2009-05-11
Amadou & Mariam's Welcome to Mali is a really cool mixture of traditional African music and contemporary music trends. The album was produced by Damon Albarn, of The Gorillaz and Blur, and he also plays many of the instruments. As one would expect, that adds a lot of depth to the record, turning otherwise basic worldbeat songs into a hybrid of modern western pop mixed with African music. When many of the songs start it sounds like anything on top 40 radio, until Mariam Doumbia's distinct voice breaks in her native language. There's nothing ordinary about these tunes, like opener "Sabali" and "Djuru, which mixes hand drumming with drum machine tracks for a nice effect.
Mishka
Above the Bones
American Babies
An Epic Battle Between Light And Dark
Aurora
All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend
NORTEC COLLECTIVE PRESENTS: BOSTICH + FUSSIBLE
Bulevar 2000
Like Water Drumworks
Like Water to the Roots
Astor Piazzolla
The Rough Guide to Astor Piazzolla
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