Rare África Negra Tracks Come to Light on ‘Antologia Vol. 2’
África Negra always were and still are a gem of a band and one deserving of a multi-volume set of reissues: the more of them, the better.
Adriane Pontecorvo
Adriane Pontecorvo is a native San Franciscan with a penchant for global beats. She is a music programmer for community radio station WFHB and studies ethnomusicology at Indiana University.
Nigeria’s Yemi Alade Is Dauntless on ‘Rebel Queen’
Yemi Alade takes the nebulous concept of Afropop from cheap copout to something far more powerful and interesting: a sonic indexing of widespread community.
Okaidja Afroso Nurtures Living Tradition on Acoustic ‘Àbòr Édín’
Okaidja Afroso’s Àbòr Édín delivers a genuinely seamless blend of different styles and unplugged sounds, with each track dense with color and meaning.
KOKOKO! Electrify on the Intensely Innovative ‘Butu’
KOKOKO!’s Butu is full of heat and movement, from the traffic sounds that start the opening track “Butu Ezo Ya” to the final claps of razor-sharp “Salaka Bien”.
Hermanos Gutiérrez Explore the Final Frontier on ‘Sonido Cósmico’
In Sonido Cósmico, Hermanos Gutiérrez take to the stars, evoking the open spaces of an imagined Wild West and the even greater mystique of the final frontier.
Forest Law Debut ‘Zero’ Has Worldly Finesse
At the center of Forest Law’s Zero is his versatile guitar work, through which he variously evokes bossa nova, classic funk, and psychedelic folk.
L’étrangleuse Find Artful Balance with ‘Ambiance Argile’
L’étrangleuse’s music draws from all sides of the Mediterranean and beyond, creating something new and categorically nebulous in a way that works well.
The Zawose Queens Shine on Their Triumphant Debut ‘Maisha’
The Zawose Queens’ Maisha is a triumph, an endlessly satisfying assemblage of textures and timbres embodying a bold sonic spectrum of traditions.
Remi Kabaka’s Jubilant ‘Roots Funkadelia’ Is Reissued
Roots Funkadelia is a joy of a record with Remi Kabaka and company celebrating West African popular sounds and everything they’ve generated in the diaspora.
‘Azerbaijani Gitara Volume 2’ Displays Rəhman Məmmədli’s Guitar Genius
Azerbaijan’s Rəhman Məmmədli dazzles, deserving of recognition for his imaginative reconfigurations of longstanding forms and palpably impassioned playing.
Communal Grooves Are Unstoppable on Aba Diop’s ‘Revolution Sabar’
Aba Diop’s commanding voice soars at an electrifying pitch on every song, calling out local histories, genealogies, and moral messages: a human archive.
‘Ghana Special 2’ Chronicles an Innovative Chapter in Highlife History
Ghana Special 2 possesses a wide range of styles. The 18 substantial tracks are packed with synths, horns, and driving beats.