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Track Listings
| 1. Television |
| 2. Tindo |
| 3. Miracle |
| 4. Cantaloupe |
| 5. A Song For Women |
| 6. International |
| 7. Dakar Moo |
| 8. Tindo Quando |
Product Description
Review
Aside from last year's live, acoustic download/vinyl-only album On The Road, Baaba Maal's most recent studio recording was the fine back-to-roots Missing You (Mi Yeewni), way back in 2001. His involvement in Africa Express, touring and various extra-curricular activities seems to have kept him busy, but that doesn't quite explain the rather slight nature of this latest offering.
Although it boasts a handful of pleasant and even memorable tunes, the overall impression of Television is that Maal is too discreet a presence on his own album. His famously strident vocals are surprisingly subdued and/or mixed down for the pop cross-over audience this is obviously aimed at. He never really cuts loose with what will always be his greatest asset.
Most of the material is co-written with his new producer Barry Reynolds, as well as Sabina Sciubba and Didi Gutman of the New York-based band Brazilian Girls.
It could, or perhaps should, be billed as a duet album with Sciubba, whose smoochy vocals in Italian and French appear a little too often and sound a little too samey. That impression is compounded by the fact that Tindo, A Song For Women and Tindo Quando almost seem to be versions of the same song, with very similar vocal riffs by Sciubba. The entire thing (apparently put together over three years) clocks in at just under 43 minutes, thus coming across as a mini-album with padding.
Even so, the uplifting groove of the title track is an impressively hypnotic opener, and deserves to be a hit. Tindo employs brooding desert blues atmospherics and Miracle's easy reggae-ish lope reminds us of the similarity between the Jamaican style and Senegal's yela. Although Maal's English pronunciation on Dakar Moon may make some wince, the song has an agreeable Cuban lilt. And the balafon noodling away throughout Tindo Quando has a delightful simplicity. But the rest is pretty lightweight.
Maal has experimented less successfully with fusion/cross-over before, and Television is more accessible than, say, the dense and over-produced Nomad Soul. But as such a long- awaited 'return', Televison underwhelms. --Jon Lusk
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's World Music, Jim, but not as we know it .... !,
By Joolz (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Television (Audio CD)
Well, he's back at last, and once again he's moved the goalposts: if you thought Nomad Soul was a step too far then Television surely represents one giant leap (ahem!). Recorded in collaboration with New York based Brazilian Girls, who are a major presence vocally as well as instrumentally, it is a very modern "western" sounding album, with solid beats, a lively organic production and catchy songs. Maal's trademark voice doesn't cut loose very often, but the African connection is ever present adding instrumental colour to the mix.
Early impressions suggest the standout songs to be the hypnotic grooves of A Song For Women and the opening title track Television, and the mainly acoustic, almost desert blues feel, of closer Tindo Quando featuring some fine vocals from both Maal and Sabina Sciubba. It's early days, but I love this kind of "crossover" music and find myself going back to it again and again. Definitely thumbs up from me for one of my favourite musicians, but I suspect most diehard traditionalists aren't going to like it!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Bland and a little dull,
This review is from: Television (Audio CD)
Hmmmm, what to say?
If you know and like Baaba Maal this probably is a step too far down the western route. I just don't really get the point of it. It's okay but just a bit bland and dull. Baaba's voice is not very prominent and the talking drums and sabars are hidden away. I just don't know why anyone should bother really. Stick to his acoustic classics - Baayo and Missing You (Mi Yeewnii). Or the early electro-Senes sounds of Taara and Wango. If you really want some cross over stuff that works try Firin In Fouta or Lam Toro.
4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A rich and exciting album,
By David Mc "David Mc" (South East London, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Television (Audio CD)
I am a recent convert to Baaba Maal, having seen him supporting Yusuf (Cat Stevens) and in his own right at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
This is a rich and exciting album, a highly textured fusion of his more traditional vocal and instrumental style with modern, electric musical forms. A must-buy album.
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