- Audio CD (18 Feb 2008)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Sterns Africa
- ASIN: B0012YYREI
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 68,334 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Review
The West African nation of Guinea is often celebrated for kicking off the West African music renaissance. This happened when Guinea's first post-colonial President, Sekou Toure, insisted on a cultural policy of 'authenticite', so forcing bands to play the music of their region and sing in their native tongues (as opposed to playing popular French and American music forms). While this policy greatly benefited music making in Guinea, and would influence musicians across West Africa as a whole, the country under President Toure descended into the worst excesses of dictatorship.
Les Amazones De Guinee are an all-female band of soldiers serving in the local militia. Wamato is their second album, the first having been recorded in Paris in 1982. If that appears a long time between projects, consider that the band were formed as L'Orchestre Feminin De La Gendarmerie De Guinee in 1961. Renamed Les Amazones De Guinee for foreign consumption, their music developed over the 1960s, and in 1977 they won international acclaim after performing at a Nigerian festival featuring Fela Kuti. This event lead to further foreign dates and the Paris recordings.
The continual collapse of Guinea's economy means there are no longer the funds to send Les Amazones outside the border. Interest from legendary Malian producer Ibrahima Sylla saw the current incarnation of the orchestra; eleven permanent musicians and seven guests, travel by bus from Guinea to neighbouring Mali where they recorded this magical album.
For anyone with a love of not just West African music but funky dance music coloured with spiraling guitar, bright horn patterns and strong vocals then Wamato is a must. 'Chef D'orchestre' Commandant Salematou Diallo, her Captains and Lieutenants make up a remarkably fluid band, the instrumental interplay and warm vocals suggesting that even if not touring abroad they play out in Guinea regularly.
Most news from Guinea is depressing; the sound of Les Amazones will put a smile on the face of all listening. --Garth Cartwright
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Product Description
? The flowing, loping rhythms so particular to Guinea; the harmonic cycles that mesmerise and seduce; the vocals, sometimes sweet, sometimes strident but always full of conviction; is there any other band like 'Les Amazones'? As the cry at the beginning of this album attests - "Retour en force des Amazones!" (The Amazones - back with a vengeance!) - these women demand to be heard "Lead guitarist Yaya Kouyate and rhythm guitarist N'sira Tounkara create mesmerically circling, interwoven riffs, over which solo singers hector abrasively, or sink into sweet harmonies. Saxophones add percussive clout, or sultry jazz melodies. The freedom of thiss fine military band comes when they put their guns down." Nick Hasted TheIndependent "...every weapon you'd expect to find in the armoury of a great West African dance record is here infectious Mande rhythms, ringing electric guitars, riffing horns, soulful lead vocals, hypnotic call-and-response harmonies and a thrilling battery of percussion" Top of the World Songlines Also for sale as digital download atemusic amazon uk amazon us itunes uk itunes us
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Audio CD
This CD is recommended to everyone who is interested in contenporary west African music. Its exuberant and really rocks and of course features the all female 'Amzones de la music Africaine' as they were famously introduced on their 1981 live LP 'Au Coeur de Paris'. Therein lies the problem for me. Their only other LP rates for me as one of the greatest ever live rock performances on vinyl. (It deserves a release on CD so that new listeners can catch up). That performance is up there with Bob Marley at the Lyceum for example. The personeel in that group have sadly either passed on or retired so what we have here is the latest generation of musical female police officers of Guinea and I'm not at all sure that they are still actually serving officers. That's not a problem obviously but part of the bizarre charm as well the awesome musical strength of the band on their only other recording was precisely that these were amateurs moonlighting from traffic duties and other crime fighting activities. So this LP is well worth a listen but if you're expecting as energetic and vibrant a band as on the earlier live recording you'll be, as I was, disappointed.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this on spec becaue I couldn't resist the idea of a women's army band from west Africa. I reckon they could do with a few of these gals in a peace keeping force in Dafur to sort out the militias preying on the refugee camps. They don't look and sound as if they'd take any nonsense from anyone.
The music is energetic and high octane and a wonderful accompaniament to whatever you are doing (except perhaps meditation). It's had me bopping around the kitchen while I cook. I defy anyone to listen and sit still. They are great instrumentalists and singers and fine ambassadors for the culture of West Africa which is exporting truly wonderful music from many different traditions.
Keep it up ladies - I'll be watching out in the hope of more dics to come.
The music is energetic and high octane and a wonderful accompaniament to whatever you are doing (except perhaps meditation). It's had me bopping around the kitchen while I cook. I defy anyone to listen and sit still. They are great instrumentalists and singers and fine ambassadors for the culture of West Africa which is exporting truly wonderful music from many different traditions.
Keep it up ladies - I'll be watching out in the hope of more dics to come.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
The Amazons of Guinea
16 April 2008
Apparently, this band of talented and insistent women from Guinea have been around for more than 40 years but have only had the opportunity to release two albums. This new release shows why the group is a real find for all world music fans with an interest in the authentic sounds of West Africa. The Guinea sound, at least as delivered by the Amazons, is quite similar to the rambunctious High Life of Nigeria, but adds an extra focus on lead vocals with an unconventional emotional force, and crisp multi-part guitar melodies. The troupe is also high on intricate and powerful percussion arrangements, which I believe are delivered by an affiliated touring ensemble that also operates under the name Les Amazones de Guinee (they're all women too).
The best examples of intertwining guitar, vocal, and percussion arrangements here are the starkly emotional "Reine Nyepou," and the joyously laidback "Dimembalou." Other highlights include the beautiful "Kania" which is somehow forceful and mellow at the same time, and watch out for the especially powerful vocal arrangements in "Deni Wana" and the swinging horns in the very funky "Zawi." The closer "Meres d'Afrique" offers an intriguing combination multiple African styles and shows a distant relationship with Afro-Cuban swing. Not too many Western listeners have probably heard of these Amazons, but if you're a fan of all that West African music has to offer, this group's joyous and experienced sounds are essential. [~doomsdayer520~]
The best examples of intertwining guitar, vocal, and percussion arrangements here are the starkly emotional "Reine Nyepou," and the joyously laidback "Dimembalou." Other highlights include the beautiful "Kania" which is somehow forceful and mellow at the same time, and watch out for the especially powerful vocal arrangements in "Deni Wana" and the swinging horns in the very funky "Zawi." The closer "Meres d'Afrique" offers an intriguing combination multiple African styles and shows a distant relationship with Afro-Cuban swing. Not too many Western listeners have probably heard of these Amazons, but if you're a fan of all that West African music has to offer, this group's joyous and experienced sounds are essential. [~doomsdayer520~]
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