Album reviews – Page 28 – World Music Central

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

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…

The album cover for Nubes Selva by Grecia Albán features a collage that combines Andean and Amazonian motifs. At the center, the artist stands partially obscured by lush tropical leaves, dressed in woven patterns. Surrounding her are embroidered clouds, a jaguar, religious iconography, and folkloric imagery, all framed by tapestry-like borders. The title and artist's name appear vertically along the sides in colorful lettering.

Album reviews

Grecia Albán Weaves South American Folklore Into the Future

Iliana Cabrera July 24, 2025 No Comments Ecuador Ecuadorian music Grecia Albán world fusion world music

Grecia Albán – Nubes Selva (Folkalist Records, 2025) Charmind Ecuadorian singer and songwriter Grecia Albán makes her label debut with Nubes Selva (“Cloud Jungle”), an…

Kengo Saito / Japanistan Trio – Douce Errance. A photo of the trio holding their musical instruments.

Album reviews

Japanistan Trio: Crossroads Without Borders

Madison Quinn July 23, 2025 No Comments Kengo Saito world fusion world music

Kengo Saito / Japanistan Trio – Douce Errance (Felmay, 2025) On Douce Errance, the Japanistan Trio weaves Afghan rubab, Japanese shakuhachi, and Persian tombak through…

Trobozanke - Šokačko Kolo: Music from Eastern Croatia cover artwork. A photo of the four artists.

Album reviews

Trobozanke Present Šokačko Kolo: Music from Eastern Croatia

JGurski July 22, 2025 No Comments Croatian music Filip Golubov Ivana Čik Marija Golubov Martin Kovačević Morana Lakotić Tamara Čer Tomislav Kovačević Tomislav Livaja Trobozanke world music

Trobozanke – Šokačko Kolo: Music from Eastern Croatia (Antonovka Records, 2025) In traditional Slavonian villages, trobozanke referred to the most skilled female church singers, typically…

The album cover for Fugaz by Juan Medina features a black-and-white photograph of a heron mid-flight above a forest stream, with a turtle resting on a log in the foreground. The title appears in bold yellow, while the artist's name is rendered in white, both set against the dark foliage for sharp contrast.

Album reviews

Juan Medina’s “Fugaz” Bridges Flamenco Guitar and Jazz

Angel Romero July 20, 2025 No Comments Flamenco Juan Medina world music

Juan Medina – Fugaz (Satelite K, 2025) Spanish composer and guitarist Juan Medina has released Fugaz, his debut guitar album. Here, the gifted guitarist combines…

Party Time – The Sunshot Singles 1974 covr artwork. A 1970s photo of black men and women, and a white woman, dancing in in a club.

Album reviews

Riddim and Shine: Phil Pratt’s 1974 Sunshot Classics Return

Angel Romero July 19, 2025 No Comments Al Campbell Ansel Collins Barrington Spence Bobby Kalphat Delroy Wilson Dub Flowers & Pratt Horace Andy Jah Woosh Linval Thompson Pat Kelly Phil Pratt Phil Pratt All Stars Pratt's All Stars Reggae Roman Stewart Roy Graham The Heptones The Twinkle Brothers U-Roy world music

Various Artists – Party Time – The Sunshot Singles 1974 (‎ Doctor Bird, 2025) This 2CD collection calls to attention the influential work of Jamaican…