December 1987 marked the First Intifada, a series of Palestinian protests and violent riots against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. A week into the popular uprising, Riad Awwad, "an electrical engineer specialising in musical equipment," got together with his sisters Hanan, Alia and Nariman and began recording an album in their living room "on equipment he had made himself." 

Fast forward some 34 years to Jenin, a Palestinian city in the West [...]

Master percussionist and composer Imed Alibi is a household name in Tunisian music, who began his career at an early age, playing alongside several popular and classical North African/Middle Eastern orchestras, and has since collaborated with renowned artists the likes of Rachid Taha, Natasha Atlas, Emel Mathlouthi and more. After relocating to Montpellier, France, in the early 2000s, he joined French 'rock 'n' raï' group Les Boukakes, released his first solo [...]

A resounding "Oyaaa, Oyaaa" heralds Combo Chimbita's roaring return to the global circuit with a resplendent new album on ANTI-. Briefly titled "IRÉ", the lush and vibrant 12-tracker yields 45 minutes of divine blessings, while, more importantly, taking a stand, "a brazen propulsive affirmation of revolutionary futures in the making." On it Carolina Oliveros (vocals, guacharaca), Niño Lento es Fuego (guitar), Prince of Queens (bass, synthesizers) and [...]

This is a first for us, in the sense that it is the first of February, the first we've heard of Switzerland-based multi-instrumentalist Anouar Kaddour Chérif, but also the first time we get to feature the Algerian mandole, an instrument resembling the more widely known mandolin. It also happens to be Chérif's first solo album, drawing on his Algerian roots yet written and recorded in exile, accompanied by Clément Meunier on bass clarinet, Hannes Junker on [...]

Rise and shine! And we mean that quite literally. Music has always been akin to uprisings, be it on the dancefloor or on the daily rollercoaster of life. Likewise, "musical revolutions are often born from the people," a point vibrantly brought to fruition on the latest 24 (+2) track compilation by Belgian imprint Rebel Up! Records, in collaboration with iconic Peruvian labels Magnética and Discos Horóscopo. Together, they just released the resplendent "Chicha [...]

The versatile Venezuelan singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Isaac Sasson returns to Olindo Records, to unveil his brand-new, debut full-length release, intimately titled "Canciones de Isaac" ('Songs of Isaac'). Released last Friday, the shapeshifting collection presents 14 heartfelt compositions, inspired by Sasson's native Venezuela and his new-found home in Barcelona, Spain. Channeling the voices of his ancestors and juxtaposing them with sounds [...]

Let's go back to the roots, or rather The Rootsman. Visionary Bradford-based musician, producer and, meanwhile, documentary photographer John Bolloten is a household name on the global dub circuit, whose track record speaks volumes and who gained international acclaim and recognition for a string of releases in the mid-to-late '90s and early '00s. Early last year, trusted French independent label Akuphone went about compiling a high-quality selection of his [...]

As families settled in around the tree in many parts of the world, Ghana's "number one Frafra gospel artist" returned with an upbeat and versatile 7" on Max Weissenfeldt's always stellar, Berlin-based Philophon imprint. The joyous release brings us two super and very much upbeat tracks with Alogte Oho leading the way, accompanied by explosive choruses from his powerful female choir of Lizzy Amaliyenga, Patricia Adongo and Florence Adooni (see below), alias his [...]

'Tis the season to wind down. We're about to give the keyboards a rest and enjoy some time away from the screen, but that doesn't mean we'll leave you without some quality listening recommendations. One record you'll want to get your hands on if you can is this 2020-released compilation of Congolese boleros, rumba and similar 'slow music' styles, passionately performed by the O.K. Jazz orchestra (aka the Tout Puissant Orchestre Kinois de Jazz) and now compiled [...]

"We're All In The Same Dance" was the title to Cazoniere Grecanico Salentino's (CGS) beautiful split-screen dance project launched back in 2020 during the early days of the global lockdown and sending out a much-needed message of unity or as band leader Mauro Durante described, "a hymn to life, an antidote to the privations of the lockdown." The internationally acclaimed group was founded in 1975 by Daniele Durante with the intention of "reviving and [...]

Not to sound haughty, but if you didn't know, Myanmar (formerly Burma) is the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia and home to over 100 ethnic groups. Since gaining its independence from British rule in 1948, the country has witnessed "rampant ethnic strife", while "its myriad ethnic groups have been involved in one of the world's longest-running ongoing civil wars." More recently, Myanmar has been in the news following a military coup d'état earlier [...]

Haunted by a melody, or several melodies actually, we keep on returning to the October-released sophomore album by London-based duo Kit Sebastian, aka Kit Martin and Merve Erdem. The captivating two-piece unveiled its second album "Melodi" on Mr Bongo a few weeks back and we are absolutely enthralled. Delivering the much anticipated follow-up to their stunning 2019 debut "Mantra Moderne", Kit Sebastian continue to raise the bar in terms of composition, [...]