Buy anything from the World Music store and you can get the official CD from the Songlines Music Awards 2013 for just £1.99. Offer ends at 23:59 on Sunday, June 30. Learn more.
Buy anything from the World Music store and you can get the official CD from the Songlines Music Awards 2013 for just £1.99. Offer ends at 23:59 on Sunday, June 30. Learn more. |
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
By mac&cheese
Format:Audio CD
This debut album is truly delightful. Combining lovely melodies with strong, simple rhythms, delicate guitar-playing and striking vocals, Fatoumata Diawara marks herself out as a rising star of modern Malian singer-songwriters. There are serious messages to a number of her songs (the lyrics are translated in the extensive liner notes), including Bissa (arranged marriage) and Boloko (female circumcision), but there is just as much of the bright & playful side of Fatou on Bakonoba and her ode to love - Kanou. The album has been beautifully produced, as you would expect from World Circuit, and that allows Fatou & her songs to simply shine.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Joyful and reflective in equal measure, Fatou is a superb debut album by this hugely talented Paris-based Malian sensation. My album of the year for 2011, first impressions were confirmed when seeing her at London's Jazz Cafe. Fatoumata Diawara is simply superb - soulful vocals, delicate and intricate guitar playing, backed up by rythmic percussion - the album has everything. From the beautiful, reflective tracks, Wilile and Clandestin, to the catchy dance tracks, Bakonoba and Bissa (single from the album), this album has something for everyone who loves African music. Highly recommended
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fatoumata Diawara - "The most beguiling talent to hit the world music scene in some time"
14 Oct 2011
Format:Audio CD
The autumn leaves are falling, you go to work in the dark and return in the dark and the winter chill seems poised to enter our lives. Why not therefore get a final blast of summer before the permafrost descends by purchasing this vibrant feast of Malian music from the brilliant Fatoumata Diawara who recently stole the show on Jools Holland. Hailing from Southern Mali and singing in her native Wassoulou language, Diawara determined to make it as an actress in Paris but found that the draw of music proved a far stronger primal urge. The loss to the Thespian profession is music lovers massive gain since "Fatou" is a stunning record full of colour, verve, rhythm and excitement. It is one of the best African music LPs you will hear but it is also much more than that. The swirling melodic guitars of this record combined with the multilayered vocals show a real soul/funk sensibility at work combined with lyrics which we are told pulse with the concerns of social justice not least denouncing arranged marriage and female circumcision. What some might see as a language barrier in terms of lyrical understanding actually adds to the sheer beauty of the record since it makes for an entrancing backdrop and the musical force of the songs carries all in their wake.
The laid-back funky opener "Kanou" is a fine start with its hypnotic vocal and pulsating bass interwoven with gentle acoustic guitar lines which dance around the song like a summer breeze. The second song in is "Sowa" which is irresistible and hugely commercial, indeed it is surprising that Western singers are resisting the temptation to draw inspiration from this deep well.... Read more ›
The laid-back funky opener "Kanou" is a fine start with its hypnotic vocal and pulsating bass interwoven with gentle acoustic guitar lines which dance around the song like a summer breeze. The second song in is "Sowa" which is irresistible and hugely commercial, indeed it is surprising that Western singers are resisting the temptation to draw inspiration from this deep well.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Ian Thumwood
Format:Audio CD
Fatoumata Diawara was an entirely new name to me until I heard her play live with her group at this year's Jazz a Vienne festival and then appear as a backing singer in Bela Fleck's African project. Performing live, Diawara immediately grabbed the attention of the audience with a her wonderful voice and she had most people up and dancing, despite the mid-day heat, well before the set had reached any sort of climax. Her band were superb and the combination of her blightly coloured clothes and exuberant dancing ensured guaranteed that her set was a memorable spectacle. Difficult to be anything less than enthusiastic about this performer in these circumstances.
Listening to this CD, however, it is difficult not to be slightly disappointed as good as it is. The excitement of the live performance is replaced with more reflective material with lyrics that reflect socially charged subjects. Compared to the anodine dross served up by the woeful Melody Gardot who also performed live at the festival, this is most demonstrably "real" music. Although my main passion is jazz, I love singers such as Angelique Kidjo and this record doesn't quite have the range of styles or moods that the Beninoise is capable of. It is less "commercial" and refuses to tip it's hat towards even Western pop or jazz in the way that Kidjo is able to - the older woman perhaps being a more sophisticated performer in a number of styles. The music is extremely well played and there are moments "Bakanoba" where the music captures the live experience but this is a more restrained effort overall and a bit more reflective than her performance on stage would suggest. Many of the themes have a snakey feel to them with the melodic lines twisting and turning over the odd-meters .... Read more ›
Listening to this CD, however, it is difficult not to be slightly disappointed as good as it is. The excitement of the live performance is replaced with more reflective material with lyrics that reflect socially charged subjects. Compared to the anodine dross served up by the woeful Melody Gardot who also performed live at the festival, this is most demonstrably "real" music. Although my main passion is jazz, I love singers such as Angelique Kidjo and this record doesn't quite have the range of styles or moods that the Beninoise is capable of. It is less "commercial" and refuses to tip it's hat towards even Western pop or jazz in the way that Kidjo is able to - the older woman perhaps being a more sophisticated performer in a number of styles. The music is extremely well played and there are moments "Bakanoba" where the music captures the live experience but this is a more restrained effort overall and a bit more reflective than her performance on stage would suggest. Many of the themes have a snakey feel to them with the melodic lines twisting and turning over the odd-meters .... Read more ›
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Kevw
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first saw Fatoumata Diawara on Jools Hollands Later and immediately ordered the album.
I was not disappointed - it is a beautifully simple and calming album which whilst not too demanding of the listener has depth and longevity.
My 6 and 8 year old daughters love it too!
I was not disappointed - it is a beautifully simple and calming album which whilst not too demanding of the listener has depth and longevity.
My 6 and 8 year old daughters love it too!
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This music plants the African landscape in your imagination and invites you to party in it. This is a lovely upbeat collection of exquisitely played guitar based songs.
She has a beautiful resonant voice with a tonal quality that matches her guitar, and with which she delivers strong melody embellished with intricate decoration - but with tasteful restraint.
I defy you to listen to it and not be humming the songs repeatedly afterwards.
She has a beautiful resonant voice with a tonal quality that matches her guitar, and with which she delivers strong melody embellished with intricate decoration - but with tasteful restraint.
I defy you to listen to it and not be humming the songs repeatedly afterwards.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fatou Diawara's promising debut
This fine 2012 debut from Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara showcases her distinctive melodic voice singing her own songs in her native Bambara tongue with themes as serious as... Read more
Published 1 month ago by The Guardian
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely voice
If you like world music this is really nice. I saw a review of Malian music on the Guardian web site, and this appealed to me.
Published 1 month ago by Dank
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
I went to see her in London last month and ordered the CD. I was not disappointed and love it.
Published 2 months ago by Ms. S. Bagenal
5.0 out of 5 stars
so sweet
lovely voice and music - calming and happy. Good to listen to after a long hard day when you need soothing
Published 2 months ago by natben12
5.0 out of 5 stars
lovely!
It's just simply beautiful. I am really impressed with everything about this cd - production quality, voice, music and the way it makes me want to move! Read more
Published 3 months ago by nikki
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantastic voice
Heard this girl singing on BBC newsnight, thought she had the most amazing voice, i am enjoying listening to her
Published 3 months ago by miss monroe
5.0 out of 5 stars
delightful
I bought this on a recommendation from You tube.
Shame I understand NONE of the lyrics, but the relaxed tuneful and sooulful vibe is delightful.
Mike
Shame I understand NONE of the lyrics, but the relaxed tuneful and sooulful vibe is delightful.
Mike
Published 3 months ago by michael barnes
5.0 out of 5 stars
five star no less
If your looking for something to relax and unwind without the melancholy this is musically uplifting and joyful piece of work.
Great album... guitar and vocal work sublime... Read more
Great album... guitar and vocal work sublime... Read more
Published 4 months ago by burnthouse
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic album
Best album i bought in 2012. No 'poor' tracks on this one. More melodic music from Mali. I bought this for my friend's husbands birthday and he loves it! So do i :-)
Published 4 months ago by Music lover
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chilled out
I got this after getting into African music. It is very laid back, but cheering at the same time. Very talented lady.
Published 5 months ago by H. Macrae
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