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Sample Track 1:
"Musow (For Our Women)" from I Speak Fula
Sample Track 2:
"I Speak Fula" from I Speak Fula
Buy Recording:
I Speak Fula
Layer 2
CD Review

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Short & Sweet NYC, CD Review >>

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
I Speak Fula
(Outhere Records)

 

The vibrant spiraling harmonies of the ancient ngoni instrument is the centerpiece of the album, I Speak Fula. In the 80s, Bassekou Kouyate revolutionized the way the instrument was played when he stood up and swung it over his shoulder during a show. This act created a frenzy and vastly transformed the ngoni’s appeal. The ngoni is a traditional instrument, shaped like a canoe boat. Animal skin is stretched across the hallowed out shell of wood. Strings made of fine fishing line are strapped across the length of the instrument, whose body is largely percussive as well. Mali native, Bassekou Kouyate and his band, Ngoni Ba, have created a rich wholesome energetic acoustic string sound with movement as fierce and folksy as bluegrass, acoustic soul, afrobeat and rock. The bursting chime of soft strings moves with a fervency and ring. The swelling percussion and melodious beats of drums are stirring. The shuffles of strings, the constant glowing of measured solos, many contained within each song, the delightful sprite of melodies, the jaunt of higher end strings and lower end strings all create a beautiful international global sound so ancient yet so now, it makes for a wonderfully crafted tonal delight with an awesomely rich liveliness.

Chanda Jones

 04/07/10 >> go there
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