Africa music reviews

I only know one song from this album, it is called Haidara and is available on the Rough Guide to Mali & Senegal album, which in itself is as good a guide to the music of the region as one can get in my opinion.

Haidara is one of the best songs I've ever heard.

and I've heard plenty. I second everything the other reviewer says. Sadly, this CD has been out of print for years. As I type this, the only used copy of the CD listed on amazon goes for $87.39.

I'm astonished that this CD has no reviews. It is easily my favorite recording of African music of any kind (followed closely only by some Ethiopian dance instrumentals from the 1970's), and the song 'Haidara' is one of my top ten favorite recordings in the world since I first heard it 14 years ago.

Guinean kora player and vocalist Jawara essembled an absolutely perfect group for this all too brief recording. Along with the two guitars, balafon (a hand-made marimba-like percussion instrument) and two female backup singers, Jawara's kora bursts from their unified sound with shimmering confidence like rain whipping on ocean waves. His honeyed voice glides just over the surface, answered by a bright, distant chorus. Unlike the steady beat of South African pop, Manding music is propelled by a rolling pulse that can induce the feeling of floating bodily among intersecting, organic currents.

This is no scratchy field recording, but the all-acoustic songs are rooted in deep traditions from the urban music of both Guinea and Mali. It suffers from none of the banal Western influences that can occasionally saturate less traditional African pop. The album was recorded in Ivory Coast, first released in France in 1985 and reprinted in the US by Hannibal Records (Polygram) in 1990. Also check out Jawara's earlier album with the same instrumentation, 'Soubindoor'. As rich as 'Yasimika', but with a less perfectly balanced mix by the recording engineer.

I've been listening to African roots music for about 7 years now and thought that I'd heard it all - until I chanced upon a couple of Le Zagazougou tracks in a Madison coffee shop. It blows away every preconceived notion you hold about West African music. This ain't your usual kora, n'goni, balafon combo...what it is is knock-your-socks-off polymetric percussion fused with some of the sweetest accordion ever to emerge from the African continent. The singing ranks with some of the best djelis I've heard. Buy this album!

This album is a great one and you will get to hear a little bit of the African culture also.

The music you here on this CD is hard to find anywhere else! And the intricate rythms and patterns make it sound ahead of it's time. Hugh Tracey recorded this back when rock and roll was in its infancy and bathrooms and water fountains were still racially segregated!

70 minutes of mid-'80's music from a little explored region of Africa's prolific musical landscape. Contains many beautiful compositions, boasting a reliable combination of rhythm, harmony, and, of course, guitar brilliance.

The geographic location of Zambia, between East and Southern Africa, is reflected in the unique blend of styles, though perhaps a comparison to Kenyan pop is most apt. The song SUNGANI ANA by FIRE FAMILY BAND, though sung in Nyanja, could almost be an offering from Orchestra Super Mazembe or Les Mangelepa. The guitar duet in the second half of this track is as exquisite and heartwarming an offering you could wish for to set your spirits soaring.

Languages featured include: Bemba, Mambwe, Tonga, Luvale, Lozi, and Nyanja, so don't expect to understand all the lyrics. Luckily the music speaks for itself. Snap this gem up before it too joins the 'out of stock' section...

greeting to all viewers of this message,i personal think this album is one of the best album globally,it is just that south african music industry is poor when it comes to advertise the traditional jazz artist, yet we all know this music does not bring a lot of money to recording companies.i will urge any buyer to read attentively so that he/she understand the sequence of the tracks and its global meaning therfor it will be easy to know the context.MUSIC SHOULD HEAL OUR INNER SOUL.

From first time I heard "Zombie" intro, I was took away to Fela's world deeply. This one of his best records he made(though his albums are all great) really made realize about afro-beat music. Buy this CD now and you will want to know a struggling life he had.

Let me start off by saying that Zao is my absolute favorite band, hands down. Through many years and many line-up changes, Zao has managed to put out the best material available in the Christian metal scene. As another reviewer said on here (and I wholeheartedly agree), just because Dan is screaming doesn't mean the music isn't Christian. Zao is just worshipping God in their own way just like we all have the right to do. Anyway, on to the album. This album is my favorite of all the great Zao albums. Dan is such a great vocalist and the music compliments the vocals so well that it is hard to even find the slightest flaw in this album (which I see none). The vocals are the most scathing vocals you will ever find. Ember is my favorite song, but To Think of You is to Treasure an Absent Memory and Ravage Ritual are good as well (but they're all good). Go buy it and support this amazing band!

To start off I'll say that I have every ZAO CD. That isn't to say that I think all of their stuff is the greatest. And it isn't just because I'm a Christian. I like secular hardcore/metalcore acts just as much as I like Christian ones. When I say this may be one of the best albums in this genre, it's because it is lyrically and musically a masterpiece.

From the first whispered tones of "Your Eyes.." right up to the last strains of this CD, it hammers into the listener with sincerity of words and the sheer might of a jackhammer. We're talking about HEAVY guitars, insane drumming, and vocals that have been copied by nearly every band to come out since it came out in 1998. Just take a listen to bands like Haste the Day, The Agony Scene, Demon Hunter, Unearth, Killswitch Engage Heaven Shall Burn, Himsa, Bleeding Through and As I Lay Dying, all of these acts borrow from ZAO, and have done it to the point that they are commercially successful. Even a list of more "underground" bands have taken aspects of this CD and inserted it into their music. Alove for Enemies, A Traitor Like Judas, Black Dahlia Murder, Martyr AD, All That Remains, Nodes of Ranvier, and Glass Casket, just to name a few.

If you like hardcore/metalcore music, and you can't listen to this CD and really see where the genre has come since this was released and how the genre itself was influenced and shaped by these great musicians then I just feel sorry for you cause you missing out on a GREAT listen. This CD is a MUST HAVE for any serious hardcore/metalcore fan.

I've been a fan of ZAO for a few years now, and im my option this is there best cd so far. So if you like Zao this is a good place to start.

This was my first Cheb Mami cd I purchased and he quickly became one of my favorite artists. Even if the listener doesn't understand what he is saying due to the language difference, Mami's voice still speaks to the audience and is just incredible. The tracks called Parisien Du Nord are some of my favorites since it is done with a French rap artist. I highly recommend this cd to Cheb Mami fans new and old.

Cheb Mami is quality and talent. This cd is my favorite of his. This cd seems to contain some more "traditional" rai and middle eastern rhythms. #3 is magical and so is parisien du nord. The tracks on this cd are diverse and magical to listen to again and again. Gotta love his voice.

Cheb Mami has one of the most appealing voices today. I played this CD in my car for weeks before I wanted to listen to anything else. I am currently choreographing to Aswah (#11); next I may get to #8 (I am a bellydancer) Rai can be described as a head-on collision between traditional middle eastern music with rock'n'roll and a good dose of rap. Ain't it funny how fusion can often bring forth the best (in people and in music.....my philosophy for the day)

This was the CD that started Putumayo's Groove series;so far,it's one of the best.While many of the songs are about unrequited love,they are also incredibly danceable&upbeat.

Highlights-
1)Moi et toi-This has a funky beat.
2)Galbi-Another great song about unrequited love.Abdy is truly talented.
3)Leiley-A remix by Transglobal Underground.Dania's song of longing is amazing.
4)Kidda-This song introduced me to the great Natacha Atlas.I now have 3 of her CDs.This song,of course,is about unrequited love&is quite raw&powerful.
5)Ne me jugez pas-A boy band from Morocco sings a great song remixed by Volodia.


If you want a bazaar of music,try this one!

I absolutely loved this CD! It was refreshing and i could definitely listen to it over and over again!
I am in love! This CD brings out the beats that i would never have expected for arabic music.

Putumayo is the finest place to hear music which takes you by the collar and shakes you until your teeth fall out. We heard Arabic Groove in an upscale electronics store, bought it on the spot, and have, since then, purchased a cd by almost every artist represented. From there we have found other groups and types of music, all of which can be traced by back to this Putumayo collection.

If you like this (and who wouldn't?) give North African Groove a try, in addition to the Sahara Lounge, and perhaps broaden your listening a bit, and step into African Groove. The world is full of music, and Putumayo is helping us find it.