African Storytelling, old and new

 . . .      Malian Issa Bagayogo has been getting plenty of press for his genre-bending fusion of roots music and electronica.  On Tassoumakan, Bagayogo sticks with more traditional groove with mixed results.  The best cuts are fully acoustic, with Bagayogo singing lead and playing the kamale ngoni (a 6-stringed bass harp similar to the kora).  The spare backing of Malian flute, acoustic guitars, and a three-voice female chorus is captivating, and an entire disc of this music would have been a real pleasure, especially given its scarcity outside West Africa.

            Unfortunately, the more heavily produced cuts fall flat, and they’re too down-tempo for dancing, a key point.  Still, Bagayogo can’t be faulted for bringing new elements to homegrown music, as the best African pop has always been about fusion.  However, Six Degrees’ cavalier treatment of the lyrics is another thing:  The label’s press releases include detailed synopsis of topics as diverse as AIDS and local folklore, but their exclusion from the final package is a mystery.  Unfortunately, this oversight makes Bagayogo’s work less accessible – and far less enjoyable – than might have been the case.