Mali music reviews

I'm relatively new to Mali music, but this is the most incredible rhythmic guitar sound I have yet to encounter. The rifs are very tight and melodic. Mama Sissoko is phenomenally talented relative to today's popular artists in the U.S. Recommend "Massane Cisse" & "Jarabi Muso" although the entire album is wickedly awesome.

Mama Sissoko's Soleil de Miniut is a must buy!
This is one of those rare albums you can listen to 1000 times and still find something fresh in the music. The underlying interlocking guitar parts are very hypnotic and will surely lull the listener into a trance. This album is great for new comers and old fans of African Music.

I would rate this as my favorite CD of the Year!

This could be the best album I bought in the last few years.
I think there must be a lotta people out there who likes african music but less know mama sisoko.I must admit that I get to know this music by accident.
If you think specialist in all styles by Baobab is a good album you also love this one wich is maybe even better.
Order it now....Do yourself a favor....

I lived in West Africa for three years and this is the best album I found. A Peace Corps volunteer played if for me on Christmas Day in Mali. It is intense and moving and absolute dynamite to listen to.

When I first heard a couple tracks from Sya on the radio, I was immediately hooked. This CD has a great sound, mixing traditional African music with rythmic techo samples. I enjoy both forms of music, and this album is accessible to fans of either genre. The artist, Issa, is a self made musician from Mali who came from very poor family. There is an interesting story in the liner notes. Highly recommended.

There are so many compilations out there, and this is one of the best. Regardless of how "important" or "representative" the songs chosen here are, they all sound great! A wonderful addition to any world or African music collection, and great for a beginner in African/world music!

This album is the sixth in a series of introductions to the world's great musical traditions. Each volume is built around a geographical theme and produced by an acknowledged expert in that area.

The African journey commences in Algeria and then heads South, stopping off in Cape Verde, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar, before terminating in South Africa. The 14 tracks are representative but slightly atypical of their regions; most share a semi-acoustic yet modern and edgy esthetic. While a single CD cannot possibly showcase the music of an entire continent, these examples are a good way to get acquainted - or reacquainted - with Africa's stunning musical diversity. The set culminates in a moving rendition of the South African national hymn "Nkosi Sikilele I'Afrika," as performed by the Imilonji Kantu Choral Society, who sang it at former President Nelson Mandela's inauguration.

The musicians from the Wassoulou region of Mali sing about everyday prblems and how to deal with them. Themes include true love versus arranged marriages. Included here are established stars such as Kagbe Sidibe and Coumba Sdibe who have been famous in Wes Africa since the 1960s, as well as younger singers like Sali Sidibe and Dienaba Diakite. The Arab-influenced music mixes traditional instruments such as the Kamal Ngoni (a type of 6-string guitar) and the Djembe (deerhide drum) with modern keybords, electric guitars, flute, strings and bass, to harmonious effect. The best tracks are full of infectious riffs but the vocals are really exceptional: tough and earthy, rousing and soaring. Their purity is underlined by the Arabic call and response delivery. As starkly beautiful as a cathedral of bones at midnight.

This captivating CD presents nine tracks by five female vocalists from Mali's Wassoulou region. One track is by Oumou Sangare with the others being sung in similar (but not identical) styles. The sound is a unique synthesis of west African and northern African influences from a country on the southern edge of the Sahara. Exotic but soulful. Also includes some fine instrumental work. Nicely recorded.

From the traditional spiritual voices of Lady Blacksmith Mambaso, the funky Juju of King Sunny Ade, the harmonica flavoured Mbalax of Ismael Lo, the fado influenced melancholy of Cape Verde, the raw blues of Boubacar Traore,the smooth Jazz of Richard Bona,to the Rai of North Africa,the music of Africa is very diverse,rich and powerful.
Amadou and Mariam, are yet another fine example of two very talented and creative artists from Mali, who play a type of blues that is quite melodic and original.Wati is their latest release, and like all their previous work, it is a masterpiece. Their secret is in writing a sort of music that will captivate you from the very first tune, and will not let off until the very last note from the last track. The bluesy guitars enriched by the hammond, and the fine singing and brilliant backing vocals and arrangements will take you on a journey that very few modern musicians of any style or language will take you on. It is the MOOD that is so crucial in Amadou and Mariam's work.The melody and voices and playing are all blended into the listener's mind to put him/her in the right musical mood that will make the perfect listening experience. (the closest African band that put me in this similar mood was the underrated and hugely talented Ifang Bondi).
You should not hestitate in buying this record or any of Amadou and Mariam's work, for it is a great reflection of the richness,diversity,power,and magic of Africa.

A&M deliver the goods again. This CD is sytlistically similar to their previous 2 (us released) CDs. i.e., fabulous. Their wonderful arrangements are perfect accompanyment to their catchy songs. I hope I get to hear live someday.

It grows on you...I especially like the last track.

Clean cut recording, tight musicians. With inspiration that seems truly worldwide with it's roots kept in his native Africa, Koko Dembale's Amagni transcends modern Afro Pop and is a cool breeze for my Western Reggae roots. This music always is "there" to sooth out the rough edges away from the stress of hectic city life and makes the trip along boring highways go smooth as silk. I would play this CD for my Grandmother and my 8 year old daughter without reservations.

Salif Keita won international acclaim in 1987 with his masterpiece Soro, a brilliant fusion of the Malian musical tradition with modern technology. The follow-up, Ko-Yan, was disappointing since his voice seemed to have been sacrificed to insensitive production. It's therefore a pleasure to report that Amen was a great return to form, featuring highly melodic, hook-filled tracks with a sense of space, variety and danceability in which that mellifluous voice comes into its own. The tracks address contemporary issues such as the quest for democracy in West Africa in the song Waraya, but there are also beautiful love songs like the boyant Yele N Na, the rousing Karifa and the trilingual N B'i Fe. Throughout the album, producer Joe Zawinul harmoniously reconciles Keita's voice with breezy arrangements and the technical expertise of the jazz fusionists who assisted Keita in creating this rivetting slab of sound.

This album provides a range of different styles of Malian music, reflecting the different regions, and the degree of assimilation of Western music. I was suprised by the delicacy of much of the instrumentation; the vocals seemed harsh at first, but their beauty becomes self-evident after a few listenings. My favorite of the songs is "Djugu Magni", by Yayi Kanoute, which is very pop with a strong beat, but features an interlude of music reminiscent of Greece. I only wish this album provided a lyric sheet with translations! But I enjoyed the songs for the sound alone. By the way, the photos included are great.

I love Hemisphere Records because they do such a great job of picking tracks. I have three of their compilations, and there is not a dud on any of them. But this is my favorite. Not only is there a nice variety of music, from the intensely rhythmic (''Sisinbo'') to the pensive (''Liberia'') to the minimalist (''Ouere Hana''), you can discern how African music influenced American music, and how the Africans have in turn borrowed from us with their own unique twist. The songs are all interesting, and they all bear repeated playing. This is a great introduction to African music, well worth the price. Great job, Hemisphere!

The editorial review stresses how this music is not far from American blues. This is unnecessary. Since blues was created by Africans who were brought by force to America, why would it surprise anyone that they kept some of the sounds of their African traditions ?
The Malians musicians on this CD do not try to sound American. They try to create within Malian tradition, using either modern or traditional instruments. I love most of the songs, and most of the artists. Ami Koita and Kagbe Sidibe are my favorites, but the others are great too.
the music is happenning, it is energetic, rhythmic, and full of life. I saw that even people who have no special interst in African music are attracted to these sounds, so I recommend it to everyone !