“Pudesse Eu Voltar,” by Portuguese band Esfinge, delightfully combines the melancholy tones of fado music with a waltz-like tempo, Mediterranean overtones and perfectly entwined acoustic…
The Enchanting Longing Sounds of Esfinge
Category: Single reviews
Reviews of single recordings
Kattimoni’s Enduring Reggae
Australian singer Kattimoni is new to me, but the message of her tune “Planet United,” in which she teams up with chanter Buggy Nhakente, is…
Maxton Hunter’s Stirring Sitar Fusion
I’m not familiar with many sitar masters from the United States (which is no one’s fault but my own), but Maxton Hunter certainly comes across…
Boldy Inventive Combination of West African and Andalusian Roots Music
Combining centuries-rooted West African sounds with those of likewise vintage Andalusia, a duo with the bulky name La Chica del Bosque Abarika World Music have…
Joyful Brazilian Baião by Cirio
Amidst the flood of samba and bossa nova that’s been released over the decades, Brazilian baião music is sometimes overlooked. Whether or not a singer…
Laid Back Reggae with a French Caribbean Essence
I’m not sure why French singer Justin DEUMIL has his surname upper-cased in each mention of him I’ve received, but I do know that his…
Zaÿ Sivadas & Saraswati’s Vigorous Mix of Kirtan Music with Reggae
Combining Sanskrit-rooted kirtan music with Jamaican reggae and making you wonder why nobody thought of doing so before, French duo Zaÿ Sivadas & Saraswati create…
Accra Quartet Delivers Spectacular Mix of Afro-Rooted Jazz and Rock
A guitarist, a trombonist and two percussionists comprise Ghana’s Accra Quartet. Their track entitled “Batobe (They are right)” is a breakneck-paced jam that combines jazz,…
Delightful Harmonica with a Latin Music Twist
It’s not often that you hear a harmonica solo on a Latin-flavored track, but it’s just one of several ingredients that makes “Chico Tímido” by…
Shapeshifting Ancient Ballad Celebrates the Lady of Aragon
Inventive U.K. artist Periscopi Invertit scores again with “La dama d’aragó.” It’s a Catalan ballad from centuries ago, with similarities to a Greek folk song…