Mali music reviews

This CD is great. The other reviewers have it right. Read their reviews for more detail on the CDs content. Many of the cuts on this CD (and Mouneissa, get that also!) fully deserve 5 stars.
Actually, I'm writing this review in hopes of bringing more attention to Rokia and her amazing musicians. If you get a chance to see them live, do not miss it. The band is one of the most exciting, talented, mesmerizing acts to come out of Africa.
The ngoni players are two of the most talented on the planet. Having the two together, with their interplay and range, is as good as it gets.

Rokia Traore is an amazing talent; I've seen her live, and it was a great, great performance. This CD is terrific -- she sings with a poise and presence that can stop you in your tracks. The songs here are all unforgettable, and she covers a surprisingly wide range of issues and moods. I've lived in East Africa for many years, and Rokia Traore makes me wish I'd been living in Mali instead. Some of her singing reminds me of the very best of early Joni Mitchell, but most of the time she reminds me of no one else. If you are interested in really immersing yourself in a powerful experience of real African music, this is the best.

Rokia Traore is an impressively talented young vocalist and songwriter from Mali. From the sound of this disc, she has her feet firmly rooted in the traditional music of her homeland, but the other subtle influences heard here indicate that she is not afraid to gently expand her musical horizons.

There is a delicate beauty at work here -- the arrangements are uncluttered (acoustic guitar, balafon, bass, kora and assorted percussives) and unadorned, leaving the vocals clear and unburied. The songs all have vital rhythmic cores, but without the over-produced power-pounding of commercial dance-oriented music.

The kora (an indigenous African harp-like instrument) is allowed to dominate many of the arrangements -- and its delicate sound is a good choice to complement Traore's expressive and unpretentious voice. It is the unforced, compelling emotion in her voice that demands our attention. The recording is first-rate and clear as a bell -- every little nuance of Traore and the other singers is there for us to appreciate.

Released under the Indigo imprint from Label Bleu out of France, the package is exceptionally attracive as well -- a quality-printed, oversixed booklet fits nicely inside the cardstock slipcase along with the cd jewelbox, filled with beautiful photographs, a bio of the artist and lyrics in original and translated forms.

There is an airy quality to this music, but it is powerful at the same time -- proving that louder isn't always better. The talent and production values brought together here make for a musical excursion of exceptional quality, taste and strength. I'll definitely keep my eyes -- and ears -- open for more from this gifted artist.

Putumayo is a great vehicle for touring the world -- you can do it from the comfort of your own home by way of some incredible music. This particular disc is an enchanting and rhythmic look at Africa and its many different musical styles. According to the accompanying and extremely informative booklet, Africa is home to over 50 countries, 1,000 different languages, and 3,000 different tribes. That would make this disc a brief glimpse of all Africa has to offer in the music world, even though it is a very comprehensive sampling - ten songs from seven different countries.

Many cultures have influenced the music of Africa over the years, adding to a rich diversity of both music and the instruments with which to play music. The music found here is as beautiful and untamable as the African landscape - showing the strong unbreakable spirit of a strong, enduring, and culturally rich people. As well as containing two previously unreleased tracks of known artists, this disc also contains music of people that have never been heard outside of their marketing areas before. A bona fide treasure to care for and enjoy.

Fundo Di Matu is sung in Crioulo, which is a blend of African languages local to the Guinea Bissau and Portuguese, which is the main language of Guinea Bissau. Manuel Leal Emidio Costa, or Manecas Costa, first released this song on his album of the same name in 1999. Fundo Di Matu means Deep in the Forest and the rhythms of this piece will have you swaying and moving to the music before you realize what has happened, as Manecas' emotion laden lyrics dance around the melody.

Les Go is local slang along the Ivory Coast for "The Girls." This group is fronted by not one, but three young women who are a part of something so much larger - the L'Ensemble Koteba d'Abidjan. The famed dance/ theatre/ music company which was established in the city of Abidjan in order to preserve the Mandingo culture. The director of this school brought the three girls together, and now they mix their cultural music with popular Western music to bring about their own unique and most definitely unique sound. The lyrics of this piece are in Bambara, the language of Mali. In this track can be heard the n'goni (a four stringed lute-like instrument), Malian flutes, drums, and even some modern studio effects. The end result is a stunning and flavourful almost pop sounding track.

Ke Cu Minino Na Tchora is another interesting piece with a definite Reggae influence. The lyrics are completely at odds with the upbeat, chipper melody. The electric guitar has a bit of a spotlight, dancing all about the drum beat and bringing a smile - until you read the lyrics, that is. The Criolu lyrics describe the pain and suffering which comes with war, and focuses on the children thus affected. Bidinte has a strong love for music, according to the liner notes he even changed his religion to Catholic so that he could play the priests guitar! Incredible spirit and drive are combined with some serious talent where this young man is concerned. I hope to hear more of his work in time.

Not only is this a great way to expose yourself to African music, it is a great dance disc. The rhythms are very strong and lend themselves well to such strenuous activity. All of the artists featured on this disc are talented and have something worthwhile to say - this is music with meaning and a deep regard for life.

Review Original Posted at LinearReflections.com

While people associate Africa with drumming,this album leans to the acoustic side.Putumayo excels in exploring world acoustic music,and this album is a shining example.Each song is perfect,haunting.

Manecas Costa sings of a long-lost love;Seydu sings of the plight of children during wartime.Les Go is a powerful trio of women from the Ivory Coast.Oliver Mtukudzi of Zimbabwe,who is on many Putumayo albums,has a beautiful song about the sustaining power of spirituality.Augusto Cego from Cape Verde sings of the melancholy of the sea.Aura Msimang sings powerfully of a mother's loss.Adama Yalomba sings about helping the less fortunate accompanied by an unobtrusive electronic beat;I wish I could find more of his music.Habib Koite sings about the problems caused by polygamy when wives fight;it's not the glossy version of polygamy presented on HBO's "Big Love",but the atrocious nature of it in Mali.Koite doesn't sugarcoat it.

This is a powerful album.Despite its heavy themes of hunger,war&polygamy,its music is relaxing&uplifting.

Putumayo does it again! Beautiful musical voyage of Africa with some haunting melodies. This is an enchanting album ...something you need to add to your I-Pod ASAP! My favorites are Raki by Oliver Mtukudzi and Sinama Denw by Habib Koite.

This is utterly delicious! While the bluesy influence of his mentor can certainly be heard, Afel Bocoum is entirely his own man on this album. He plays purposeful and uplifting music that is traditionally Malian, not to mention firmly rooted in Islam - exquisitely tasteful and subtle - delivered with a sure-footed but gentle authority that gives it a wonderful resonance. It's a style that is often unexpectedly funky/dubby/deep-groovy, if I can put it that way! Personally, much as I love all of Ali Farka Toure's CDs, this is somehow even more resoundingly satisfying.

Sidenote: I see from that the version for sale here is published by Nonesuch Records, NYC. The version I have (sorry Amazon!) is from the UK's World Circuit Records and comes with detailed liner notes by Lucy Duran, lyrics in English and an interesting collection of B&W photos of band members and assorted others. Perhaps another reviewer who has the Nonesuch imprint could let other readers know if the packaging is up to the same standard.

No need for many words. Simply put, one of the most beautiful, pure, and haunting recordings of this genre that I have heard.

Afel Boucoum grew up as the protege of the great Malian troubadour Ali Farka Toure. While this album reminisces the sound and atmosphere of Ali Farka Toure's earlier works like "The Source" or "The River", it nonetheless comes across as one of the most honest and evocative efforts yet rendered by any Malian musician. Very highly recommended!

I like this music. It is inspired by medicine music from Mali, the language is African, but I really can feel that the music is not purely African. Diallo has preferred commercial success among whites, that's why there is some white influence in his music, though to a much lesser extent that many African bands I am ashamed of. Diallo is on the good path, but that's not quite it. To my African brothers, I can recommend a purer healing music Kundidzora Azim's Mbira: Healing Music of Zimbabwe. That's the real stuff you want to get.

I've been advocating the healing attributes of some African music for years. Yaya Diallo's music is truely soothing, and not just for Africans. All should try it out...

Yaya Diallo, author of The Healing Drum, shares the tribal medicine music of his youth with us here. Rhythmic and at once both gentle and compelling, this music reaches into the soul to soothe and harmonize. This is his gift for us, and a reminder that perhaps Western medicine still has a few things to learn.

I just got this cd from my local shop and I'm hooked from first talking "interlude" track to the "wild Goose Chase" at the end. The music is very rooty with Sali Sidibe(one of the best), Oumou Sangare, Yayi Kaunote giving this cd a true traditional feel. Kandia Kouyate's "Donike"(which means achieve something in life) stand out from the rest amongst the divas, her voice is distinctive U could say she is Salif Keita's Mom metarphorically speaking. Salif Keita is also featured here with "Tekere" & he never fails to impress. The main man, Djelimady Tounkara is superb even though here he plays many but very short songs.I'm taken by "Kedo" track very soulful the way he plays with his brother,Solo. Of course Habib Koite is amazing his guitar play is quick with an African rhythm & vocals.Ali Farka Toure, now this is veteran guitarist on "Allah Uya" translated "God is Unique".Toumane Diabate's kora playing on "Sema" is unforgettable. I have become familiar to some instruments like kora, ngoni, balafone & these form a beautiful music when blended well with western instruments.Lobi Traore's two tracks are very good especially"Maby Djoudon Don"(Live)-Listen to the guitar here (reminds me of Santana or Los Lobos).The Rail Band provide a superb track"Silanide" with Djelimady Tounkara very visible on the strings & wonderful vocals. What impreses me most here is(1) the quality of the sound, is the best considering that some tracks were recorded in compounds with tapes.Listen to "Lanaya" U can hear the rumble of the car outside the studio, What ever Banning Eyre used to record must have been very powerful to capture a sound like that.(2)the quality of the music with skillful artists collection.(3)Little translation on the tracks to allow the listener to relate to music.Of course if U want more,Buy the Book "In Griot Time....."(4)Photos of artists (5)Assisted me to know more of other Malian artists (6)& a whole lot more...words can never be enough to praise this best collection. It's like U are in Mali when U listen to this music.I wish I could visit this musically rich country. This cd is worth 5 stars & more believe me take it from a South African.

I'd like to thank Eyre for the work put in this excellent collecion of some of the most beautiful pieces of music from Mali. Demonstrates his superb taste. The inclusion of the Wild Goose Chase at the end is especially touching. My Malian friend, who has just recently arrived in the United States, loves this collection as well. Thank you for letting us enjoy this music.

Thank you Djelimady. And thank you Banning. My kind of guys.

I was in a cafe in Morocco when I first heard Oumou Sangare, it was Saa Magni, about her friend Amadou who she lost. There have been few other songs I have ever heard that have carried such a raw emotion, I dont know what the words say, but then I thought maybe its better I dont, the power of her voice conveys everything you need to know - she has such an amazing power in her voice, something that jumps out at you right away, and yet she sings about the most mundane of subjects for the most part.
Even if you're not into african music, you will probably appreciate the quality of this singer, she's awesome.

Let me just say right away that you should buy this cd. I listen to musics from all over the world and alot of things that I love are things that I can understand why maybe someone else doesn't like them, but this is not one of those cd's.

As is the case with all non-English musics, just by listening I do not know what the musician is singing about, but Oumou is so utterly powerful and emotional that I can't even imagine what it'd be like to hear her and not be moved... sometimes moved to dancing, sometimes moved to tears. Sometimes both at the same time.

There is one song on this cd that I don't like, but that doesn't matter, this is a five-star cd all the way. Quite honestly, the power of track #2 (Sigi Kuruni) and track #4 (Saa Magni) are by themselves strong enough to earn this cd a five-star rating from me. All the other songs range from very good to great.

I know that Ali Farka Toure is the most widely known Malian musician, but please do not forget the women of Mali. The best songs on this cd have no problem standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the best songs that Ali Farka Toure and Afel Bocoum have written.

If you love true African musics (not Western-pop-influenced Afro-Beat trash) you will love this cd. If you've never really heard any true African musics then this cd is as good a place to start as any. Oumou and her two-woman backing chorus are simply phenomenal singers, and the acoustic musicianship is perfect.

I was entranced by the quality of her voice, the melodies and just the overall sheer sonic experience. I bought this CD and it lived up to every expectation. Even my musically less adventorous friends have commented on how good this album is. Highly recommended.

I have no idea how Oumou Sangare passed me by for so long, but as a longtime admirer of Ali Farka Toure's music, and having recently been completely bowled over by Afel Bocoum's "Alkibar", this came as another revelation.

Ko Sira is for the most part modestly presented - subtle and understated, though in no way lacking punch and drive. Delicately picked/strummed/bowed pentatonic melodies, densely textured for a wonderful pulsing/throbbing/cascading sound, and gentle scraped and drummed percussion cast firmly within the Wassoulou idiom. And that voice... such control, such tight phrasing and expression - swoon!

The recording is clean and bright with a natural EQ and excellent dynamics. Not all tracks appeal equally to me... #1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 are particularly stunning (to these ears at least). But that's not to level any particular criticism at the others. The overall experience here is simply sublime. Buy now or regret later!

Oumou is one the most beautiful voices in traditional african music. Her melody is soothing and reminds me of my younger years in my african hometown.

this is an excellent CD and desperately needs to be reissued

If you like intersted earthy music you should buy this, every track will grow into your soul the more you listen to it

Some of the finest music ever recorded. This incredible collaboration with Habib Koite is a treasure. My fellow reviewers have already spelled why quite eloquently. All I can say is, if you like guitar, you will love this album. Note to parents: My 2 year old has actually come to me and sighed, "Mommy, I need Boubacar please."

This is one of the most moving albums of African music -- or of any genre -- I've ever experienced. Kar Kar's voice is so deep and soulful as he pours himself into these songs. They deal with life, love, death, loss and hardship -- and more. Accompanied by Habib Koite and his incredible band Bamada (see his fine recent release BARO), the arrangements are kept relatively simple, but they are so very beautiful and effective. The acoustic guitar work on all of the tracks is exquisite -- Keletigui Diabate's work on balafon and violin is also memorable. All of this is gifted to the listener through a crystal-clear recording.

The package is attractively designed as well -- as I have come to expect from the French company Label Bleu. Even without full translations, the feeling and soul of these songs comes across very clearly.

The music on this album can be universally appreciated -- by afficianados of world music as well as by those who would like to expand their musical horizons.

This album is available from World Circuit, Ltd. Cheers!

WHY OH WHY is this CD no longer available? I got it out of the library a long time ago and have attempted to order it twice. It no longer appears in music stores in the U.S. This CD is one of the most beautiful, inspiring, and passionate recordings EVER! Please. . . someone find me a copy. . .

brilliant . life changing buy it

This album is available from World Circuit, Ltd. Cheers!

WHY OH WHY is this CD no longer available? I got it out of the library a long time ago and have attempted to order it twice. It no longer appears in music stores in the U.S. This CD is one of the most beautiful, inspiring, and passionate recordings EVER! Please. . . someone find me a copy. . .

brilliant . life changing buy it