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Toxu
 
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Toxu

~ Wasis Diop (Artist)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Audio CD (9 April 2001)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Wrasse
  • ASIN: B00005B479
  • Other Editions: Audio Cassette
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 399,135 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

1. Soweto
2. My Son
3. Everything (Is Never Quite Enough)
4. Que Faut Il Faire
5. Toxu
6. Once In A Lifetime
7. Accident
8. Rat 'n Belle
9. After Dreaming
10. Julia
11. Mori
12. Samba Le Berger
13. Colobane (Hymne A L'amour)

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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Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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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', 20 May 2001
'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!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Diop Magic, 26 April 2003
By Mr. A. J. Wright "G'Kar" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
An album that isn't so much for listening to, as experiencing. The rich sounds and rhythms are magical and simply lift the spirits.
No simple delivery here, but complex weaving of sounds and rhythms. From "Soweta Daal", the opening track and invoking the sounds of South Africa, to the classic "African Dream" redolent in sunshine. This is a must for any collection.
Diop works with different languages with ease, and most importantly it doesn't actually matter if you don't understand what is being said, even the words have their own music.
Outstanding.
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