Embla and the Karidotters Subvert Country Music Conventions
Norway’s “queer country” Embla and the Karidotters deliver high-energy fun performed by a kick-ass, live-show-honed band, anchored by strong songs.
John Alan Urquhart
John Alan Urquhart is a former international educator from Canada writing about global music, education, and culture from Hong Kong. His work also appears in 'RootsWorld, Modern Classical Music', 'World Music Central', 'Canadian Literature', and 'Prairie Fire', among others. He has recently completed a memoir detailing his teaching experiences across the Canadian North, Switzerland, and China.
Rodrigo y Gabriela Explore Their Own Brand of Nuevo Flamenco
Richly talented composers and musicians, Rodrigo y Gabriela are comfortable in their own skin, and OurHome finds them comfortably at home with their music in Japan.
Stephen Greenblatt’s Distinctly Modern Sir Walter Raleigh
Like a literary psychoanalyst, Stephen Greenblatt delves into Sir Walter Raleigh’s inner identity; like a sociological theatre critic, he explores Elizabethan performance and reveals striking parallels to our time.
Liana Flores’ New EP Is More Focused and Self-Assured
And So It Goes blends Liana Flores’ Brazilian roots with high-quality songs and outstanding vocals, wrapped in a modern jazz-pop style.
Ridley Scott’s Low-Key ‘The Dog Stars’ Hides in Plain Sight
A welcome departure for Ridley Scott, slow and contemplative, The Dog Stars is a nuanced work of social commentary disguised as a survivalist film.
Physicist Christophe Galfard Takes on Who We Are in ‘This Is Life’
With the techniques of a novelist, Christophe Galfard uses engaging prose, mastery of knowledge in many realms, and remarkable skills of synthesis to explain what is known about life on Earth and possibly elsewhere.
Joan As Police Woman Reimagines the Past and Present
Joan As Police Woman revisits her 2009 debut Real Life with warm, retro-modern arrangements, showcasing her skill as a songwriter and producer.
Lambchop’s ‘Punching the Clown’ Is Worth the 4-Year Wait
With acoustic guitar and banjo, Lambchop return to their Nashville roots, while the choruses create yet another idiosyncratic background for musings on America.
Avi Engel’s Poetic Soundscapes Repay Close Listening
Avi Engel’s Seedhead highlights their principles: fierce independence, painstaking attention to detail, and a commitment to a unique vision.
Eliza Carthy and the Restitution – “Mr Sits in the Dark”
Eliza Carthy’s “Mr Sitting in the Dark” is a wonderfully observed and lyrical tribute to her father, the songwriter, singer and guitarist Martin Carthy.
Brazil’s Maria Luiza Jobim Opens New Doors with ‘Rosa No Céu’
Like a mojito laced with absinthe, the sweet mixture packs a kick, reflecting the understated sophistication of Maria Luiza Jobim’s latest album.
Irish Duo Lemoncello Create the Accomplished ‘Perfect Place’
With Perfect Place, Irish folk-pop duo Lemoncello have achieved a feat of musical alchemy that should, must, bring them a wider audience.