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Amazon.co.uk Review
The dual release of Ali Farka Toure's most popular and enduring albums will come as good news for fans of his music, and will hopefully spawn many more devotees. Since their original release in 1979 and 1988, they've been two of the most in demand CD issues, and this coupling can only be a good thing. The two albums, both originally released eponymously and so named Red and Green due to their sleeve colours, are held in high regard by world music fans and rightly so. Essentially both albums follow the same template; the intimately recorded sound of Ali Farka Toure, accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, a second vocal and minimal percussion, but weaving irresistible melodic delights. It initially may sound foreign (in every sense of the word) to the ear of those familiar only with Western music, but perseverance reaps rewards for sure. Any novies to the genre who were taken with Damon Albarn's Mali Music project will find much to love here, though the sound is far more sparse, almost sounding improvised in places, and the atmosphere this projects is certainly appealing. In short, an excellent release that should open a few ears, and is recommended universally. --Thom Allott
Review
The famously eccentric Malian guitarist and singer Ali Farka Toure is one of the original world music stars. Ever since the mid eighties, his spare take on a rich variety of styles from West Africa's major musical power-house has cast its spell on foreign ears, excited by the obvious connections between his pulsing desert blues and its African-American counterpart.
But unlike many of his contemporaries, the international acclaim bestowed on this mysterious and deeply charismatic performer since his eponymous World Circuit debut in 1987 hasn't inspired a move to Paris or London. Instead, he's continued to farm his land in the small town of Niafunke not far from Timbuktu touring infrequently, recording only sporadically and threatening retirement with an almost comic regularity.
The prosaic title of this beautifully packaged and remastered double CD set refers to the sleeve colours of the original albums, the last two of seven untitled discs he released on the Paris-based Sonodisc label between 1975 and 1988. Selections from the first five were reissued on World Circuit as Radio Mali in 1996, so this completes the picture of his early career, before he started using electric guitar and having celebrity guests on his albums.
Old fans will recognise several tunes and riffs which have been reworked or reinterpreted on his subsequent international releases. Apart from some ngoni (the four-stringed West African lute, considered to be a precursor of the banjo) on Green, Ali is usually accompanied by the click and boom of calabash, played by his long term sidekick, Hamma Sankare. The evocatively monickered sorcerer's apprentice has an almost boyish voice, which contrasts with Ali's authoritatively nasal lead vocals.
These sparsely arranged recordings may be a little hard going for the novice, who is advised to first check out more accessible albums like The Source (1992) or Talking Timbuktu (1994). But whether you're new to his music or not, there's no mistaking the broad appeal of his hypnotically droning and sparkling guitar. And to those hankering for new material, this will be a taster for his forthcoming solo album as well as a hotly anticipated duet album with kora maestro Toumani Diabaté. --Jon Lusk
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Unfortunately, Ali Farka Toure is no longer with us, but with beautifully packaged box sets such as Red & Green you can revisit the seminal recordings of the Malian music legend. These were the recordings that first launched Ali Farka Toure until the world stage. The albums were discovered in a bargain bin of an African music shop in Paris, and the rest as they say is history. Toure went onto record with Ry Cooder, Clarence Gatemouth Brown and Taj Mahal, among others, but here you get a chance to hear a young musician delving into the deep history of Malian folk music, which sounds so much like the Delta Blues, that one no longer has to wonder about the connection. Ali Farka Toure chose to turn his back and the much more popular Afrobeat music of the day and stick to his roots. He very well could have languished in anonymity had not these recordings been made available to a wider public. The liner notes provide English and French translations of the songs, as well as a short piece on the discovery of these now famous albums, which are presented as slip cases for the 2 CD's and handsomely packaged in the slip cover that is shown. The only thing better would be to have the original vinyls.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
These two records are truly minimalist fare (entirely acoustic, with very few players on each track and minimal percussion) but they repay repeated listens. Definitely one for those who enjoy concentrating and really listening to music.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Roots music for the fans
15 Jun 2005
Format:Audio CD
A set of two albums from 1984 and 1988, previously unavailable on CD and nicely presented in a slip-case, the "Red" and "Green" albums from Mali singer/guitarist Ali Farka Toure. The "Red" is the album that BBC Radio 3's Andy Kershaw found in a bargain bin in Paris, when Ali was a nobody. This discovery convinced him to implore World Circuit's Anne Hunt to help find him and bring him to London, which they did, launching Ali's career.
This is rootsy music, rather more carefree and urgent than the relaxed and sophisticated Talking Timbuktu he made with Ry Cooder some time later. The same ingredients are there though - the improvisatory yet lyrical bluesy guitar and the determined mournful voice backed by Hammer Sankare's sympathetic vocals and sparse yet insistent calabash percussion tapping out mesmeric rhythms that give the music a forward impetus. On the "Green" album we also hear the traditional n'goni guitar and some rapid-fire vocals.
The finesse of these recordings is readily apparent - this is highly accomplished performing of "desert blues" whose apparent simplicity is deceiving. If you're familiar with World Circuit's "Radio Mali" which contains tracks from the five albums before these two, you'll have an idea of the sound and the skill this fine musician presents here. Those new to Ali's music may find these albums repetitive, but they're certainly a must for the fans.
This is rootsy music, rather more carefree and urgent than the relaxed and sophisticated Talking Timbuktu he made with Ry Cooder some time later. The same ingredients are there though - the improvisatory yet lyrical bluesy guitar and the determined mournful voice backed by Hammer Sankare's sympathetic vocals and sparse yet insistent calabash percussion tapping out mesmeric rhythms that give the music a forward impetus. On the "Green" album we also hear the traditional n'goni guitar and some rapid-fire vocals.
The finesse of these recordings is readily apparent - this is highly accomplished performing of "desert blues" whose apparent simplicity is deceiving. If you're familiar with World Circuit's "Radio Mali" which contains tracks from the five albums before these two, you'll have an idea of the sound and the skill this fine musician presents here. Those new to Ali's music may find these albums repetitive, but they're certainly a must for the fans.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Farewell to the Master. Let There Be Songs to Fill the Air.
23 Jun 2006
Format:Audio CD
Stop reading. Buy this.
But if you want more of a review... I asked for, and received this for Christmas 2005 and it jumped into being my favorite AFT album.
If you're a fan of acoustic guitars in the right hands, if you're a fan of rhythm that crawls into your soul until you realize you've been hypnotized, rocking back and forth on the floor or couch or front porch for the past hour, you should buy this. Ali was an undeniable master of touch and tone. Basically he's playing a guitar that you might be able to sell on eBay for $20 yet his tone is pure magic. It's a singular voice in the world of guitar. All the top-of-the-line vintage guitars or new necks or more frequent changing of the strings or bigger effects racks in the world aren't going to give you this if it's not inside you. What Ali had in his fingers and soul, you either have or you don't.
Here I think are many of the best examples of Ali's brilliance and emotional power. The melodic beauty of a great njarka fiddle player mixed with the hypnotic, rhythmic drive of the glorious drone-lute (the amazing ancestors of the American banjo) players... here it's all happening on one guitar at the same time. This set, much of Red specifically, is where AFT's perfect synthesis of those things occured and came out in one of my favorite music/song/guitar styles of all time.
During the Red & Green years he truly had the high voice that's often favored in various cultures throughout Africa. There are tunes during his middle-aged (and later) years that have a similar sort of mood as some of Hooker's greats from the Chess years like Groundhog Blues, Worried Life or Down at the Landing but Red & Green has none of that. Not that being compared to John Lee is in any way an insult but "the African John Lee Hooker" always struck me as a journalistic shortcut which made Ali seem derivative. That's false. Ali was all his own. He was one of the greats of the 20th Century. Red & Green may be his pinnacle. He was great when I caught him in concert but he wasn't like this. This is something very special to me.
This is a well-rounded art, not a wanking guitar-slinger. Some of his best songs happen right here. Ali Aoudy, for instance. What a magical singer. If these were separate products I'd have given Green 4 stars but since this is one set it's 5 stars all the way.
The world lost a great gift earlier in 2006. Thank You for everything, Ali Farka Toure. Words will never do you justice.
But if you want more of a review... I asked for, and received this for Christmas 2005 and it jumped into being my favorite AFT album.
If you're a fan of acoustic guitars in the right hands, if you're a fan of rhythm that crawls into your soul until you realize you've been hypnotized, rocking back and forth on the floor or couch or front porch for the past hour, you should buy this. Ali was an undeniable master of touch and tone. Basically he's playing a guitar that you might be able to sell on eBay for $20 yet his tone is pure magic. It's a singular voice in the world of guitar. All the top-of-the-line vintage guitars or new necks or more frequent changing of the strings or bigger effects racks in the world aren't going to give you this if it's not inside you. What Ali had in his fingers and soul, you either have or you don't.
Here I think are many of the best examples of Ali's brilliance and emotional power. The melodic beauty of a great njarka fiddle player mixed with the hypnotic, rhythmic drive of the glorious drone-lute (the amazing ancestors of the American banjo) players... here it's all happening on one guitar at the same time. This set, much of Red specifically, is where AFT's perfect synthesis of those things occured and came out in one of my favorite music/song/guitar styles of all time.
During the Red & Green years he truly had the high voice that's often favored in various cultures throughout Africa. There are tunes during his middle-aged (and later) years that have a similar sort of mood as some of Hooker's greats from the Chess years like Groundhog Blues, Worried Life or Down at the Landing but Red & Green has none of that. Not that being compared to John Lee is in any way an insult but "the African John Lee Hooker" always struck me as a journalistic shortcut which made Ali seem derivative. That's false. Ali was all his own. He was one of the greats of the 20th Century. Red & Green may be his pinnacle. He was great when I caught him in concert but he wasn't like this. This is something very special to me.
This is a well-rounded art, not a wanking guitar-slinger. Some of his best songs happen right here. Ali Aoudy, for instance. What a magical singer. If these were separate products I'd have given Green 4 stars but since this is one set it's 5 stars all the way.
The world lost a great gift earlier in 2006. Thank You for everything, Ali Farka Toure. Words will never do you justice.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Another 2 Cool cd's from Ali Farka Toure
8 May 2006
Format:Audio CD
Track listing incomplete on disk 2.
Disc: 2 Green
1. Sidi Gouro
2. O Kata Gouna
3. Devele Wague
4. N'timbara
5. Zona
6. M'baudy
7. Petenere
8. L'Exode
Disc: 2 Green
1. Sidi Gouro
2. O Kata Gouna
3. Devele Wague
4. N'timbara
5. Zona
6. M'baudy
7. Petenere
8. L'Exode
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