Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
cd reviewslatest news & developments
Video

Daft Punk’s new album leaks

The French duo’s album has leaked on social media before the release date next Monday, giving fans the best platform to react – Twitter.

Rokia Traoré. ‘I didn’t want to sing about my sadness.’

Rokia Traoré brings a spark of life to a country in political turmoil

Rokia Traoré has been pursuing her muse — and discovering more of her Malian musical identity.

Video

Keeping up with Mr Jones: Where’s David Bowie Now?

Listening to his latest album makes you hope it’s not a one-off, that musician David Bowie’s return continues apace.

Khuli Chana: Mother tongue lyricism

Khuli Chana’s timeless sound makes his latest album one of the most enjoyable this festive season and beyond.

The Brother Moves On end 2012 on a high note

The Brother Moves On end 2012 on a high note

This has been a big year for Johannesburg’s performance-art wonderkids.

Zuluboy: An MC trapped in a musician’s body

One thing to be said about Zuluboy is that his delivery is never lacklustre, regardless of the tempo of the beat.

Make-Overs: Art-pop punk

Make-Overs: Art-pop punk

If there was any justice in the music industry, thousands of South Africans would find a copy of the new Make-Overs album in their Christmas stocking.

Spoek Mathambo: Afro-futurism’s heir apparent

Spoek Mathambo: Afro-futurism’s heir apparent

The Future Sound of Mzansi is a compilation album of rarities, remixes and collaborations that will be distributed across the continent.

The Soil.
Video

The Soil: Kasi soul takes root

The a capella trio, The Soil’s self-titled debut album is taking their message to a wider audience.

Gong is Struck.
Video

Lark: Sticking to a basic formula

Lark’s latest material doesn’t offer their fans anything new, despite the evolution of South African electronic music, writes Lloyd Gedye.

Busy Signal
Video

Busy Signal: Evolution rather than revolution

We are used to this now: a barnstorming, fire-eating raggamuffin DJ who, midway through his career, discovers dancehall’s conscious roots.

Between the Times and the Tides.
Video

From Sonic Youth to musical maturity

It’s clear that within Sonic Youth or outside of its confines, Lee Ranaldo has a lot to offer the music world, writes Lloyd Gedye.

Music review: Actress – R.I.P

Music review: Actress – R.I.P

Actress typically presents washes of layered sound and then uses what sound like real instruments — piano, organ, flute — to carry the melody.

Music review: (alt-J) – An Awesome Wave

Music review: (alt-J) – An Awesome Wave

The fusion of folk harmonies with hip-hop’s swagger, rock’s bombast and great production has created a sound that has the music world all aflutter.

Music review: El-P – Cancer4Cure

Music review: El-P – Cancer4Cure

El-P has moved towards the mainstream, or at least a wider audience. Thankfully, he has pulled it off without sacrificing urgency and proficiency.

Music review: Sun Araw

Music review: Sun Araw, M Geddes Gengras & the Congos – FRKWYS Vol 9: Icon Give Thank

This album, just under 43 minutes long, is more a series of exquisite and often haunting experimental soundscapes.

Reflective: A window into Mark Kozelek’s life at 45.

Kozelek’s freewheeling album full of songs from the heart

There is something to be said for heart-on-your sleeve honesty, especially if a songwriter manages this while keeping listeners interested.

Faking it: Die Skynmaagde’s Wilken Calitz and Henry Cloete.

Sounds of satirical sokkie

Die Skynmaagde juxtapose the banal from Afrikaans music knowingly and playfully with Marxist concepts and communist heroes, writes Charles Leonard.

Matthew van der Want: Letting the light shine through

Matthew van der Want: Letting the light shine through

Matthew van der Want, one half of South Africa’s finest singer-songwriting duos, is about to make a comeback.

The Boss blows hot and old

The Boss blows hot and old

Bruce Springsteen’s new album features political protest songs but they are mostly meaningless, writes <b>Lloyd Gedye</b>.