By j. poet | Published July 2022
Oumou Sangaré was visiting New York City when the pandemic shut things down. She used her time in isolation to compose most of the songs on Timbuktu, co-writing a few with her long time kamele n’goni player, Mamadou Sidibé. As things opened up, she traveled to Baltimore, Mali, Burkina Faso and Paris to record. More than a dozen musicians participated in the sessions.
The music is still rooted in the sounds of her home in the Wassulu region of Mali, but there are subtle, international elements in the arrangements. One of her co-producers, Pascal Danaë, adds bluesy guitar licks to several tracks, including the album opener, “Wassulu Don.” Sangaré’s lyrics celebrate the culture of Wassulu, with Danaë’s guitar and a funky drum loop supporting her free-flowing vocals. “Kêlê Magni” laments the hardships of the civil war, that’s been raging in Mali for more than decade. It starts with rippling balafon and n’goni rhythms behind Sangaré’s call and response with the backing vocalists. Halfway through, Danaë’s distorted blues guitar and a rolling bass line provide a propulsive lift to Sangaré’s harrowing vocals. She wraps things up with “Sabou Dogoné,” a traditional tune that asks Allah to connect her to the ancient knowledge and wisdom of Mali. Sustained organ chords and sparse piano back her fervent vocals.
Timbuktu: Wassulu Don, Sira, Degui N’Kelena, Gniani Sara, Timbuktu, Sarama, Kanou, Demissimw, Kêlê Magni, Dily Oumou, Sabou Dogoné (41:43)
Personnel: Oumou Sangaré, Vocals; Pascal Danaë, dobro, percussion, slide guitar, guitars, backing vocals, piano, keyboards, Moog, production; Nicolas Quéré, Moog, piano, clarinet, keyboards, percussion, production; Mamadou Sidibé, ngoni, backing vocals, percussion, keyboards, co-writing; Baptiste Brondy, percussion, drums; William Calhoun, percussion; David Coltun, violin; Rob Coltun, guitar; Cheick Diabata, banjo; Adama Diarra, djembe; Abou Diarra, percussion; Bala Kouyate, balafon; Emma Lamadji, backing vocals; Michael Coltun, bass; Eliéser Oubda, keyboards; Rafgee, subassophone; Diarra Moussa Saifal, flute; Laurent Vernerey, bass.
Ordering Info: worldcircuit.co.uk
