CD Review: Seckou Keita's 'Miro'

Seckou Keita
Miro
Astar Artes

Senegalese vocalist, kora player, and drummer, Seckou Keita, produces yet another fine album of soothing, West African music steeped in scintillating rhythms, crystal clear sounds, earthy percussion, and glorious vocals. Miro is a ten-track release with songs featuring various languages, including Mandinka, Wolof, Djoola, Malinke, Spanish, and Bambara. "Distance" is a completely instrumental tune with kora melodies at the forefront. Some of the tunes incorporate the calabash, bass, bougarabou, shakers, cajon, balafon, maracas, flute, and violin. The music is instrumentally-rich, but not overbearing by any means. Instead, Seckou knows how to evoke emotive reactions with serene music and styles mainly rooted in West African textures. While the songs are not particularly catchy, they do possess an inherent, addictive quality that is very welcoming and worthy of repeated listens. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Habib Koite's 'Soo'

Habib Koite
Soo
Contre-Jour

Mali's Habib Koite releases a stunning album, Soo, which means "home,"  that brings to life the music of North Africa and Mali in particular. Habib is the lead vocalist and guitarist on the album, but he is joined by other instruments, including bass, keyboards, calabash, kora, n'goni, doun doun, djembe, banjo, and others. The eleven-track release traverses the Saharan spectrum of musical ingeniousness. The rhythmic tunes combine with Habib's soulful vocals in Bambara, Dogon, Malinke, and Khassonke, to provide a fascinating listening experience overall. The poignant and catchy "L.A." is an excellent example of trans-cultural musical exchange with the banjo taking center stage with Afro-Latin percussive elements to boot. The sounds emanate in a beautiful delivery without fault. Anyone familiar with Habib Koite's previous works will love this new, adventurous release. Fans of Malian contemporary music will be pleased, too. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Leni Stern's 'Smoke No Fire'

Leni Stern
Smoke No Fire
Self-Release

New York's Leni Stern is a singer and instrumentalist with a passion for the n'goni. As a vocalist, n'goni player, guitarist, and percussionist, Leni creates evocative songs with a bluesy, African, and folk sensibility. The guest rap vocals on a track or two are particularly inviting. The folksy stylings of the n'goni, guitar, and vocals are amazing throughout. Leni is fluent in English and Bambara. The ten songs are perfect for anyone interested in North African fusion, blues, and folk music. There is something for everyone on here. The music is never dull or univiting. The sounds awaken a deep, cultural presence in the instruments and the vocals. This is perfect for fans of Bassekou Kouyate and Boolumbal. A nice gift for anyone interested in North African music! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Lassine Kouyate (Adam Klein) and 'Dugu Wolo'

Lassine Kouyate (Adam Klein)
Dugu Wolo
Cowboy Angel Music

Athens, Georgia has produced a number of chart-topping musicians that don't sound like they're from the South, including R.E.M., B-52's, Indigo Girls, Matthew Sweet, Neutral Milk Hotel, and others. Never before has a world music act entered the musical community in Athens. Maybe not a chart-topper yet, Dugu Wolo is slowly gaining ground. Created by Lassine Kouyate (aka Adam Klein) after a trip to Mali, Africa, Dugu Wolo contains guitar songs with kora, ngoni, calabash, tama, djembe, njarka, and karagnan instrumental accompaniment. Lassine writes songs in the Bambara language for the most part, but English is also present. The entire album was recorded in Bamako, Mali in February 2010. Guest musicians include Solo Tounkara, Djelimady Tounkara, Adama Dembele, Drissa Diabate, and Zoumana Tereta. Anyone interested in the guitar and blues sounds of Boubacar Traore, Lobi Traore, Ali Farka Toure, Salif Keita, and Toumani Diabate, among others, will find joy and solace in this amazing collection of songs written by American singer/songwriter, Lassine Kouyate. Twelve tracks in total. Liner notes included. ~ Matthew Forss