Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Masterpiece of Malian Music, 27 Jan 2006
Soro turned into a great hit for Salif Keita in the late 1980s and was the album that established him on the international scene. Keita¹s music is a successful blend of the traditional griot style with influences from Latin America and other West African pop styles. The female backup singers play a prominent role in the arrangements, at least equal to Keita's own searing vocals.The music is a happy mix of percussion, bass, guitar, congas, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and keyboards. Soro (Afriki) is a long piece in three parts with different percussive tempos and instrumental breaks. Souareba is a particularly moving song with a spiritual undertone, orchestral arrangement and soaring vocals. Sina (Soumbouya) is a more traditional piece with a bubbling rhythm, flashes of trumpet and the intricate vocal interplay. With its slower pace and gently lilting rhythm, Cono is a soulful ballad with a lovely melody, whilst the mournful Sanni Kegniba is more traditional with intense soaring vocals. Soro from 1987 is considered his masterpiece but I like Keita¹s albums Amen and The Mansah Of Mali even more for their greater variety. This however remains a classic of African crossover music.
|
|
|
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Gets better every time, 24 Jul 2004
Salif Keita has been accused of abandoning his African style to adopt the electronic backing so prominent on this (and other albums of the same time). At first, I agreed, but after listening to this many times, and seeing Salif perform these tracks live, I have to say the reason this works so well is that, unlike many other world music offerings, this backing is all African. You will not find programmed accompaniement like this anywhere else I know of. In addition, there is a real horn section, fantastic guitars, Salif's amazing voice, and the best female backing group since Bob Marley's Wailers. You might not 'get it' the first time, but keep coming back, it's great stuff. It will have you dancing, dreaming and realising (when you read the words) that Salif is 100% African genius.
|
|
|
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
If you buy only one Afican album..., 15 Jun 2001
By A Customer
Well, that is not entirely true - there is lots of excellent African music. But this record is a real standout: at 37 minutes it might seem a little short but every minute counts. Soro (Afriki) is one of the most magnificent pieces of music you are ever likely to hear: a three-part wonder construction that virtually creates a style to itself with its perceptive use of modern instruments and driving horns. Cono is sublime and Sina grabs you right from the outset. Keita's voice is true heaven, going from intense shout to Islamic wailing; and always tastefully. For heaven's sake, buy this album: it is worth every scant little penny, he has never matched it since.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
(9)
(4)
(5 customer reviews)
(
