeaux & Associés, 2025) Swiss violinist Marc Crofts makes a bold entrance into the klezmer scene with Urban…