Africa music reviews

I first heard this CD in a van with 6 other people as we trekked from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Las Vegas, Nevada. One guy on the group was a local radio DJ and does a World Beat show. This was the only album we all liked from his suggestions. He still had to sit in the back since he was on the low end of the totem pole. However, since this album was a hit with the group, he earned a ride home minus the quips, jokes, and insults usually reserved for such a lowly passenger...

Track 1 (Diarabi) is the perfect start for the album. It's uplifting beat is great and the song was the favorite of one of our passengers... *****

Track 2 (Maw Expensive) is decent. Definitely not the song you want on repeat as the lyrics can become a little annoying if you're in a bad mood (or on a 7 hour ride with seven people who are starting to get on your nerves...) ***

Track 3 (Sidudla) is the most Techno of the group, but the lyrics keep it solid and brings it back from a song that almost ended up as one that "only a teenager could like..." ****

Track 4 (Awakening) doesn't have a preview here on Amazon - and rightly so. It's not one of the better songs on the album, but still acts as a great bridge from song to song... ***

Track 5 (Sutukung) flip flops with #6 and #8 as my favorite depending on the mood i'm in. The long-step beat is just great and the vocal is masterful. I don't care what foul mood you're in - this song can bring you back from the dead. *****

Track 6 (Noumou) is one of the most "African" sounding of the group. Watch out for when the lyrics, bass, drums, and xylophone(?) all meet - just gorgeous! One of my favorites on the album. *****

Track 7 (Freetown) has an interesting voice distortion. ****

Track 8 (In the Sun) is just a "good" tune until the chanting vocals enter. Then is it's just a fantastic song! *****

Track 9 (Dan Gna) i feel is not up to par with the rest of the Album. I found it strange at the end and you keep waiting for the album to continue. I might be missing something, so i've been keeping an ear out each listening and i never skip over the song... ***

Definately a great album to own. I'm not into techno junk or new age crap, but i love this album's African roots with a modern beat that hasn't been overdone. Seems to work on many levels. Very cool...

Having previously loved "Asian Travels," I was impressed by the reviews of this CD and had to try it out. Simply put, this CD is mindblowing!! It grabs you from the first track and does not let go or slacken throughout the entire disk. Virtually every album I own (including many classic recordings) can't maintain their level of excellence throughout. Most every recording has those moments that people in the CD age tend to skip over, but this one is that rare exception. It covers an amazing variety of styles and is the very definition of the word "synthesis." If only music this excellent could reach a wider audience, the world would be much better off. If you can't tell from all the positive reviews here, it's time to get back to where music all started and make "African Travels" your next purchase. The drums are waiting.

I want to make this short: this cd is extremely good, excellent. It's the type of music that will rock you and that you will want to listen anytime. It motivates you and it has some beats that will conquer you! I have traveled with this one (cd) to different places and everyone loves it, I mean everyone, from south america to north america.

Honestly, it's the best cd I have in my collection and I always want to show it of. Please also get Arabian travels, wow...a pair that will give strong reputation to your music collection!

This CD is a masterpiece! It is absolutely amazing, and it has a lot of depth in it. A great piece to dance to or just to listen to if you would like to relax. You can hear the cuban beats as well as the african beats in here. just amazing..

This CD should have been named Afro-Cubano. The CD starts off with African salsa and son, and then switches back and forth between Cuban son and African son.
Then just when you think you figured the CD out Ruy Mingas's Kolonial throws you off with a very percussive afroportuguese dish. The rhythm here is strong and different from the clave influence heard in the rest of the CD.
One strange thing about this CD is that the Cuban selections are all traditional son, while the african cuts stand out as more progressive and elaborate, with incredible use of electric guitars.

Well folks this is where it started, the true roots of the Cuban Rhythms and the rest of the Caribbean sounds. Here you will see the close connection to what today it's known as "salsa"; on some songs you think you are listening to Spanish but in reality it's Portuguese Creole from Cape Verde. The rest of the songs are a mixture of African, Spanish, Peruvian, Cuban and Portuguese rhythms. My favorite songs are from Angola, Rudy Mingas " KOLONAL " and Ricardo Lemo & Makina Loca from the Congo "Mambo Yo Yo ", all the rest are good too. On this CD the African continent proves to the rest of the world that salsa originated from them and they can play it just as good!

Since I've heard this record first in 1998 on my trip to Yerevan, Armenia it follows me everywhere I go. I'm in love with this woman and every new record of hers I get is special.

Portugese is such a lovely, romantic langauge when sung. Cesaria Evora's voice is all velvet and honey. The songs are beautiful. Some are filled with longing and stay in your mind. Oriundina is the one that haunts me. Just a beautiful CD.

Cesaria Evora is undoubtedly one of the greatest singers of all time! Her voice and style of singing are truly universal and transcendent. No one who listens to her will remain unaffected: It is impossible to withstand the power of her music. A gift such as hers is very rare and should be honored accordingly. This CD is highly recommended!

Since I've heard this record first in 1998 on my trip to Yerevan, Armenia it follows me everywhere I go. I'm in love with this woman and every new record of hers I get is special.

Portugese is such a lovely, romantic langauge when sung. Cesaria Evora's voice is all velvet and honey. The songs are beautiful. Some are filled with longing and stay in your mind. Oriundina is the one that haunts me. Just a beautiful CD.

Cesaria Evora is undoubtedly one of the greatest singers of all time! Her voice and style of singing are truly universal and transcendent. No one who listens to her will remain unaffected: It is impossible to withstand the power of her music. A gift such as hers is very rare and should be honored accordingly. This CD is highly recommended!

Nothing I can say about this CD will do it justice; it's superb. Simultaneously complex, clean, hypnotic, seductive, and reverant. El Din's voice and singing are impeccable and the instrumental work is brilliant.

If you enjoy this CD, then I highly recommend the work of Catherine Braslavsky and Joseph Rowe, particularly the CD "From Jerusalem to Cordoba". [...]

After seeing PASSION OF THE DESERT (which I saw ten times I was so mesmerized) I immediately bought this album which is the background of the movie. The song I could hear forever was "Helalisa" which reminds me of the great movie. Hamza is one of the greatest Middle Eastern musicans ever--it's the simplicity of just the oud and his sultry voice.

Hamza El Din is one of those amazing performers that you have been searching for your entire life. His vocal and musical abilities are sublime. At the same time, his music sounds both ancient and accessible. Hamza's music is meditational. The songs will gently paint pictures in your mind of the rolling Nubian desert scenery. Much is said of his musical abilities, but the rhythm is also a highlight as the doumbeks and handclaps add to the trance inducive sounds. His voice is very deep (like an Egyptian Johnny Cash) and his oud style expressive. Traditionally, the oud is an accompanying instrument and is almost never played by itself and usually does little or no improvisation. It is Hamza who can maintain the integrity of this music while being an innovator at the same time.

For those of you who know the Grateful Dead, you will know that the band worked with Hamza beginning with their trip to Egypt in 1978. Throughout the 70s and 90s, Hamza joined the band on stage many times -and for good reason. In the new millennium, Hamza still plays with Mickey Hart's Planet Drum.

Hamza has many great albums like "Songs of the Nile" (JVC, 1982) and "Lily of the Nile" (Water Lily Acoustics, 1990) but this is his best. While I've heard a few songs here played on other albums, there's something special about "Eclipse." The only explanation is producer Mickey Hart.

Did you know that the oud is the root instrument where the modern electric guitar comes from? Travel back to your roots, to the collective roots of humanity and listen to something that is both ancient and timeless.

Buy pure chance I was introduced to this album,back in 1995(I think).I met up with a guy,Mark was his name,he had the greatest job in the world,ever.He was in Zimbabwe,looking into signing new artists for Island Records and as fate has it's ways he came and stayed with us at a backpackers lodge where I was working.
Heaven Lodge Chimanimani.No place on the earth I have ever been
can compare to the Chimanimani Mountains,living and working in such paradise was uncomprehendible,now that I look back at it all.

Along came Mark with a few cassettes of his favourite African
musicians,paradise became utopia!!Baaba Maal was introduced to
Chimanimani.Music like I had never heard,in a language I did not
understand it just blew me away,the depth,the sheer feeling of Baaba's soul poors out at you in uncontrollable bliss.Words will never describe what a brilliant musician/singer Baaba Maal is.
He could be singing me into hell and beyond,I would know no different and LOVE every second of it.Go Baaba I thank you,I also thank Mark without him I would never have been introduced
to the music that now carries me around the World.

Ilost the cassette Mark gave me,bought another in Johanessburg'that also went to someone else,bought it on CD and left it with a mate and will carry on buying and conveniently
leaving it where ever I can,Amazingly Awesome,what else can I say?
Thank You
All the best
Doof

This is one of my favorite CDs in any category. If you can stand still listening to this music, you are probably not alive. Baaba Maal mixes it up with a fantastic contemporary sound, electronics and all, and traditional Senegalese music. His singing is powerful and dynamic, and the instrumentation is wild yet captures the nuances of his voice; or is it his voice that captures the nuances of the music. You can decide that for yourself, but don't miss listening to it. If you like more traditional Senegalese music, perhaps earlier Baba Maal will be for you. I like it all, but Firn' in Fouta is fresh and exciting and flies beyond the confines of categorization.

Living in a southern US city, the musical tastes of my friends tend to the provincial (Shania Twain, Hank Williams I, II or III, and the sound of NASCAR engines roaring), so I have become somewhat a proselyte for the infectious music of west Africa, especially mbalax from Senegal and especially Baaba Maal. There is not a single person I have played this album, my all time favorite, for, who has not enjoyed it at the least or came back to me slack jawed and said something to the effect of "what is this, it's awesome." The drumming and rhythm will shake you to your roots.

This cd is smooth and mellow. I've been addicted to it since I first got my hands onto it. A real pleasure.

I love the music of Mali--the home of Timbuktu and some really amazing musicians. Their music and its five-tone scale is supposed to be the roots of the Blues. Though the slave trade was mostly a coastal event (Mali is land-locked), wars in the area resulted in prisoners who ended up on slave ships heading for America. The rich Mali music tradtion may have created our American blues.

Here, side by side, Mali musicians play their music with a mix of electric guitar and traditional harp-lute along with cuts by John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters. The music is arranged cleverly--you can hear the similarities quite clearly. But aside from being interesting historically, this music is just plain great to hear. The cd has fascinating liner notes, too.

I've already played this twice through just out of the box, and I know this is going to be one of my play-all-the-time CD's.

When many westerners think of African music, they expect something exotic, something primitive, something mysterious. Yet for all their expectations, few Americans seem to realize that they are sitting on a goldmine of African traditions. The African musical traditions served to feed what would develop into the traditions of Blues, Jazz, Rap, Reggae, Rock, Gospel, Salsa and the like. And the purpose of this particular CD is to explore the African roots of the Blues.
Like most Putumayo CDs, this one jumps from Mali to the US, back to Mali (and neghboring Guinea), and to the US again. However, this only serves to show the similarities between these two musical traditions. Excellent selections from big namessuch as John Lee Hooker, Habib Koite, Muddy Waers, Taj Mahal, Rokia Traore and Boubacar Traore characterize this CD. The music, whether Mande or southern, always maintains a uniquely Blues feel to it.
And, as an added bonus to Blues fans, this CD really expands the entire genere. Compare John Lee Hooker's "I'm in the Mood" to Taj Mahal's "Queen Bee" and you'll see what I mean.

How can one go wrong with Brenda? MEMEZA (Shout or "Scream") was Brenda's return to brilliance after a dramatic fall from international stardom and near death from drug overdose in 1995. And what a come back it was, with the brilliance of the wedding song "Vul'indlela" voted song of the decade in South Africa and used by the ANC in their 1999 election campaign. MEMEZA was Africa's best selling album of 1998 scoping Fassie the Kora Award for best female artist. Most would say, best overall artist period. MEMEZA truely represents Brenda's powerfull rollercoaster ride through life. As she herself put it, the song and album best epitomised her life. "When I sing this song, I want to cry", she said. MEMEZA was a self proclaimed turnaround for her and was the beginning of a string of super hits and platinum selling albums until her sad passing from AIDS on May 9, 2004. Buy Memeza for the brilliance of Brenda and the soul uplifting, hip shaking, infectious beat of Kwaito. With Brenda singing, its near impossible to go wrong.

For a rare insight to Brenda from her own perspective view her selfmade video filmed just before her death. Click on the video link below the article located on the South African Broadcasting Web site.
http://www.sabcnews.co.za/entertainment/music/0,2172,79597,00.html

Brenda's music is popular all over Africa. Just recently I found out that she is a great hit in Ethiopia as well.
The reason for this is the successful blend of South African roots music with a modern dance approach. Yvonne Chaka Chaka did it well in "Bombani", but Brenda makes you want to move even more.
The choir is excellent, complementing brenda's voice perfectly. The Song "Vuli Endlela" is just about the best song for dancing I have heard. "Memeza" itself is a great song, not necessarilly for dancing.
Now the CD is out of stock which is a great shame.
I hope it comes back soon so all can enjoy its magic.

I've just returned from a month long trip in Kenya and Brenda Fassie could be heard everywhere--from campsites to clubs. Her music is inspirational and cultured. She has suffereed greatly from the trials of apartheid and survived in order to turn her suffering into inspiration. She has also been able to write songs in Swahili, the official language of Kenya. So you see, Brenda fassie is multi-talented and awesome. Purchasing "Memeza" is one of the best things a lover of truly African music can do.

I can't review this product, because it be over six weeks and am still waiting for the CD.

My first exposure to Youssou was via Peter Gabriel. I was intrigued but not well educated...Years later I read a 5 star review of this CD and got it. It was an instant favorite and still is. I like his earlier music more (IMMIGRES), for its raw joyous jamming, but this is more accessible for general listening; offering a nice balance of superb African vocals and instrumentation with Western (French) pop sensiblity/production (coproducer Rykiel adds a distinctive flavor with his keyboards and arrangements, but it is more like a bit of mellowing western spice to an exotic dish with the dominant ingredient still being Youssou and his Senegalese band!). I like EYES OPEN more than any of his similarly produced recordings (SET, GUIDE, JOKO). I disagree with the Amazon review on this; I think these songs are full of heartfelt emotion expressed in Youssou's vocals, the band's tight and layered playing and the lyrics which beautifully convey the real concerns of modern Africa (multi-lingual and fortunately printed in original and translation).

I am deeply moved by many of the songs, and feel they include many of Youssou's best (Live Television, No More, Country Boy, Things Unspoken). Consistently the band and vocals are great and the production, while slick, doesn't obscure it's African roots. I love Youssou's soaring, emotive (wide open!) voice on anything he sings, but his more recent recordings have been disappointing in their shift further into western pop. What suffers most are the complex rhythms, the layered drumming and fluid dexterous guitar work, that make his band the "super stars", and reveal Youssou as the consummate band leader. For me this CD marks the turning point where he had the two forces, roots and pop, in balance.

I have seen Youssou n'Dour live, and I have several of his albums. I am sometimes frustrated that he doesn't let his gorgeous voice soar often enough, and he doesn't let that ultra-tight Super Etoile (super star) Band off the leash enough.

On this album, "Hope" gives a taste of that voice, and then "Africa Remembers" give me what I've been looking for - a nice slow development, and those heartbreaking vocals alternating with a floating and laid-back sax and keyboards. Someday I hope to hear a 30-minute concert version of this song.

I'm not wild about the rest of the album - it's only very good - but those two cuts are enough for a five-star rating in my book.

Incomplete. What else can I say? This is a good mix, and a good cd, but the title is Islands. So, why not throw something a little more exotic into the mix? Cuba and Hawaii are predictable, but what about music from the Azores? What about the Madeira Islands? A little Luis Bettencourt, some Jose Medeiros, or Katia Guerreiro and this cd would have been a whole lot better!!!

"Danca ma mi Criola" is a bouncy love song."Me ki sa oule" is a lilting song of longing."Bomba traigo yo" is joyfully infectious.The BEST songs are "Falso Testemunho" from Cape Verde&"Veinte anos" from Cuba.Both these songs are about unrequited love&betrayal.For popular songs,they are moving."Sonegaly" is an enchanting song from Madagascar.Tarika hasn't been as good since."E I Taurua"&"Olinda Road" are magical songs from Tahiti&Hawaii.

D'Gary&Jihe from Madagascar as well as Quito Rymer from Tortola aren't quite so good.Interesting sidenote-Rymer's "Mix up world" is one of the themes for Putumayo's World Music Hour.Oh well.

This is still a good album."South Pacific Islands" is EVEN BETTER."Islands" has held up for a good 9 yrs since its release.No wonder it's still in print.How many pop albums last that long???

My whole family loves this CD. My 2 year old daughter dances up a storm and my 4 year old son puts on his jolly roger do-rag and swashbuckles about. A little mellower and less adventurous, musically, than similar compilations, but the quality is higher throughout.