Category: Album reviews

Ramin Rahimi and Tapesh Iranian Percussion (ARC Music EUCD 2218, 2009) Iran’s been in the news a lot lately, though everyone knows there’s more to…

Muddy Waters and Various Artists Steppin’ Stone (Proper Records, 2009) Omitting Muddy Waters from any discussion of the blues is a little like making lemonade…

Tribecastan Strange Cousin (Evergreene Music 002, 2009) Tribecastan, according to this disc’s liner notes (a good read, by the way), is located just a few…

Bapi Das Baul/Baul Bishwa Sufi Baul-Madness & Happiness (ARC Music EUCD 2208, 2009) The word Baul is taken from the Sanskrit word for “mad,” yet…

Ramin Rahimi & Tapesh Iranian Percussion (ARC Music, 2009) Take a deep breath because you’re going to need it before listening to Iranian Percussion by…

Black Rio, Vol. 2: Original Samba Soul 1968-1981 (Strut Records STRUTO45CD, 2009) Wah-wah guitars, synthesized string swells, funky bass lines, James Brown-styled grooves and lyrics…

Winston McAnuff – Nostradamus (Makafresh/Makasound, 2008) Merger – Exiles in a Babylon (Makasound, 2009) Takana Zion – Rappel a l’Ordre (Makafresh/Makasound, 2009) Niominka Bi and…

Rail Band Belle Epoque, Vol. 3: Dioba (Sterns Africa STCD 3043-44) This third and final double CD spotlighting the 1970-1983 output of Mali’s legendary Rail…

Mara Aranda & Solatge Dèria (Galileo-MC, 2009) Spanish singer Mara Aranda has been involved in some essential world music projects based in Spain’s eastern Mediterranean…