- Audio CD (9 April 2001)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Wrasse
- ASIN: B00005B479
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 618,720 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Wasis Diop is a singer-songwriter hailing from Dakar but based in Paris, and in Toxu he's found a way of blending all the influences through which his singular talent has flowered. He's a Wolof like his countryman Youssou N'Dour, and in his songs he alternates that guttural language with English and French. His first number celebrates the freeing of Soweto, his 13th is the now-obligatory hymn to the future of Africa. He also plays host, in one beguiling track, to the blind West-African duo Amadou and Mariam. Add to all this a Japanese-American singer called Kaoru and a galaxy of guitarists, and the mix you end up with is heady, indeed. This is an intensely likeable record, with its driving rhythms and its warm studio effects balanced by the evocative sounds of the rainforest. Wasis Diop's own performances are compelling: his voice is a deep growl that can sound insinuating or menacing, but the message of his lyrics is innocence itself. --Michael Church
fRoots, June 2001
Who could resist a Wolof reworking of "Once In A Lifetime"? Once again Africa gives, receives and gives back, the loop reanimated, the result not at all what might have been expected. It's quiet, thoughtful and rural, a real piece of respect for Talking Heads. And there are plenty more excellent original songs--this first British release of Diop's second album (with extra tracks) is simply bursting with good stuff. A cosmopolitan approach with lots of floating, drifting textures produces a similar eclectic, non-localised feel to Peter Gabriel or Geoffrey Oryema's albums. Everything is firmly anchored by understated rhythms that swing, as simple as needs be, with an emphasis on the intimate from the Diop's voice which is just lovely--deep, breathy, conversational, always evocative. My friend George says you can grade an African record in inverse proportion to the number of times you hear the word Africa in it. Diop does indeed have a track here devoted to African unity, but everything else about Toxu is pure class, demonstrating that roots are a matter of aesthetic sensibility rather than geographic happenstance. This is a fine and frequently moving record, a great collaboration between producer (Wally Badorou), artist, and co-workers.
© fRoots Magazine all rights reserved
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A COFFEE TABLE 'MUST HAVE',
By chris@palmercjp.freserve.co.uk (manchester, U.K.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Toxu (Audio CD)
'TOXU' should have a place in everybodies collection. Casually leave it on view on the coffee table for your friends to enquire 'What's this?' You will absolutely knock 'em down when you spin it.With the exception of his excellent cover of Talking Heads 'Once in a Lifetime' Wasis Diop wrote, or co-wrote all other material in this collection. He combines elements of traditional senegalese music with influences from contemporary western and world music. Diop writes strong catchy melodies and presents them in a diversity of styles; rap, african, jazzy, folky amongst them. Well chosen backing vocalists complement Diops' extensive vocal ability that it could almost be mistaken for a 'various artists' album. Many of the lyrics are sung by Diop in an african dialect (senegalese, I imagine) and they're delivered with such beauty and clarity that I can't help but sing along in my best imitation. But lead and backing vocals also include english, french, and ( I stand to be corrected) japanese. Every track is a delight. 'No Sant' is my favourite, for now!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely brilliant,
By A Customer
This review is from: Toxu (Audio CD)
This is one of the most enjoyable, uplifting and beautiful albums that I am lucky enough to have discovered. The music is full of african rythms and the vocals are harmonious, in fact divine. the lyrics are mostly french with some english. the instruments used are diverse as is the selection of tracks, one of which is by talking heads. This album is a must for anyone with even the vaguest interest in world music.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely music,
By Ingrid (Norway) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Toxu (Audio CD)
By pure chance I picked this CD up at the library, and my, that was a stroke of good luck. I really instantly enjoyed this lovely music and voices and rhythms. So first thing I do is to buy myself a copy and even another of his albums, just to be sure that I can listen to this music as often as I want to.
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