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.
Frikstailers
Guacha EP + En Son De Paz
Various Artist
Spirits In The Material World
JOHANNES WELCH, DAVID HESS AND PAUL HINGER
Stunderthorm
Luciano
Lessons of Life
MARISA MONTE
Universa ao Meu Redor
Pierre Bensusan / Andrew York / Guinga / Brian Gore
An Evening with International Guitar Night
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