Album reviews | World Music Central

This album cover for Shunta! At the Kafana features a lively, abstract collage of musical instruments, including a violin, keyboard, trumpet, clarinet, and drum. The vibrant yellow and red tones are contrasted by the bold black silhouettes of two playful cat figures. The typography is bold and eclectic.

Album reviews

shunTA! Brings the Kafana Spirit to Life with Debut Album

shunTA! – At The Kafana (Rakia Records, 2024) London-based band shunTA! is set to release their debut album, At the Kafana, an electrifying tribute to…

La Pambelé - Nací Mestizo cover artwork. a psychedelic design fetauring the three band leaders in vintage 1970s clothing.

Album reviews

La Pambelé Revives 1970s Salsa with a Modern Twist in Nací Mestizo

Iliana Cabrera January 22, 2025 No Comments Colombian music La Pambelé salsa world music

La Pambelé – Nací Mestizo (2024) Bogotá’s mighty salsa orchestra, La Pambelé, returns with its second studio album, Nací Mestizo (I was born mestizo, of…

Parchman Prison Prayer — Another Mississippi Sunday Morning. A photo of a black man with white hair singing.

Album reviews

Voices Behind Bars: The Soul of Another Mississippi Sunday Morning

Angel Romero January 21, 2025 No Comments American folk music blues gospel hip hop Parchman Prison Prayer world music

Parchman Prison Prayer — Another Mississippi Sunday Morning (Glitterbeat Records, 2025) Another Mississippi Sunday Morning is the sequel to the acclaimed 2023 album Some Mississippi…

Rémi Geffroy - Carrefour des Anges © Jouch. This album cover shows a child wearing a red coat walking along a reflective shoreline, with their back to the viewer. The sky above is a gradient of light blue. Both the sun and the moon are visible simultaneously, side by side. The title, "Carrefour des Anges," is handwritten beneath the artist's name, Rémi Geffroy, which appears in a clean, elegant font at the top of the cover. The title translates to "Crossroads of Angels."

Album reviews

Rémi Geffroy’s Carrefour des Anges Embraces Innovation

Madison Quinn January 19, 2025 No Comments accordion French music Rémi Geffroy world music

Rémi Geffroy – Carrefour des Anges (CVE Prod, 2025) Rémi Geffroy’s Carrefour des Anges is the sixth offering from the virtuoso diatonic accordionist and composer.…

Album reviews

Arcs & Rivers: A Fusion of Jazz and Greek Tradition

Angel Romero January 18, 2025 No Comments bouzouki Georgios Prokopiou Greek music Joel Lyssarides world fusion world music

Joel Lyssarides and Georgios Prokopiou – Arcs & Rivers (ACT Music, 2024) Pianist Joel Lyssarides and bouzouki virtuoso Georgios Prokopiou bridge cultures and genres in…

Sauljaljui - Vaivaik cover artwork. A photo of the artist leaning forward with a red background.

Album reviews

Sauljaljui’s Vaivaik: A Bold Fusion Rooted in Taiwanese Indigenous Traditions

Angel Romero January 18, 2025 No Comments Sauljaljui Taiwanese music world fusion world music

Sauljaljui – Vaivaik (Wind Music, 2024) Sauljaljui’s new album, Vaivaik (embarking in the Paiwan language) is a groundbreaking exploration of world fusion music. The album…

Album reviews

Karjalasta Kolttien Maille Bridges Karelian and Skolt Sámi Cultures

Madison Quinn January 16, 2025 No Comments Amanda Kauranne Anna Lumikivi Emmi Kuittinen Erkki Lumisalmi Finnish music Karelian music Karjalasta kolttien maille Sami music Skolt Sámi world music

Karjalasta kolttien maille – Karjalasta kolttien maille (Global Music Centre, 2022) The album Karjalasta Kolttien Maille (From Karelia to the Skolt Sámi Lands), released in…

This album cover features an elegant, circular watercolor painting of a serene mountain landscape, framed by blossoming cherry branches. The background is a rich blue with subtle textural details, and the text "Prelude to the Divine Realm: Pipa and Guqin" is displayed at the top in a classic serif font. The artists' names, Gao Hong and Zhao Xiaoxia, are written at the bottom. Chinese characters on the right.

Album reviews

Gao Hong and Zhao Xiaoxia Explore the Depth and Beauty of Chinese String Music

Angel Romero January 15, 2025 No Comments Chinese music Gao Hong guqin pipa world music Zhao Xiaoxia

Gao Hong and Zhao Xiaoxia – Prelude to the Divine Realm 神遊引 (Naxos World, 2025) Prelude to the Divine Realm is an exceptional collaboration between…

The album cover for "Salta!" by Peixe e Limão features bright yellow hues. The background appears to be a large spiral or wavy structure, resembling a slide or artistic architectural element, creating a sense of movement and fluidity. Three individuals are central to the image, walking downward on this structure, each carrying musical instruments. They are dressed in neutral, light-toned clothing, contrasting subtly with the intense yellow backdrop.

Album reviews

Peixe e Limão Dives Deep with Salta!

Tyler Bennet January 14, 2025 No Comments Peixe e Limão world fusion world music

Peixe e Limão – Salta! (Muziekpublique, 2024) Peixe e Limão (fish and lemon in Portuguese), a trio formed by two Italians and a Belgian in…

This album cover for The Magic Forest: More Pastoral Psychedelia & Funky Folk 1968-1975 features a vibrant and whimsical illustration of a forest entrance surrounded by dense, colorful foliage, mushrooms, flowers, and butterflies. The typography of the title has a retro, psychedelic style that complements the era and theme. Subtle glowing eyes peering from the darkness of the forest add a mysterious and magical touch.

Album reviews

The Magic Forest Unearths Psychedelic Folk Treasures from 1968-1975

Angel Romero January 12, 2025 2 Comments Affinity Agincourt Aidan Nolan Alan Hull Amber Ancient Grease Barrington Davis Bill Nelson Bridget St John.Bruce Spelman Carolanne Pegg Chris Harwood Clifford T Ward Comus Fairfield Parlour Family Fat Mattress Forest Fotheringay Fresh Maggots Friends Gary Farr Heron Honeybus Ian A Anderson Ithaca Jade Jade Warrior John Fandinando & Peter Howell John St. Field (Jackie Levin)John Williams Julian Jay Savarin Keith West Kevin Lamb Knocker Jungle Majority One Maldoon Mark Fry Marsha Hunt Mellow Candle Merrell Fankhauser & H.M.S Bounty Mortimer Natural Acoustic Band Oberon Paper Bubble Paul Brett Pentangle Prelude psychedelia Roy Harper Sandy Denny Shelagh McDonald Siren Snafu The Coterie The Ghost The Music Box The Occasional Word The Woods Band Tim Hollier Tim Rose world music Zior

Various Artists – The Magic Forest – More Pastoral Psychedelia & Funky Folk 1968-1975 (Strawberry/CherryRed, 2025) The sequel to 2022’s Deep in the Woods, The…