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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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Sabali |
| 2. Ce N'est Pas Bon |
| 3. Magosa |
| 4. Djama |
| 5. Djuru |
| 6. Je Te Kiffe |
| 7. Masiteladi |
| 8. Africa |
| 9. Compagnon de la Vie |
| 10. Unissons Nous |
| 11. Bozos |
| 12. I Follow You |
| 13. Welcome to Mali |
| 14. Batoma |
| 15. Sebeke |
| 16. Boula (Hidden Track) |
Product Description
Review
Amadou and Mariam, the married couple from Bamako, have, since the release of their Manu Chao-produced Dimanche à Bamako album in 2006, become the world music act that it's safe to admit to liking, whether you be a tie-dye wearing Womadian or a skinny-jeaned indie kid. Hell, they even had a number one in Germany with the official theme for the World Cup. They've achieved all this through their riveting and uplifting live shows and also by simply being musically marvellous; blending their Malian blues with Western pop savvy, all backed up by Amadou's blistering guitar. Welcome To Mali will, it's safe to say, only increase their standing. It's a gem.
Having been part of the recent Africa Express shows it's no surprise that the hand of the ubiquitous Damon Albarn appears at the controls on the opener, Sabali. Luckily he's tweaked the sound in exactly the right direction, focussing on the sweet pop tones of Mariam, underscoring it with charming synthesizer arpeggios. Elsewhere the production still leaves space for some arresting contemporary tricks. It brings home the reason that Europe has taken them to its heart - their style, not unlike Bob Marley's, is resilient enough to withstand any amount of Western tinkering.
A number of other guests appear, yet the fact is A & M are just too good to let anyone showboat all over their album. The usually mighty K'Naan (the Somalian-via-Canada rapper) sounds fairly weedy, lost in the dizzy horn blast of Africa. The grins of the pair are almost audible as they run the gamut of styles from the reggae of Djama and Je Te Kiffe to the call and response of Ce N'est Pas Bon or the more traditional Djuru and the heavy, heavy guitar licks of Masiteladi. Later the slower blues of their homeland is allowed to stretch out on the langorous Bozos.
It's a mix of the deceptively simple and rhythmically irresistible. Good times most definitely guaranteed. --Chris Jones
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
Sixth album, and second for the eclectic French label Because--following 2005's Dimanche A Bamako, by Malian world music superstars Amadou & Mariam. Triumphing over adversity (they are both blind) to achieve worldwide celebrity status, this husband and wife duo continue to expand the boundaries of African music, fusing it with blues-rock, electronica and pop. Collaborators on this release include Damon Albarn--whose love of Malian music is well known --and Somali rapper K'Naan.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This was bought after seeing Amadou and Mariam on Later with Jools Holland....I just thought they were stunning live, infectiously joyous and they didn't stop smiling once! I think I even had a little groove around the front room to Sabali!! This has been on heavy rotation for some time now and I have converted some friends to open their eyes to something different. I have a very eclectic mix of music but haven't ventured too far into African music (apart Albarns Mali Music and some strange South African jungle music) and this has now made me go out and buy some other A&M material and other albums from Senegal, Mali, Ethiopia and I haven't been dissapointed once. Just go and buy it and just try and stop taping those toes and moving that body!!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I heard opening track 'Sabali' on the radio and was captivated by its gentle electronics, spiralling synth riff and charming African-French vocals. There's nothing else quite like it on the rest of the album, in what is actually quite a diverse set. Bluesy guitars take over on 'Ce n'est pas bon', disco beats and reggae keyboards on 'Djama', with hip-hop, motown funk and dance elsewhere. It's quite a party.
Various guest contribute. Toumani Diabate lends his kora to the beautiful 'Djuru', Somalian rapper K'naan appears on 'Africa' for an "east-west coast collaboration", and Damon Albarn, who they have worked with before. Very familiar with Malian music, he is largely responsible for the aforementioned 'Sabali'. At no point do the guests overshadow the real stars here however, Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia.
'Welcome to Mali' is a wonderful fusion of international styles from two highly talented musicians, a up-beat hybrid of blues, dance, and African rhythms that adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Apparently Amadou and Mariam are due to play at Barack Obama's inauguration, which is sure to catapult them beyond the narrow interests of 'world music' and bring them the wider attention they fully deserve.
Various guest contribute. Toumani Diabate lends his kora to the beautiful 'Djuru', Somalian rapper K'naan appears on 'Africa' for an "east-west coast collaboration", and Damon Albarn, who they have worked with before. Very familiar with Malian music, he is largely responsible for the aforementioned 'Sabali'. At no point do the guests overshadow the real stars here however, Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia.
'Welcome to Mali' is a wonderful fusion of international styles from two highly talented musicians, a up-beat hybrid of blues, dance, and African rhythms that adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Apparently Amadou and Mariam are due to play at Barack Obama's inauguration, which is sure to catapult them beyond the narrow interests of 'world music' and bring them the wider attention they fully deserve.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've never heard Amadou and Miriam's music before this album, but I'll certainly be looking at their backlogue after hearing this album. It's brilliant, happy, good rhythm, glad I bought it!
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning!
Just heard this on an Air France Paris Tokyo flight, found it in the Africa CD section. Absolutely amazing. How does it get any better than this!! Read more
Published 12 months ago by AW
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Music
Great album from Amadou and Mariam, would recommend anyone for interest of world music, 5/5!!!
Published on 8 Jan 2010 by Ersan Erdal
4.0 out of 5 stars
VERY GOOD
Heard this group on TV and though they were very good, the album doesn't disappoint
Published on 8 Oct 2009 by Mr. John Morrison
4.0 out of 5 stars
A recording of great quality
Much of "Welcome To Mali" is an open-ended joyous affair, informed by the energy of community and self-sufficiency. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2009 by Gerry McCaffrey
5.0 out of 5 stars
As good as they say...
I thought Dimanche a Bamako was a great album and hoped this would be as good. I wasn't disappointed. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2009 by monkey girl
2.0 out of 5 stars
Maybe I'm missing something
have to agree, this is a major disapointment. It has a few moments, but much more than that it is about going through the motions.Little freshness or vitality, or creativity. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2009 by Kw Mckinlay
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gust of fresh air....
Amadou & Mariam produce a true world sound which encompasses everyone who likes music. This is truly a five star CD which dips in and out of other musical cultures across the... Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2009 by David Murphy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent crossover
Amadou & Mariam have made another great album that bridges the gulf between African and Western music. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2009 by mark ayers
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
The critics are raving about this, and in turn condemning Dimanche á Bamako as somehow vastly inferior for its apparently lush and synthetic presentation. Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2009 by Daniel Dalton
5.0 out of 5 stars
this is fab essential album one of the best of 2008!!
rhis stands up well with anything from the motown atlanta stuff its fab there music is joyous and the rhythm wow makes me wanna dance i personally liked there other offering but... Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2009 by Mr. S. L. Smith
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