Thursday, September 9, 2010

CD Review: Burundi's Steven Sogo


Il est beau mon pays (It Is Beautiful, My Country)

Burundi's Steven Sogo is a premier singer/guitarist with an ear for great-sounding music and a clear, creative vision that does not disappoint. All eight songs are sung in Kirundi, Swahili, and French. The overall feel of the album is not particularly traditional or overly-polished. There are hints of African percussion, but for the most part, Steven's guitar and vocals convey a primarily Afro-pop tone indicative of Mauritania's Daby Toure. The Afro-pop-French connection is very much alive here. The relatively simplistic instrumentation does not detract in any way from the catchy tunes. Not only is Steven's country 'beautiful', but his music can be described in the exact same manner. This is the best Burundi has to offer. Anyone interested in Central and Eastern African guitar music should find Steven Sogo to be a welcome addition to any collection. ~ Matthew Forss

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