Album reviews | World Music Central

Mahotella Queens - Buya Buya: Come Back cover artwork. A photo of the three singers in traditional clothes over a yellow background.

Album reviews

Mahotella Queens Make a Majestic Return

Mahotella Queens – Buya Buya: Come Back (Umsakazo Records, 2025) After nearly two decades without original material, South Africa’s iconic mbaqanga group the Mahotella Queens…

The album cover for Spring by Puman features a psychedelic illustration of an elephant head composed of wavy contour lines in red, yellow, and green. The hypnotic design radiates from a black background, with the word “Spring” in green on the left tusk and “Puman” on the right.

Album reviews

Puman Springs Forward With Yunan-Reggae Fusion

Joe Nash August 5, 2025 No Comments China Chinese music Puman Reggae world fusion world music

Puman – Spring (Sea of Wood Records, 2025) Five years after their breakthrough debut, Puman returns with Spring, their second full-length album and a bold…

The album cover for Macumbadaboa by Grupo Bongar + Maga Bo features a folk-art-inspired illustration. Stylized black figures with red markings dance, play percussion instruments, and DJ amid a festive, earthy background framed by green vines and rooted trees. Traditional dresses, drums, and folkloric elements like a rooster, a cat, and a masked spirit. The album title appears in bold red letters across the center.

Album reviews

Grupo Bongar + Maga Bo: Afro-Brazilian Grooves from the Northeast

Iliana Cabrera August 4, 2025 No Comments Afoxé Afro-Brazilian Brazilian music coco Dub Grupo Bongar Maculelê Maga Bo world music

Grupo Bongar + Maga Bo – Macumbadaboa (Kafundó Records KAX014, 2019) Macumbadaboa gathers the Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble Grupo Bongar, from Pernambuco, with producer and DJ…

WDR Big Band - Bluegrass cover artwork. A photo of distant blue hills.

Album reviews

Big Dreams, Intrepid Fusion: WDR Big Band Tackles “Bluegrass”

Tyler Bennet August 3, 2025 No Comments Bluegrass Bob Mintzer contemporary jazz Darol Anger Mike Marshall WDR Big Band world fusion world music

WDR Big Band – Bluegrass (MCG Jazz, 2025) A dramatic dream sparked the collaboration behind Bluegrass, the ambitious crossover project from Germany’s WDR Big Band.…

Valentina Kostyukova feat. Vera Chekunova – Made in Sokolniki: Russian Balalaika Music cover artwork. A photo of the sisters.

Album reviews

Balalaika Sisters Act: A Folk Revival From Sokolniki

Tyler Bennet July 31, 2025 No Comments Russian folk music Valentina Kostyukova Vera Chekunova world music

Valentina Kostyukova feat. Vera Chekunova – Made in Sokolniki: Russian Balalaika Music (Antonovka Records, 2025) This album offers a curated selection of delightful traditional Russian…

Mustafa Said & Asil Ensemble – Maqam Pilgrims cover artwork. A photo of the ensemble holding their musical instruments.

Album reviews

Maqam on the Move: Mustafa Said Charts a New Course in Arabic Music

Angel Romero July 30, 2025 No Comments Arabic music Mustafa Said world music

Mustafa Said & Asil Ensemble – Maqam Pilgrims (Mapamundi Música, 2025) Egyptian composer and oud master Mustafa Said returns with Maqam Pilgrims, a superb new…

The Voodoo Drummer Duo - HELLaS SPELLS cover artwork. A photo of the artists playing cello and drum set.

Album reviews

Dionysian Rites and Rhythmic Spells: The Voodoo Drummer Duo Casts a HELLaS of a Trance

Tyler Bennet July 28, 2025 No Comments African music Afro-Dionysian Chris Koutsogiannis experimental Greek music Stavros Parginos The Voodoo Drummer Duo world fusion world music

The Voodoo Drummer Duo – HELLaS SPELLS (2025) At first glance, HELLaS SPELLS might appear to be an experiment born of whimsy, a cello, a…

The album cover for Cierzo Lento by Idoipe features a photograph of a white curtain billowing out of a small window set in a vivid red wall.The artist's name appears in the top right corner, with the album title in the bottom left.

Album reviews

Cierzo Lento – A Modern Take on Aragonese Tradition

Angel Romero July 27, 2025 No Comments Idoipe Spanish music world fusion world music

Idoipe – Cierzo Lento (self release, 2021) Cierzo Lento was the debut full-length album by Spanish musician Idoipe. The self-produced LP combines electronica with traditional…

The album cover for Sizzling by Frankie Paul features a retro design with a grid-patterned blue background. Centered is a tilted photo of Frankie Paul singing in a recording studio, flanked by musicians, including a drummer and keyboardist. Above the photo, the album title “Sizzling” appears in bright red script, while the artist’s name, “Frankie Paul,” is displayed in large yellow and turquoise text across the top.

Album reviews

Frankie Paul’s Sizzling Returns to Heat Up Digital Platforms

Joe Nash July 26, 2025 No Comments dancehall reggae Frankie Paul Reggae world music

Frankie Paul – Sizzling (VP Records/17 North Parade, 2025) VP Records and 17 North Parade continue their reissue series highlighting 1980s feel-good dancehall reggae with…

The album cover for Bords de Terre – Dubhe by Horzines Stara features delicate, colorful flowers taped to a weathered, cracked plaster wall. The band name and album title appear in simple, uppercase sans-serif type.

Album reviews

Borderless Voices: Horzines Stara Pushes Limits on Bords de Terre – Dubhe

Madison Quinn July 25, 2025 No Comments a cappella French music Horzines Stara world fusion world music

Horzines Stara – Bords de Terre – Dubhe (Vlad Productions / InOuïe Distribution, 2022) Horzines Stara’s 2022 release Bords de Terre – Dubhe (Edge of…