It’s not clear who deserves the credit for coming up with the idea for this studio encounter between griot Vieux Farka Touré and the Texas ethno-funk orchestra Khruganbin, but the result is much better in the ears than on the ears. paper. Because in addition to being unexpected, this meeting also serves as a tribute to one of the greatest guitarists that the African continent has offered, Ali Farka Touré, late father of Vieux. Together, they revisit Ali’s work, certainly without the extreme sensitivity and agility expressed by the legendary Ali until his death in 2006, but the tasty groove of the Texans, the bewitching presence of their organ on the songs , the simplification (to excess, dare we say it) of the rhythmic motifs will perhaps interest a new public in the Malian musical tradition. Then, let’s not sulk our pleasure: from the first to the eighth song, this album, ultimately very pop, is warm, the original melodies sneaking between our two ears with the intention of staying there. That in itself is a victory.
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To see in video