Jan 11/06
Progressively unplugging
I know that many of you probably already have this album and that there have been a million reviews on the web, but I don’t care. It’s great stuff and today’s selection fits quite nicely with the Cap Verdian selections from yesterday.
I’ve posted Salif Keita a bunch of times on this site but his latest album is still worth mentioning.
Like many big-name West African musicians, lately Keita has been sticking more to his acoustic roots and less to the casio synth. While the album still may be overproduced in my opinion there are still some great tracks that highlight much that is great about contemporary West African acoustic guitar music, particularly that coming out of Mali.
A little more raw, a little less echo and fade effect, and Keita’s album would be even better. It’s still one of the year’s better mainstream West African releases.
Today’s track comes off Salif Keita latest album, M’Bemba, released in 2005 on Universal. It’s the first time in his musical career of over 35 years that he recorded an album in his native Bamako, Mali.
ps- see an interview video with Salif Keita by Benn loxo listener, Diego, on Excite.it here.
Tags: mali
Universal has still not released this yet in the United States.
Too bad that it’s not available in the US yet. Interesting that Salif seems more comfortable moving to the Wassalunke aesthetic (ie, the rhythms, kamalen ngoni, back-up singing, etc). Maybe that’s the sound that Western audiences have come to expect and associate with Mali? I’m not complaining! I ni ce, koni. o diyara an ye kosebe.
His M’Bemba concert in Brugge was really intoxicating and full of happiness.
The brilliant sounds of Keita and his band made me sing yambo,yambo for weeks.A must for sceptics.
[...] Benn loxo du taccu (Matt Yanchyshyn) talks on the new album by Mali’s favourite son Salif Keita. The new album, M’Bemba, is indicative of a new trend and Matt writes: “Like many big-name West African musicians, lately Keita has been sticking more to his acoustic roots and less to the casio synth. While the album still may be overproduced in my opinion there are still some great tracks that highlight much that is great about contemporary West African acoustic guitar music, particularly that coming out of Mali.” [...]
[...] World Music. Lazy term. Music out of Africa is so rich it deserves it’s own full section in any major music store. but I could argue with the marketing department all day. My name is Obi and welcome to my first music blog roundup focusing on what’s buzzing on the beautiful continent of Africa and the diaspora. Benn loxo du taccu (Matt Yanchyshyn) talks on the new album by Mali’s favourite son Salif Keita. The new album, M’Bemba, is indicative of a new trend and Matt writes: “Like many big-name West African musicians, lately Keita has been sticking more to his acoustic roots and less to the casio synth. While the album still may be overproduced in my opinion there are still some great tracks that highlight much that is great about contemporary West African acoustic guitar music, particularly that coming out of Mali.” [...]