- Audio CD (13 Oct 2003)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Tama
- ASIN: B0000C20Y4
- Other Editions: Audio CD
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 94,552 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. M'Bifo |
| 2. Sara |
| 3. Kote Don |
| 4. Mariama |
| 5. Manian |
| 6. Deli |
| 7. Nienafing |
| 8. Kele Mandi |
| 9. Kanou |
| 10. Bowmboi |
Product Description
Review
On paper Rokia Traore is a bit of a radical. She's one of Mali's leading new singers, although she's not a traditional griot musician. She tries new ideas, combining traditional instruments that aren't usually brought together, and on this album works with the classical musicians, the Kronos Quartet.To my untrained ear her experiments are entirely successful.
The daughter of a Malian' diplomat she built her career in France before returning to Mali and is only now becoming a star there.On this, her third album, she sounds right at the heart of the traditions of West African music.
Rokia's vocal style is very much her own. She doesn't have the high pitched, keening, attack of Oumou Sangare, or the rougher, deeper tang of Kandia Kouyate, both of them great female artists from Mali. Her voice is quavery and bird-like, soft, fragile and attractive. Curiously, it reminds me a little of Ethiopian and even Asian vocal styles. But it has an inner power, and on the faster paced songs she sings with impressive authority. "Mariama", is a passionate, intense duet with male griot singer Ousame Sacko, and one of the album's highlights.
The gentleness of Rokia's voice means this album is a reflective, subtle experience even on the faster songs like "Sara" or "Kote Don". And the two collaborations with The Kronos Quartet work extremely well. The strings lay down a pulsing layer of shifting tones and Rokia murmurs and declaims over them, and on the lovely "Manian" there's a little vocal part that sounds like Laurie Anderson's "O Superman". These tracks don't feel like experiments at all; they sound like something that could have been created in West Africa anytime in the last thousand years.
This is an album full of contemplative and meditative pleasures. If you love Malian music you will probably already have heard of Rokia. If you haven't Bowmboi is certainly worth adding to your collection. --Nick Reynolds
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Bowmboi has received widespread acclaim in the broadsheet press in recent weeks. This is entirely jusitfied. Traore's haunting, penetrative vocal delivery leaves one trembling in anticipation. The partial translations in the sleevenotes hint at the emotional intensity of her lyrics. However, one could argue that interpretation is unnecessary, as the sonourous timbre of her voice alone conveys so much emotional depth.
Two of the tracks on the album are collaborations with the acclaimed Kronos quartet. Initial misgivings at this seeming mismatch of Afrian Passion and European restraint were immediately removed; the mournful discreetness of the string quartet serving as an excellent foil to Traore's piercing delivery.
One to savour.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If Oumou Sangare embraces tradition with a twist, Rokia Traore looks ahead to modernity and change. This does not take away from her talent or sound. She has delicately balanced "modern" sounds with traditional, using traditional instruments with a mix of haunting and at times angry vocals which make her an original in the West African music scene. The evolution of her style is parallel with her thoughts on a need for change and questioning of her cultural heritage. Her lyrics are powerful and may be met with some opposition, but an impressive message is there.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album having heard a few Rokia Traore tracks on compilation albums. I was already aquainted with the glorious nature of her voice, its clarity and the unique tone is a pleasure to listen to over and over again. If there is any justice this album will find its way into many homes.
There are many other sources from which you can become aquainted with Malinese music, and as a start maybe they will be a better buy than this. But once you are hooked... this album is a must.
Thankyou Rokia!
There are many other sources from which you can become aquainted with Malinese music, and as a start maybe they will be a better buy than this. But once you are hooked... this album is a must.
Thankyou Rokia!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A great singer, a talented musician, a complete artist
If you like Music, you won't regret buying this album. Rokia's concert in Rome (Auditorium, 20/6/2005) was simply brilliant. Read more
Published on 16 July 2005 by Michele Intorcia
Good introduction to a new world of music
For me who is not acquainted to African music, this has been a kind of revelation. I listen to it time after time.
Published on 28 Dec 2003
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