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USA: Innervisions - Stevie Wonder
One of the most iconic records of all time, the multi-talented Wonder manages to pack complex and poetic lyricism alongside intricate and...

Joel Dwek & Danny Wiser
May 2, 20228 min read
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UK: Abbey Road - The Beatles
After two years of honouring musical delights from across the globe, we don't have to search hard in our home nation to find a gem of our...

Joel Dwek & Danny Wiser
Apr 18, 20228 min read
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ZAMBIA: The Return - Sampa The Great
This behemoth rap record masterfully combines a whole range of genres into hip-hop, while retaining a firm worldview Events, dear boy....

Joel Dwek
Feb 28, 20225 min read
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GEORGIA: In Vino Veritas - Mgzavrebi
This hope-infused record is not to be ignored as it uses styles of the past whilst mainting a current and modern feel On the border of...

Danny Wiser
Feb 15, 20224 min read
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JAMAICA: Funky Kingston - Toots and the Maytals
Taking reggae and blending it with blues, R&B, and rock'n'roll, the Jamaican icons are at their best on this resplendent album I have...

Joel Dwek
Jan 31, 20226 min read
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YEMEN: Akher El Akhbar - Ahmed Fathi
The master of the oud demonstrates his skill not only in his musicianship but also through his production of the record Around November...

Danny Wiser
Jan 17, 20224 min read
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PHILIPPINES: Diwa - Juan Karlos
Containing a variety of rock genres within, Juan Karlos' debut album shatters the child star image of its lead singer and songwriter with...

Joel Dwek
Jan 3, 20224 min read
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NAMIBIA: Black Colonialists - Black Vulcanite
A whirlwind ride through many important themes, the hip-hop collective create innovative rhythms whilst always speaking truth to power...

Danny Wiser
Nov 22, 20217 min read
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MOZAMBIQUE: Eparaka - Deltino Guerreiro
Mozambican traditional sounds meet the modern world in this vibrant and wonderfully ambitious debut album Usually, the albums I pick as...

Joel Dwek
Nov 9, 20214 min read
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FRANCE/ARMENIA: La Bohème - Charles Aznavour
A unique record with the capacity to provoke a sense of rather deep and beautiful self-reflection about dreams, desires and direction I...

Danny Wiser
Oct 25, 20218 min read
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SWITZERLAND: Aliento - Danit
Looking across the Atlantic for inspiration, the Swiss musician raputures and entrances her listeners with soft instrumentation and her...

Joel Dwek
Oct 11, 20214 min read
7 comments


LEBANON: Ibn El Leil - Mashrou' Leila
Defiance is the order of the day, as the techinically gifted Lebanese outfit produce an album that is as enjoyable as it is powerful In...

Danny Wiser
Sep 27, 20214 min read
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CUBA: Beautiful - Cándido
Latin jazz with some infectious drumbeats, percussionist Cándido shows off his immense talent and flair for fusion music When I first...

Joel Dwek
Sep 17, 20214 min read
0 comments


ZIMBABWE: Ammartia - Ammara Brown
Brown earns her crown as Zimbabwe's "Queen of Pop" in this magnificent debut attempt In my first forays into adulthood, I fell deeply in...

Danny Wiser
Aug 30, 20215 min read
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IVORY COAST: Djekpa La You - Dobet Gnahoré
An unorthodox musical education and a fiery natural talent make for an album that mixes a wide range of African styles within a modern...

Joel Dwek
Aug 16, 20214 min read
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ARGENTINA: Clics Modernos - Charly García
Finding the right adjective to sum-up an album is not always an easy task, but the word 'revolutionary' is obvious in the case of...

Danny Wiser
Aug 2, 20216 min read
0 comments


SUDAN: Ya Dunya - Sharhabil Ahmed
The beloved Sudanese icon gives a masterclass in musical expression with an album that combines soulful vocals and musical fusion Known...

Joel Dwek
Jul 20, 20214 min read
0 comments


ESWATINI: Swazi Soul - Bholoja
A beautiful and powerful first incarnation of what can be labelled as Bholoja's somewhat unique genre Nowadays when people ask me what...

Danny Wiser
Jul 5, 20215 min read
0 comments


GUATEMALA: Mil Palabras Con Sus Dientes - Bohemia Suburbana
Subgenres of rock galore - Bohemia Suburbana demonstrate their supreme talent It has become a cliché among myself and Danny that whenever...

Joel Dwek
Jun 20, 20213 min read
1 comment


BURKINA FASO: Victor Démé - Victor Démé
Marxist policy often suppresses creative freedom, Démé's distinguished self-titled album proves itself as the exception to this rule Over...

Danny Wiser
Jun 7, 20215 min read
0 comments


IRAN: Enlighten The Night - Mahsa Vahdat
Sensuous vocals and gentle jazz combine with Iranian traditional music in a beautiful confluence of sounds Many, though not all, of the...

Joel Dwek
May 24, 20214 min read
0 comments


SIERRA LEONE: Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana - S. E. Rogie
Humorous, uplifting, and endearing - this palm wine record is the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing day in the sun The Beatles’ Abbey...

Danny Wiser
May 10, 20213 min read
0 comments


MALI: Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux - Les Ambassadeurs
The swansong for one of Mali's finest musical exports, Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux demonstrate exactly why they are still a world...

Joel Dwek
Apr 26, 20214 min read
0 comments


UGANDA: Exile - Geoffrey Oryema
Oryema tackles the difficult theme of being exiled from one's homeland using the emotions from his personal hardship to guide him through...

Danny Wiser
Apr 12, 20214 min read
0 comments


HAITI: HaitiaNola - Lakou Mizik
Combining their fearsome talents with New Orleans-based musicians, Lakou Mizik aim to highlight cultural links to the US, while also...

Joel Dwek
Mar 28, 20215 min read
0 comments


BHUTAN/FRANCE: Rain of Blessings: Vajra Chants - Lama Gyurme & Jean-Philippe Rykiel
Serenity, spirituality and sanctity feature as strands of this phenomenal collaboration between two musical devotees When many in the...

Danny Wiser
Mar 15, 20214 min read
0 comments


INDONESIA: Los Skut Leboys - Sore
Their first album after their main songwriter left the band, the remaining members of Indonesian outfit Sore seized the opportunity to...

Joel Dwek
Mar 1, 20215 min read
0 comments


ITALY: Oro Incenso & Birra - Zucchero Fornaciari
Fun, raw and multi-talented; Zucchero shows off a fusion style decades ahead of his time in a country that often fails to welcome in...

Danny Wiser
Feb 14, 20216 min read
0 comments


DENMARK: Det er Mig der Holder Træerne Sammen - Under Byen
This album full of interesting musical ideas and consummate musicianship certainly succeeds in creating an intellectually and emotionally...

Joel Dwek
Feb 1, 20214 min read
0 comments


TURKMENISTAN: Gunesh - Gunesh
State-sponsored bands often are 'middle-of-the-road'; however, this is far from the case for these experimental Turkmen extraordinaires...

Danny Wiser
Jan 18, 20214 min read
0 comments


CAMEROON: Get On Board - Emmanuel Pi Djob
The soul man shows off his talent as he crosses the divide of the Anglo-Francophone conflict in his native Cameroon Many musicians from...

Joel Dwek
Jan 11, 20214 min read
0 comments


IRELAND: Let The People Sing - The Wolfe Tones
Perhaps the very definition of a problematic favourite, Let The People Sing poses the difficult question of whether an album can be loved...

Danny Wiser
Dec 21, 20206 min read
0 comments


CHINA: Black Panther - Hei Bao
The Chinese rockers prove their worth in this blisteringly brilliant debut album, demonstrating their lightness of touch as well as their...

Joel Dwek
Dec 7, 20204 min read
0 comments


GUINEA: Objectif Perfection - Balla Et Ses Balladins
A bittersweet masterpiece that celebrates liberation from colonialism Whilst on the surface, this might seem a fun album with songs that...

Danny Wiser
Nov 22, 20205 min read
4 comments


AUSTRALIA: Gurrumul - Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
A masterpiece of the highest order that evokes plenty of emotion and highlights the importance of preserving Aboriginal culture About two...

Joel Dwek
Nov 9, 20207 min read
0 comments


SOUTH SUDAN: The Key - Emmanuel Jal
Jal’s repeated calls to action throughout the entire record cut through the incredibly fun and upbeat tunes All across the world there...

Danny Wiser
Oct 26, 20204 min read
0 comments


CAMBODIA: Reatrei Nov Hong Kong, Vol. 58 - Sinn Sisamouth
The work of Sinn Sisamouth reveals a fascinating lost world of Cambodian music, and the tragic circumstances that surrounded its downfall...

Joel Dwek
Oct 12, 20204 min read
0 comments


THE NETHERLANDS: Moontan - Golden Earring
If Golden Earring were from the UK or the US they would have reached legendary status and this album would be seen as one of the great...

Danny Wiser
Sep 27, 20205 min read
0 comments


BRAZIL/USA: Sammy Davis, Jr Sings, Laurindo Almeida Plays - Sammy Davis, Jr & Laurindo Almeida
Beautiful singing and gorgeous acoustic guitar playing - what more do you need? What do we mean when we pick an album as 'album of the...

Joel Dwek
Sep 14, 20203 min read
0 comments


CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Sanza Soul - Laetitia Zonzambé
Is Bangui Africa’s very own Detroit? Zonzambé puts forward a convincing case… The last time I was tasked with writing an 'album of the...

Danny Wiser
Sep 7, 20205 min read
0 comments


ISRAEL: Badeshe Etzel Avigdor - Arik Einstein & Miki Gavrielov
The Voice of Israel provides a wonderful soft rock album filled to the brim with beautiful melodies and soothing sounds The music of...

Joel Dwek
Aug 24, 20204 min read
0 comments


CANADA: You Want It Darker - Leonard Cohen
There is not a blurb that could do justice to this album. Listen to it ASAP. At NoiseNomad we typically review albums that are...

Danny Wiser
Aug 17, 20205 min read
0 comments


PAKISTAN: Mustt Mustt - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
In his first Western album, the King of Qawwali shows off his immense vocal talent in an album that straddles the line between tradition...

Joel Dwek
Aug 10, 20205 min read
0 comments


SPAIN: El Momento - Nacha Pop
An album full of hits that celebrates the freedom of the post-dictatorship era When I first listened to Nacha Pop’s El Momento, I thought...

Danny Wiser
Aug 3, 20203 min read
0 comments


AUSTRALIA: Flow State - Tash Sultana
Exciting and fresh, Sultana reinvigorates alternative rock by infusing it with a wide range of styles and genres At the age of 13 I...

Joel Dwek
Jul 27, 20204 min read
0 comments


SENEGAL: Immigrés - Youssou N'Dour
The King of mbalax proves why he is arguably Africa’s greatest living musical export For those who want to explore African music, Youssou...

Danny Wiser
Jul 19, 20204 min read
0 comments


SOUTH AFRICA: When You Come Back - Vusi Mahlasela
Joyous and melancholy, hopeful and cautious, Mahlasela's masterful lyrical and musical ability make for an especially wonderful album...

Joel Dwek
Jul 13, 20206 min read
0 comments


ICELAND: Ágætis Byrjun - Sigur Rós
An artistic masterpiece that at moments transcends reality with its truly unique sound. Labelling something as ‘art’ does not bother me,...

Danny Wiser
Jul 6, 20205 min read
0 comments


AUSTRIA: The Princess Pts 1 & 2 - Parov Stelar
Despite being an album in two parts with distinct styles, Parov Stelar’s The Princess is an exceptionally consistent, coherent and...

Joel Dwek
Jun 29, 20204 min read
0 comments


CAPE VERDE: Miss Perfumado - Cesária Évora
The Barefoot Diva takes us on a musical journey as we are challenged to reflect on the eternal beauty of home, loved ones from our past,...

Danny Wiser
Jun 4, 20205 min read
0 comments
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