John Parry, Author at Backseat Mafia

Album review: Kasai Allstars – ‘Black Ants Always Fly Together, One Bangle Makes No Sound’: maybe more restrained, but still surprises

SOMETIMES a record comes along that disrupts your expectations. Since their debut album in 2008, Kasai Allstars have been one of the cornerstones of Congotronics, that vibrant assemblage of polyrhythms…

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Album Review: Innov Gnawa – Lila; Immersive World-Soul on Daptone

Daptone, the home of soul and funk, is one of those labels whose judgement you can trust- when they’re onto something you just know it’s going to deliver. News of…

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Album review: Toumani Diabate & The London Symphony Orchestra – ‘Korolen’: destined to become an audiophile’s classic

COLLABORATIONS between improvising musicians and orchestras sometimes reveal nothing but a culture clash. The performances can sound disjointed and fragmented, the musical equivalent of cut and paste. But when Toumani…

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Album review: Alfredito Linares – ‘Vol. 2: The Colombia Years’: packs a punch

NOW HERE’S a tidy little gem from those ever-reliable sound curators Rocafort Records, a second sparkling collection of treasures from the early 70s’ boogaloo explosion courtesy of the sharp-suited composer,…

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Track: Okute release new track ‘ Quiere La Rumba’ and forthcoming album

In the same way that BCUC went to the root of their roots to inspire some wild new afrobeats, Okute look set to do the same for Cuban music. The…

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Album Review: Mente Organica – ‘El Espacio’

Earthly Measures, the London based DJ and event creating duo, have been carefully and lovingly nurturing their record label through these turbulent times . They’ve put out a couple of…

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EP review: Francesca Ter-Berg – In Eynem: an exploratory cello EP that makes a deep connection

YOU MAY recognise the name Francesca Ter-Berg as the cello side of the leftfield folk classical improv duo Fran and Flora that turned heads a while ago, from Café Oto…

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Album review: Crimi – ‘Luci E Guai’: potent fusion music from Julien Lesuisse

THE MOST potent fusion music, the stuff that’s born from experience rather than cooked up as an experiment, comes from travellers in search of sounds. Julien Lesuisse is one such…

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Album review: Joao Selva – ‘Navegar’: Latin optimism with endless energy

WELL it looks like the summer vibes may need a little boost this year, so here’s a release that’s set to heat things up. Brazilian troubadour Joao Selva, now based…

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See: Crimi bring irresistible global beat to ‘Chi Ci Talia’

FRENCH bands just seem to handle fusion music so naturally. They absorb the sounds around them, let them ferment and then uncork something with familiar flavours and an individual twist.…

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