• 
  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
  
  
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  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
  
  
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  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 >>

Thione Seck is a long-standing Senegalese superstar who has been largely overlooked in the international hoopla over Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal and Ismael Lo. But this generous taste of Seck's contemporary work reveals him as their worthy peer. The music is slick and modern, but deep. Seck's 12-piece band, Raam Daan, crank out tough, hard-hitting mbalax, the pop sound that has grown out of the Wolof people's complex and layered sabar drumming style. Crackling percussion lies at the heart of the sound, but guitars, horns and synthesizers build the rhythms into lush, pummeling pop. Seck's distinctive, reedy voice is the real treat. Riding over the rhythms in a state of mystic detachment, Seck sings with aching clarity and passion. Track after track, as the music shifts into ever-denser textures, Seck's phrases draw out languidly. He takes flight on gale-force breezes his band generates. It is unlike anything else in African pop. Even on a somewhat tacky rip-off of "Stand By Me," called "Momy," Seck comes through with convincing soul. These eleven tracks will leave many listeners wondering how Seck has managed to evade the Afropop pantheon of stars all these years.

Originally published in: Boston Phoenix