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CD Review
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muzikifan, CD Review >>
Dobet Gnahoré comes from Ivory Coast where she grew up in an artists' enclave. Her father was a famous drummer and by the age of 12 she had dropped out of school to stay home and learn music. But there were dancers, actors, puppeteers, painters, sculptors, poets and dramatists all living in this community, a rural idyll set in the bustle of Abidjan. A French guy showed up with a guitar and stayed three years, taking the teenager back to Europe in 1999 and in 2006 she was nominated for a BBC Radio 3 Newcomer Award. I saw her on the Acoustic Africa tour and was not particularly impressed, but this new album showcases her fine singing and is well arranged. "Inyembezi zam (My tears)," sung in the South African language Xhosa, has an irresistible groove. She also sings in Malinké, Wolof, Lingala, Fon, as well as the languages of Ivory Coast. "Ma poo (My breath)" has a soukous kick to it that picks up the tempo after a few sleepy songs. However it fades just as it gets to a breakout point. Then we get some pygmy hocketing for a minute, and right back into a ballad. Gnahoré shows many facets on this disc, her sentiments are heartfelt and earnest. It's true good songs are also social comments, but I found all the songs about Massacre, Incest, Pillage and Mourning too preachy, and felt she was over-reaching in trying on so many styles. Still Dobet Gnahoré deserves to be heard. 06/01/07 >> go there
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