‘Ayam El Disco’ Highlights the Diversity of Egyptian Dance Music
Ayam El Disco celebrates and beautifully frames some of the music that kept people stepping lively in Egypt during the 1970s, 1980s, and even the 1990s.
Adriane Pontecorvo
Adriane Pontecorvo grew up in San Francisco noise scenes and writes about music from everywhere. She is a music programmer and producer for community radio station WFHB and holds a PhD in Folklore and Ethnomusicology from Indiana University.
Laurie Anderson Helps Us Face Catastrophe on Live LP
Laurie Anderson has created a rare live album worth listening to from start to finish, both for the music and all the interstices.
Wendy Eisenberg Strikes the Perfect Songwriting Balance
Wendy Eisenberg knows not only the art but the craft of songwriting, they bring their truest self, never compromising, never pushing, always being. Absolutely stunning.
Doctor Nativo Explores Maya Identity on ‘BarrioKandela’
Doctor Nativo explores Maya identity emphasizing contemporary Mexican genres alongside musical styles developed throughout the Central American region.
‘Léve Léve Vol. 2’ Highlights Lusophone Coalition
Focusing on puxa, Léve Léve offers a lively sonic exploration of liberation across the Black Atlantic, emphasizing building coalitions among Lusophone nations.
Angélique Kidjo Celebrates Joy and Holds on to ‘HOPE!!’
Angélique Kidjo’s spirits are remarkably high for 2026, and HOPE!! is ebullient against all odds. She faces the trials of the world and sings through them.
Lucas Santtana Champions Brazilian Language on ‘Brasiliano’
Politically and philosophically, Lucas Santtana’s Brasiliano demonstrates wondrous clarity of purpose and boasts consummate musicianship.
Dorea’s Second Album Is Vulnerable and Seaworthy
Dorea draws on his experience as a lifelong resident of Salvador, on Brazil’s Atlantic coast. He sounds like the sea: alternately gentle, rough, and unpredictable.
Nuevos Ríos Debut with Astonishing Takes on Tradition
Nuevos Ríos’ debut emerges from organic processes of collaboration that treat local cultural expressions not as samples but as relevant contemporary music.
Ohyung Offers Vivid Heartland Impressions on ‘Iowa’
Ohyung offers spacious electronics and samples that evoke vast and open landscapes, stories of life and loss, social tensions, and oppression.
Tinariwen’s ‘Hoggar’ Is a Brilliant, Bittersweet Homecoming
Tinariwen’s music is perhaps more poignant than ever, made with a reverence for history and a sense of community that grows stronger over time.
Los Sara Fontán Fight for a DIY Future on ‘Consuelo’
Los Sara Fontán sound a possible future that can only come through agitation and a total reworking of society, that requires an intentional storm to clear the air.