Mali Music - Damon Albarn

6	Listal rating

Manufacturer : Astralwerks
Release date : 6 August 2002
EAN : 0724354101922
UPC : 724354101922

None item

Description

With Mali Music it's possible at last to see how Damon Albarn's foray into Africa has worked out: most members of what Albarn's friend Michael Nyman has dubbed the "world-music police" would probably be happy to give it a qualified thumbs-up. If some of the "Western" tracks are little more than an undifferentiated blur (no pun intended),
With Mali Music it's possible at last to see how Damon Albarn's foray into Africa has worked out: most members of what Albarn's friend Michael Nyman has dubbed the "world-music police" would probably be happy to give it a qualified thumbs-up. If some of the "Western" tracks are little more than an undifferentiated blur (no pun intended), the Malian ones are a delight. But it's what lies between that's interesting: what Albarn and his colleagues Afel Bocoum , Toumani Diabate, and Ko Kan Ko Sata Doumbia have achieved is best described as "the music of place." In "Kela Village" you can almost see the celebrations going on amid the chirruping of birds and the croaking of frogs; "Bamako City" comes with bags of local atmosphere. This CD was constructed in layers--after Albarn had edited down his 40 hours of raw material, he created collages with new melodies and beats and then sent his tapes back to Mali, where extra vocals and instrumental work were added. We thus get music that actually feels layered: a typical track will start with a simple groove on kora or ngoni, then it will acquire a voice, then some electronic effects, and will finally be enveloped in a seductive miasma of local atmosphere. Apart from some nifty Malian balafon and string work, there's nothing here of instrumental note (Albarn's instrument is a battered melodica), but that doesn't matter, because in this game the final effect is the thing. Disregard Albarn's pretentious guff about this representing the "Africanization of Western music" (where does the boy imagine jazz came from?) but do regard this CD as a healthy omen. --Michael Church

Album Description
World music side project for the Blur/Gorillaz frontman, released on his own label Honest John. Featuring Albarn sitting in with some of his most favorite Malian musicians, including guitarist Afel Bocoum & kora player Toumani Diabate. Resulting in one of the coolest & laid-back world/crossover projects to emerge, with Albarn's melodica adding to the chilled, dubby flavor of the record, all the while retaining a distinct African overtone. Standard jewel case size digibook. 2002.

Album Details
Collaboration Between Damon Albarn (Gorillaz, Blur) and Some of the African Nation of Mali's Finest Musicians Including Afel Boucoum, Toumani Diabate, Lobi Traore, Kasse Mady Diabate and Mali's Only Female Ngoni Player, Ko Kan Ko Sata Doumbia.

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