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Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

Stephan, I'm not happy with the sound quality of the Kante Manfila vid. Scratching sounds and a bad mix just ruin the whole song.
Can't you provide a link to the mp3 I sent you please ? But I'm afaraid it's too late anyway.
If i have the time I will create a clip on youtube but not before tomorrow.

Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

For Kante Manfila’s Agne Anko please use this link

Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

That's the same link as the one I used nicolas.. I've uploaded the one you put on dropbox here

Everyone please check DanM's and my links for correct versions of two of the songs for this week. My apologies for the inconvenience.

Miguel, could you please confirm your votes given these changes?

Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

Next weeks if I can I'll try to create video clips beforehand if I'm not satisfied with the ones on Youtube

Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

The updated Spotify playlist, lacking three songs (Diabaté's, Manfila's and Keita's). You can listen to the Salif Keita song here


Bracket 1.2.5
Toumani Diabaté - Kaounding Cissoko (Mali, 2008)
Orchestra Baobab - Bul Ma Miin (Senegal, 2002)
A really strong bracket. It's amazing how the members of the Orchestra Baobab retained their music abilities after many years of not playing together. Beautifully fluid guitars and afro-Cuban rhythms are their main assets but I'm going to vote for Toumani. The crystalline sound of Toumani's kora is one of the most beautiful sounds of today. But I won’t complain if Orchestra Baobab goes to the next round.


Bracket 1.2.6
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi (Mali, 1998)
Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck - Lam Tooro (Senegal, 1989)
It's amazing to see how many songs of this week are blues songs (and we don't have Ali Farka Touré on the tournament!), it goes to show that the blues roots are in this part of Africa. The Maal song is very good, two guitars, vocals and some percussion is enough to create an hypnotic atmosphere. But my vote goes to Amadou & Mariam because of the simple but evocative vocal melody line (going in and out with the melody of the blues guitar) and specially because of the wonderful violin part.


Bracket 1.2.7
Tinariwen - Cler Achel (Mali, 2007)
Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight (Nigeria, 1972)
If the first bracket was strong, this is even stronger. I won't mind too if Fela Kuti passes to the next round with "Roforofo Fight", Afro-beat at its best and one of the shortest 15 minutes ever. But my vote goes to Tinariwen, the great tuareg band and this vibrant sample of desert blues that opened their album "Aman Iman: Water Is Life".


Bracket 1.2.8
Salif Keita - Begin the Beguine (Mali, 1990)
Kante Manfila - Agne Anko (Guinea, 1994)
This bracket is weaker by comparison. The arrangements on the version of the Cole Porter standard by Keita for the "Red, Hot & Blue" album sound now dated, so I will chose the Manfila song, another blues influenced song with sweet vocals.

Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

Stephan, I confirm my votes.

Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

Bracket 1.2.5
Toumani Diabaté - Kaounding Cissoko 5
Orchestra Baobab - Bul Ma Miin 4.5
As I said, 2 of my very favorite facing each other. The Diabate solo album is maybe my favorite African album of all time, but I understand it is very challenging music. Toumani is one of the very best musicians in the world, what he can do with his kora is amazing. I think that he imitates the sound of the rain on this song. The Orchestra Baobab song is fantastic too.

1.2.6
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi 4
Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck - Lam Tooro 4
Another Mali-Senegal matchup, and another victory for Mali (but a very short one). 2 countries that are in a very delicate political situation as I'm writing. Amadou & Mariam have a sweetness that I really enjoy.

1.2.7
Tinariwen - Cler Achel 4.25
Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight 4.25
Mali is a huge country. The north of the country is culturally very close to North Africa (and in rebellion due in part to Khadafi's collapse). I love Tinariwen but I can't think of a second round without Fela.

1.2.8
Salif Keita - Beguin the Beguine - No YouTube link
Kante Manfila - Agne Anko5
I love the folky sound of Kante Manfila. Beautiful ballad.

This part of the world is my favorite. I miss this land. Beautiful place, beautiful people. Long live West Africa !

Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

Bracket 1.2.5
Orchestra Baobab - Bul Ma Miin
off "Specialist in All Styles"; on it they sound like the equal of Buena Vista Social Club

1.2.6
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi

1.2.7
Tinariwen - Cler Achel
This was a really hard choice. Both songs deserve to go to the next round.

1.2.8
Kante Manfila - Agne Anko

Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

1.2.6
Amadou & Mariam - Je pense à toi

1.2.7
Tinariwen - Cler Achel

1.2.8
Kante Manfila - Agne Anko

Re: AM Foreign World Cup: Round 1 - Western Africa (Part 2)

Bracket 1.2.5
Toumani Diabaté - Kaounding Cissoko

1.2.6
Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck - Lam Tooro

1.2.7
Fela Kuti - Roforofo Fight

1.2.8
Kante Manfila - Agne Anko