I tried to post this last night but the IT gremlins caused problems, so I’ll try again...
Ahead of the 2008 poll next month, I’ve listened to more albums than usual from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. I’m really pleased I made the effort because I’ve discovered a few I really like. Here are some of them with YouTube links to a song from each album in brackets.
I think I tried to hype Rokia Traoré with some success already in our yearly poll at the end of 2008. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a big sensation!
The Mandé Variations is a masterpiece, but a very demanding one. Listening to this album requires absolute silence, focus, for it is a mystical experience.
I've been to this part of Africa and every note feels like a sun ray (or a raindrop, depends on the season).
I can picture the red clay, the green grass that spurs in the rainy season, the people, the children everywhere.
Toumani is universal. A virtuoso, yes, but much more than that, a true artist. A magician.