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Amazon.co.uk Review
This self-titled debut is an amazing collection, spotlighting the Malian guitarist in his full solo acoustic glory for a beautiful, intimate music that recalls American blues. The beauty of Ali Farka Toure lives in Toure's light, nimble touch on the strings as well as his flexible, reedy voice, which both perfectly complement his gentle, ambling rhythmic style. Tastier highlights include the cantering "Tchigi Fo", with haunting call-and-response sung in Songhai, and the oddly pastoral "Kadi Kadi", a sweet folk song about an encounter with a young woman and her gift of a gold chain. The Arabic praise song "Bakoye" is a comely love song that pulses with Ali's low, bubbling fingerpicking over which his voice soars in a lovely bucolic melody. "Amandrai", in both a studio and live version, is the kind of bluesy tune that's made Toure famous and earned him comparisons to Lightnin' Hopkins and John Lee Hooker. And in later releases, we indeed witness the Malian master collaborating with such Western artists as the Chieftains and Taj Mahal, but this loner of a debut features the guitarist's talents in a quietly understated, purely African light. --Karen Karleski
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This early album contains very simple gentle African Blues. It is quieter and gentler than the wonderful "Savane" - but I thoroughly recommend it to anyone looking for the roots of the Blues.
Ali Farka Toure has a tremendous "lived-in" voice - and his guitar playing is a perfect accompaniment to his blues.
So this is where "Rock'n'Roll" came from...
Ali Farka Toure has a tremendous "lived-in" voice - and his guitar playing is a perfect accompaniment to his blues.
So this is where "Rock'n'Roll" came from...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album is definitely worth a listem if you like blues guitar and have an interest in African music, although its not particularly difficult to appreciate the subtle simple and at times hypnotic blues guitar that fills this album. Surprisingly, despite the fact that he is working with just a handful of very simple traditional african acoustic instruments and has limited himself to a particular mood of music (i.e. blues) Toure manages to put fresh and interesting emotions into each of the tracks on this album. I would say that is due to his skills as a musician and a vocalist - a combination that - if you think about it - is very rare in the English speaking music scene. Imagine the guitar work of Eric Clapton or John Lee Hooker (with whom Toure is very often compared) with the spine-tinglingly emotional voice of Peter Gabriel on something like "Don't Give Up", and you'll get an idea of what Toure achieves in this album, and you might understand why the locals loved him so much that he went on to become Mayor in his home town in Mali
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Mr Toure At His Best!
20 Dec 2003
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've owned the CD for nine years, and it has always stayed close to me. This is to my mind the best album available of Toure's music. As stated in the editorial review, it is bare bones acoustic. Ali's voice and guitar cut straight to the soul. He is accompanied by sparse but tasteful percussion.
I recommend this above the Talking Timbuktu album. It is a classic that belongs in every collection.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
You should buy this..
17 Jan 2000
Format:Audio CD
I have all of AFT's CD's that I have been able to find, this is probably my favorite. Great stripped down, bluesy feel. Somewhat reminiscint of country blues, with a twist.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Timeless Classic
27 Dec 2002
Format:Audio CD
I've 0wned this album for years and I never tire of it. Subtle and beautifull - my favorite of Ali's international releases.
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