N'Gou Bagayoko - Kulu [FLAC] TQMP

N'Gou Bagayoko - Kulu
2002

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The Wassoulou sound from Mali is available on several Stern's releases but the ones I've heard are marred with synthesisers, programming or electric instruments. In that regard this album by label Frikiywa is a welcome exception. However, producer Galliano felt necessary to add some annoying sound effects. Luckily they are restrained, but still I have to wonder what kind of rationale was used to add echo chamber like sounds to Nahawa's vocals and her daughter's. Creativity or just plain foolish colonialism? You pick. In any case, don't let any criticism put you away, this is an excellent album. Enjoy!

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Review --

Bougouni, Mali served as the leaping-off point for four Frikyiwa releases, including both Filifin's Siran (described above) and N'Gou Bagayoko's Kulu (which means "ancestors" by my best guess). On Kulu the fifty-something guitarist drifts from background to foreground and back, though he tends toward a middle ground when vocalists are part of the mix.

Half of these tracks include female vocals, including most notably Bagayoko's wife and daughter on two tracks each. The elder Nahawa Doumbia's delivery has the signature features of Wassoulou region of Southern Mali, most widely popularized by contemporary vocalist Oumou Sangaré: piercing delivery, sustained phrasing, and a kind of insistence that's hard to refuse. They're not the soft, lush female vocals most familiar to Western audiences, instead full-bore outpourings of soul and emotion.

Vocalist Mai Sanogo (one track) sounds entirely tame in comparison, but Bagayoko's daughter has a sweet softness that still commands attention. The differences between the singers makes each new appearance a fresh experience. So do the rather understated studio tweaks, including vocal harmonies and effects.

Bagayoko is a veteran musician (as is his wife) and that experience is reflected in knowledge of where to step forward and where to hold back. The pieces without vocals are the most revealing, of course. Three come as entirely solo efforts, including the opening two tracks, which offer a warm welcome through pentatonic riffing and cycling. He's no virtuoso, but that's just plain not relevant.

Proponents of the theory that American blues has roots in Mali will find compelling evidence here. This is without question the finest of the Frikyiwa releases reviewed in this article.

Art highlights: Beautiful flowing robes on Bagayoko and the singers; odd camouflage on Filifin. Multimedia: an interactive three-dimensional matrix of 27 short music/dance videos. Top-notch design by Manuel Tau and Patrick Doan.

-- All About Jazz (allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=1889&page=1)


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Personnel -

N'Gou Bagayoko: Guitar, ka, carignan (album)
Nahawa Doumbia: Vocal (3, 9)
Ramatta Doussou: Vocal (5, 8)
Mai Sanogo: Vocal (4), concon barani (2, 6)
Maimouna Keita: Water's calabash (4)
Fanta Kone: Concon barani (2, 6)
Filifin: Kamele'n goni (4, 7)

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Track List

01 - Cle
02 - Yaka
03 - Bakari Bamba
04 - Sogolo Djigui
05 - Kulu
06 - Niessoma
07 - Tielassigui
08 - Yala
09 - Dogotorow
10 - Maman

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EAC log and CUE sheet included.
Audio format: FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
http://flac.sourceforge.net/index.html

Pastafari
http://thepiratebay.org/user/pastafari/
TQMP. The Quality Music Project.