Amazon.co.uk: Radio Mali: Ali Farka Toure: Music

In the Heart of the Moon ~ Ali Farka Toure

(20) �9.98

Niafunke ~ Ali Farka Toure

(3) �9.98

Savane ~ Ali Farka Toure

(4) �9.98

The River ~ Ali Farka Toure

(3) �11.98

Aman Iman: Water Is Life ~ Tinariwen

(9) �6.98

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Audio CD (22 April 1996)
Number of Discs: 1
Label: World Circuit
ASIN: B000024G7J
Other Editions: Audio CD
Average Customer Review: (1 customer review)
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 103,725 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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1. Njarka

2. Yer Mali Gakoyoyo

3. Soko

4. Bandalabourou

5. Machengoidi

6. Samarya

7. Hani

8. Gambari

9. Njarka Gambari

10. Biennal

11. Arsany

12. Amadinin

13. Seygalore

14. Trei Kongo

15. Radio Mali

16. Njarka (1)

From Amazon.com
Previously available as a 1996 import on the World Circuit label, this nearly 72-minute collection of recordings were originally made for radio broadcast between 1970 and 1978. As a single collection, this is the finest yet of Toure's slow-burning music, characterized by nimble, expressive guitar playing and strong, expressive singing. Lyrically, the songs are mostly devotionals, praising a loved one, Allah, and various government initiatives (including Radio Mali itself). Half the tunes feature Toure alone on guitar and vocals; elsewhere he is backed by the ngoni's beautiful rattle-buzz, a full choir, a smattering of percussion, and a violin player whose sliding, high-pitched notes echo the fiddle playing of Appalachia. Throughout, Toure's singing has a wider range than you'd expect (considering that he's known as the "African John Lee Hooker") and his bluesy guitar playing is always melodic, modal, and meditative. Toure repeats musical phrases over and over again, subtly changing them. But he never gets fancy for its own sake--his style (which adapts Sonrai, Peul, and Tamascheq techniques) sounds as natural as a babbling brook. Strands of sing-songy, seemingly simplistic melodies wrap around each other, coming together and unwinding like strands of RNA. This is some mind-blowing stuff. --Mike McGonigal

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Average Customer Review

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

A classic, 29 Jan 2004

By	Andrew Cranmer (Woking, UK) - See all my reviews

Right from the brief opening of Njarka you know you've hit the play button on a seriously good CD. The next track, Yer Mali Gakoyoyo, confirms this.

And the rest of the album doesn't disappoint in its richness. Blues, most obviously on Amadinin, Cajun, echoes of Richie Havens on Hani and lovers of Scottish folk will find much to recognise. Influences, roots or a wonderful melting pot?

And throughout, an easy, natural, perfect rhythm that amateurs like me can only aspire to in the next life.