Search - N'Faly Kouyate, Dunyakan :: Kora Grooves

Kouyate Does, Indeed, Groove

Mikey Sayz | 06/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's too bad they don't have the listening samples posted for this. I stumbled upon this while, being temporarily bored with the same old thing, I drifted into the international section at the record store. This is a beautiful album, with amazing percussion, lovely vocals,and incredible playing on a string instrument that sounds very much like a cross between a mandolin and a koto (as used so well by the jazz group, Hiroshima). The liner notes say that Kouyate comes from a band called the Afro Celt Sound System. That name fits the sound quite well, but you should also note the occasional touches of jazz, blues, and even folk. To me, it is a perfect sound for laying around by the pool with your friends, with a feel that can best be summed up as "festive.""