• 
  KG Omulo: Ayah Ye!: Moving Train
  
  A synergy of funk, rock, reggae and traditional African sounds from this inventive, young singer/songwriter.
• 
  Various Artists: Chief Boima Presents: Lone Stars - Hipco and Gbema
  
  
• 
  Mamadou Diabaté: Courage
  
  Mamadou Diabate, the kora master, takes a fresh look at Mali instrumental music with his new CD Courage.
• 
  Various Artists: The Kankobela of the Batonga, Vol. 2
  
  Mysterious melodies from a disappearing thumb piano tradition of Southern Africa.
• 
  Kiran Ahluwalia: Aam Zameen: Common Ground
  
  Indo-Canadian Songwriter Combines Folk Poetry with African Rock, Jazz and more
• 
  M.anifest: Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America
  
  
• 
  Sona Jobarteh: FASIYA
  
  West African female kora virtuoso releases an album full of grace, warmth, and passion.
• 
  Sia Tolno: My Life
  
  Kissi singer releases a strong second album full of pop-infused star power over songs of strife and triumph.
• 
  Zieti: Zemelewa
  
  Eclectic blend of Afro-infused pop out of Cote d'Ivoire.
• 
  Guelewar: Halleli N Dakarou
  
  Re-released and remastered live CD from this 80's experimental Senegambian outfit.
• 
  Tinariwen: Tassili
  
  Touareg desert legends return with an offering that is meandering, sorrowful and proud.
• 
  Los Rakas: Chancletas y Camisetas Bordada
  
  Oakland/Panamanian rappers -call it "Panabay"-- return with good results.
• 
  Cheikh Lo: Jamm
  
  The unique Senegalese singer and multi-instrumentalist crafts an eclectically excellent record.
• 
  David Rudder: Random Notes
  
  Calypsonian David Rudder returns with an album that covers various styles with excellent results.

All Reviews >>

One of the reasons Mali's rootsy, pentatonic pop musicians get so much play on the world stage is that their music morphs easily into more familiar genres: blues, funk, jazz, and in this case, ambient club music. On his second international release, this singer and kamélé n'goni (6-string bass harp) player continues his celebrated fusion of naturalistic village pop and techno. As on the earlier album, Sya, Bagayogo works here with Malian-based French engineer Yves Wernert at Studio Bogolon, an outfit best known for its acoustic recordings. After years of persuading artists to strip away the corny keyboard and drum-box trappings that mar so many local pop productions, Wernert helped Bagayogo to steak out new ground, combining acoustic recordings with loops and electronic beats in an adventurous new way.

On "Sisi," the tumbling plink of Bagayogo's harp drops into a spare, swinging club groove adorned by keyboard horns, tasty guitar riffing, and a smoky, laid-back vocal. Even slower and more sensual, "Baro" works around a flute riff, and strong backing vocals. Bagoyogo is no star singer, but his cool, slightly rough vocals go down easily and lend his songs a reedy authenticity. Slow, sultry numbers like the title track are Bagayogo's stock in trade, but there are a few crankers here as well, notably "Dambalou," in which balafon tinkling, kamélé n'goni plinks, and an electric guitar hook interplay with electronic bleeps, whistles and tones in a spare, satisfying arrangement. "Saye Mogo Bana," with its catchy vocal and mid-tempo lope, has much in common with typical Malian pentatonic pop, but the production makes a world of difference. Ambient guitar and backing vocals weave through the mix, and techno touches serve to enhance, rather than bury or supplant the acoustic instruments. The ease and spaciousness of Bagayogo's music puts it miles ahead of more self-conscious and labored takes on roots-derived club music.
Contributed by Banning Eyre for www.afropop.org