Rokia Traoré’s new album “Né So” reveals the various musical sides of the Malian singer-songwriter and guitarist. You’ll find folk-pop, Afropop, Malian roots music, French…
Myriad Expressions of Rokia Traoré
Category: Album reviews
Traditional Country Music Is the Real Deal
The Malpass Brothers – The Malpass Brothers (Organic Records, 2015) The Malpass Brothers’ self-titled album is one of the finest traditional country music albums released…
Don’t Nix the Mix
Seems like a clear majority of releases coming my way nowadays are some kind of fusion music. It hasn’t been easy tearing myself away from…
Passionate Tribute to the Timeless Songs of Šaban Bajramović
Eva Salina – Lema Lema – Eva Salina sings Šaban Bajramović (Vogiton Records, 2016) Talented American vocalist Eva Salina is passionate about Balkan music and…
Transfixing Tuvan Rock
Yat-Kha – Live at Stray Dog Club (Sketis Music SKMR-115, 2015) This live album showcases the transfixing music style developed by Tuvan throat singer Albert…
Babilonia Party
Italian band Riserva Moac plays lively music with a party atmosphere, incorporating Balkan brass, Gypsy music, Mediterranean sounds, toe tapping dance beats, ska and…
Dramatically Elegant Viena
Varttina – Viena (Westpark Music, 2016) Thirty years in the making, the Finnish folk group Varttina started out as a children’s music project in the…
Exhilarating and Captivating Karsh Kale
Karsh Kale – Up (Six Degrees Records, 2016) Six Degrees Records’s release of Karsh Kale’s Up is a bit like being shoved off a cliff…
Breton Energy
Startijenn – “Skeud” (Paker, 2015) “Skeud” (shadow, reflection) is the fifth album by one of the best-known bands from Brittany. The group combines traditional dances…
Baraka Honors Nargis Bandishoyeva
Baraka – Tribute to Nargis (Sketis Music SKMR-099, 2013) Ethno-jazz band Baraka dedicates this album to Pamir singer Nargis Bandishoyeva. During the Soviet era, Nargis…