Lobi Traore
– Bamako Nights: Live At bar Bozo 1995 (Glitterbeat Records)
LP/CD/DL
Out Now
Glitterbeat
release a new live album from the Malian soul/blues guitarist, the late Lobi
Traore.
Once
described as having 'a voice somewhere between rap and blues', Lobi Traore was
born in 1961 in Bakaridianna, close to the Roger Niger in Mali. He died in 2010 with nine albums under his
belt, but with a huge talent still waiting to be discovered by the rest of the
World.
HIs second
album, Bamako, produced by the internationally acclaimed Ali Farka Toure, was
described as one of the best albums of 1994 by French newspaper
Liberation. There can be little argument
with the accolade for Traore possesses not only a memorable voice but also the
ability to play the guitar like no-one else.
Bar Bozo was
for the working classes. Downtown, dark
and dank it enticed a non elitist audience to dance, drink and enjoy live music
into the early hours. In 1995 Lobi was
still beginning his career and became a regular act with his songs of social
life, philosophy and his people. He
filled the bar week in and week out.
Album opener
Ni Tugula Mogo Mi Ko is quite literally one man and his guitar. A slow almost calming tune where Traore’s
extraordinary guitar playing is on full show and manages to have the audience
clap, shout and whistle in approval.
With a voice that really does reach for your soul and a tune that you
cannot help but feel, there is the appeal of this album. In a language completely unfamiliar, the
music on show here is gripping and thoroughly entertaining.
Banani has
touches of blues infused with reggae and even a live dub effect, and Sigui
Nyongon Son Fo kicks the cobwebs away with the rest of the band as equally as
skilled.
It was rumoured that Traore was a huge fan of Angus Young but to attempt to compare his very unique style to anyone is unfair.
Shortly
after this album was recorded Bar Bozo was closed down. At only seven tracks, this is quite some
album. A talent that deserted us all too
soon and a reminder of an even greater talent that probably still had his
finest hour to come.
8.5/10
Links
Glitterbeat Records
Lobi Traore on Glitterbeat
Vieux Farka Toure album review
Published on Louder Than War 5/12/13 - here
8.5/10
Links
Glitterbeat Records
Lobi Traore on Glitterbeat
Vieux Farka Toure album review
Published on Louder Than War 5/12/13 - here
No comments:
Post a Comment