The music tears through Buika with such violence you cannot wrestle your eyes away from her for fear of missing the last precious moment of beauty before catastrophe strikes. Continue reading Buika at Union Chapel (Live Review)
Archive for the Africa/Middle East: Reviews Category
Another Fela Kuti compilation, no, wait, this is worth a look. Coming in a 2 CD version and Deluxe version with DVD, this compilation pulls in what, in my opinion, are the very best tunes of his output. And teams it up with a rare live performance (his 1984 Glastonbury set).
Their debut album, Racines (Roots), came out over a decade ago and sold by the bucket load for its fresh mix of Congolese sounds and hip hop. Africa repeats the formula and boosts it with guests like Manu Dibango, Khaled, Sizzla, Mayra Andrade, Angelique Kidjo and Ismael Lo. Continue reading Bisso Na Bisso – Africa
Owiny Sigoma Band // Album Teaser by Brownswood
Musicians of a former time may have headed off to the crossroads in the hope of making a deal with the devil to supercharge their musical offerings but these days the crossroads must be mighty empty as everyone is in Africa. Owiny Sigoma is the result of five Londoners meeting Luo musicians in Nairobi and coming out with some heavy beats.
Continue reading Owiny Sigoma Band
Check it out live
Electro / Hip-Hop compilation featuring a unique collaboration between Berlin’s renowned electro artists Gebrüder Teichmann, Modeselektor, Jahcoozi and Nairobi’s most wanted rappers and bands Ukoo Flani, Nazizi, Mister Abbas, Just a Band & many more
Young Tuareg desert blues rockers Tamikrest follow up their critically acclaimed debut album Adagh with Toumastin.
Music always is a borderline experience. Especially when not only stylistically boundaries are shifting, but the centres of musical creativity are moving.
Continue reading Tamikrest on tour and new album Toumastin
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SMOD
What with the “Produced By Manu Chao” sticker on the cover and the Metro’s ‘Album of the Week’, what more do you want from SMOD’s third album?
The huge domed chamber of London’s Roundhouse rocked to the Soukadelic sounds of Staff Benda Bilili and melted at the charms of Fatoumata Diawara
Continue reading Staff Benda Bilili and Fatoumata Diawara – Roundhouse (Live Review)
If you’re going to see Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Contonou at the Scala tonight, I’m well jealous but then, it’s time to review their latest album Contonou Club so I’m very happy.
It might have been the last night of the tour but as the Afrobeat message beats loud again, this was one not to be missed, as Gilles Peterson said earlier this year, “If you ever get the chance to see Seun Kuti live, you’ve got to go!”
Continue reading African Soul Rebels 2011 – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 / Donso
Hot on the heals of the Love And Death, Strut have sensibly dug deep into the back catalogue for a fantastic double CD compilation which is a must have ‘Best Of’ his Highlife & Afrobeat Classics 1973-1980
Continue reading Ebo Taylor – Life Stories: Highlife & Afrobeat Classics 1973-1980
Check it out live
After Gilles Peterson’s Interview with Seun Kuti on his Worldwide Show this morning, you’d be right to be excited by the fact that his new album is coming out next week as it’s time to rise up!
Continue reading Seun Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80 – From Africa With Fury: Rise
Early on this year Gilles Peterson was proclaiming Donso as one of the albums of the year, so why has it taken us so long to take it to our hearts and agree with the Brownswood supremeo?
The album of the week without a doubt is Ebo Taylor’s Love And Death which isn’t bad for the guitarist, composer, arranger and producer from born in 1936 – be prepared to see it in all good ‘Best of 2010′ lists very soon!
