Search - Gabin Dabire :: KONTOME

Born in Burkina Faso and a resident of Italy since 1975, Gabin Dabiré is a musician and composer who transcends his geographical boundaries gracefully and faithfully. His music may have deep roots in Africa, but it is unbridled by location and searches around the world for the sounds that bring his music to life. Kontome are icons of life-guiding spirits, and this album is dedicated to them. While the core of the music is the guitar and vocals of Gabiré, there is a wealth of sonic layers to deal with here, from Bach-like strings to jazzy woodwinds, a divine chorus, small washes of synthesizers, a funky bass line. While the themes of the songs have traditional roots, the music is contemporary, with lots of rhythmic diversity and aural surprises everywhere. You are as likely to hear modern Kronos as ancient Dagara in his songs. Kontome is a small but pleasant surprise in a world of Afro-pop. --Louis Gibson