Search - Various Artists :: Midnight in Mali

AMAZING CONCERT, INCREDIBLY RECORDED

o dubhthaigh | north rustico, pei, canada | 09/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Put together by the phenomenal Habib Koite, this encapsulation in a dozen tracks of remarkable performances is a scintillating experience, even for those of us so distanced by time and geography from its occurence. This has been a pretty amazing year for African music: Ali Farka Toure's swan song, Toumani Diabete's Symmetrical Orchestra, Kekele's just released CD, and if we are not going to have a new Habib Koite disc, this is just as good!

From the opening pointillistic riffs through the Islamic and Bedouin incantations, the air od the northern dessert and the lush river valleys flows through every track. I'd like to say that I have a favourite, but the truth is that this disc washes over you differently each time you hear it. In many ways it is both a primer and an immersion in the discipline of this African nation. Mali has enjoyed a healthier economy and lifestyle, more stable political climate than most of its neighbors and that allows the artists to dig into their inspiration with more ardor. The results are wonderful. Tinariwen, still haunted by its gun-running reputation, delivers a spooky selection, but that's redeemed in many ways by the admonitions of the singers throughout this CD to look forward and preserve what is essentially good in their nature.

This is a terrific addition for any African fan."