Kooshin ~ Layla

“Mohamed M. Kooshin was one of a rarified group in Somali music, a master of the kaban who followed in the footsteps of the legendary players of the kaban such as Qarshe, Hudeydi, and Omar Dhuule. Kooshin was the youngest member of Somalia’s esteemed national music group Waaberi before leaving Somalia in the early 1990’sContinue reading “Kooshin ~ Layla”

Abdallah Ag Oumbadougou ~ Anou Malane

“Tuareg guitar gets the electronic treatment, with a reissue of the cassette by legendary Nigerien composer Abdallah Oumbadougou. Produced in Benin in 1995, “Anou Malane” is one of the first studio recordings of Tuareg guitar. The genre, known for minimal folk ballads performed on acoustic guitar, is transformed with a full-on 90s swinging groove. AbdallahContinue reading “Abdallah Ag Oumbadougou ~ Anou Malane”

V/A ~ No Other Love: Midwest Gospel (1965​-​1978)

“This collection of rare black gospel from the Midwest—featuring church congregations, basement recordings sessions, family bands and children’s choirs—is drawn together by two threads. The first—hope—which holds fast and unchanging, even in the most trying of circumstances. The second—circumstance—the way these recordings fell into the hands of producer, Ramona Stout, in Chicago at the dawnContinue reading “V/A ~ No Other Love: Midwest Gospel (1965​-​1978)”

Bill Orcutt ~ Odds Against Tomorrow

“After two LPs and over half a decade spent toiling in the margins of the American Songbook, Bill Orcutt returns to original composition and the blues with his latest LP, Odds Against Tomorrow. Taking its title from Robert Wise’s 1959 film noir, Odds Against Tomorrow retrofits familiar folk/blues forms to the unique sound of Orcutt’sContinue reading “Bill Orcutt ~ Odds Against Tomorrow”