Imarhan Brilliantly Re-Invent Their Sound on ‘Essam’
Algeria’s Imarhan may be one of tishoumaren’s most dynamic contemporary acts, and on Essam, they only get more interesting.
world music
Carminho Expands Portuguese Fado’s Boundaries
Carminho says Portuguese fado is, in some ways, analogous to punk because of its spontaneity and spilling over of raw emotions.
Wesli Follows Diasporic Threads Through Haiti
With Makaya, Wesli places Haiti on a deeply interconnected world map and underscores the power of creative acts of solidarity and revolution.
Da Lata Celebrate 25 Years with ‘Edge of Blue’
Da Lata’s music is warm, soulful, and made in collaboration with artists working with musical styles that have emerged from African-Brazilian interchanges.
Sessa Harnesses Soulful Sparks on Gorgeous LP
Sessa makes magic. Refreshing musical subtleties and emotional complexities make Peqeuna Vertigem de Amor worth repeat listens.
Yalla Miku Pack a Cosmopolitan Punch on ‘2’
The music fascinates and scintillates. 2 is an exciting new step for Yalla Miku as the group harness their collective chemistry and finds ways to elevate it.
iLe’s Boleros Give Women a Powerful Voice
iLe’s vocal outpouring makes the boleros seem like cousins to flamenco or Portuguese fado, which aim to express deep and powerful emotions.
Coco Maria Curates in Full Color on New Compilation
Coco Maria is a genuine selector: knowledgeable and curious. Her Club Coco series has long offered a soundscape going beyond smooth background beats.
Bongo Joe Celebrates 10 Years of Eclectic Releases
Bongo Joe’s compilation is worth listening to from start to finish, a thrilling way to traverse the cosmopolitan scenes of Geneva and, by extension, a world of sonic style.
Mádé Kuti Discovers New Clarity with ‘Chapter 1’
Mádé Kuti’s Chapter 1 shows that he’s here to make his own sonorous mark on the world, and it’s going to be a worthwhile one.
Algerian Freh Khodja’s Brilliant, Funky Debut Is Reissued
Freh Khodja’s story is one of mobilities and frictions, complex power structures, and lived realities that underlie and challenge utopian notions of cosmopolitanism.
Hamid Al-Saadi’s ‘Maqam Al-Iraq’ Is Beautiful and Meaningful
This is an opportunity for the world to behold a master of Iraqi maqām, Hamid Al-Saadi, the likes of whom are nearly impossible to find these days.