Vieux Farka Toure – Samba (Six Degrees Records)
CD / DL
12 May 2017
7.5 / 10
Malian songwriter and bandleader release his new album.
Beginning an album with a near six minute instrumental is adventurous
by anyone’s standards, even more impressive is to carry it off successfully, and
Vieux Farka Toure does just that as Bonheur grips the listener from the opening
bars. Often referred to as the ‘Hendrix
of the Sahara’ Vieux returns with is first album since his collaboration with Julia
Easterlin on 2015s Touristes and is in blinding form.
Recorded as part of the Woodstock Sessions, the unique opportunity
for fans to be seated in front of the artist as they both play live and studio
record, Samba is a refreshing mix of blues, funk, reggae and rock as Toure
knows only too well. An audience of
around fifty people are briefed that they are to witness the recording of a studio
album with a truly live feel. It’s an interesting
concept and one that, on the evidence of this album alone, works incredibly
well.
The son of legendary Malian artist Ali Farka Toure, Vieux
was the second born to his parents which in the Songhai language is called the ‘Samba’. It represents the head position in the family
and bestows great honour and power.
Ironically, his guitar playing does very much the same. Often exceptional and hypnotic the solos alone
are something to behold.
Highlighted track, Homafau Wawa is nothing short of
brilliant as Toure’s voice glides over incredible guitars and a backing vocals
provided by the audience in a track that has been described as almost Church
like. Maya features friend and regular collaborator
Idan Raichel who plays some wondrous keyboards
on a track that sees a Muslim and a Jew working together and endorsing tolerance
and understanding.
A more indigenous feel can be heard on Nature, the shortest
track on the album at little under four minutes, it conveys a feel of the griot
tradition and expresses concern over conservation and the abuse of wild animals.
Samba is an album of immense feeling, of power and of
commitment with an unrivalled live feel.
Ten new tracks from a man in his ascendancy and an album well worth taking
the trouble to listen to.
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