Category: Album reviews

Various Artists – The Rough Guide to the Blues (World Music Network, 2007) B.B. King –  20th Century Masters: BB King – The Best of…

View More The Blues: African American World Music

Culture Two Sevens Clash, the 30th Anniversary Edition (Shanachie, 2007) Originally released in 1977, Two Sevens Clash  was the debut of legendary reggae band Culture.…

View More Historical Reggae Recording by Culture Reissued in Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition

Baka Beyond and Baka Gbine Baka Live (March Hare Music MAHACD 26, 2007) Beginning in the early ’90s as a melding of acoustic U.K. melodies…

View More Outside Assistance

Orchestre Andalou d’Israel [Israeli Andalusian Orchestra] Ashdod-Yam (Magda, 2006) The Israeli Andalusian Orchestra specializes in Arab-Andalusian music, the music that was played in Medieval Muslim…

View More Confluence of Instrumentalists Recreates Era of Tolerance

Tcheka Nu Monda (Lusafrica, 2006/Times Square 4Q, 2007) The small country of Cape Verde produces some mesmerizing artists. Although a lot of the recent Cape…

View More A New Master of Batuque

UB40 Live at Montreux 2002 (Eagle Records, 2007) UB40 is a legendary name in reggae music. The pioneering British band has had a stable line-up…

View More Experience UB40 Live

Gypsy Caravan – When the Road Bends… Music in and Inspired by the Film (World Village 468070, 2007) Fanfare Ciocarlia – Queens and Kings (Asphalt…

View More Roma Road Shows and Royalty

Various Artists Gypsy Music of the Balkans (ARC Music, 2007) With the growing interest in Gypsy music, the number of Gypsy music compilations has grown.…

View More Gypsy Sounds from the Northwest Balkans

The Heptones – Sweet Talking (Heartbeat 11661-7828-2, 2007) Roots Man Dub (Heartbeat 11661-7832-2, 2007) Massachusetts-based Heartbeat Records releases plenty of contemporary reggae music, but it’s…

View More Heavenly Hep Harmonies, Delectably Deep Dubs