"A musical husband and wife duo that got its start in Mali, Amadou & Mariam met in 1975 at Mali's Bamako Institute for the Young Blind," according to allmusic.com. In the last decade they've become popular in Europe as well. I apologise for choosing an act that is not totally obscure. Amadou et Mariam cut me some slack by giving this song a repeating chord progression and a 4/4 time signature, unlike Malian music before the French colonization. This makes it easier for me to "get" musically. It was recorded in 1997. The CD's liner notes about this song are in French, but I think they say something like this: "Isolation. Tradition says that men are born in a community, and it is in that community that they die. TOUBA LA KONO is a song of bravery affiliated with the king of the bush, the 'lion,' to combat isolation. Isolation makes a 'normal' person crazy, and a disabled person even more so."
My Trusted MOGs
Truth be told, sometimes their songs are a little too basic for my taste. But here the repetition really builds into something, and there's a diaphanous quality to the guitars that's pretty mesmerizing. We have decided to forgive you for eschewing snobbery in favor of quality.
My Trusted MOGs
I thank you. It does build, and they are diaphanous!
My Trusted MOGs
Diaphanous. Damn, that's a good way to put it. Great guitar solo. I get what ivy is saying about basic, though. I miss the polyrhythms when something is so 4/4 like this. Spike, do yo have any more music from Mali to compare with this? I'm curious if this is a product of colonization as you mentioned, or if it's about the year (1997) or perhaps just these two people? Is this considered pop music? Folk? I wonder how Mali sees this act.
My Trusted MOGs
I'm diggin this song
My Trusted MOGs
CeeOhBee, you're asking good questions to basically an ignoramus who has just a few dozen west African records. I would be surprised if popular radio stations in West Africa ever play African music that isn't 4/4. I also guess that American and European pop music gets played a lot on the radio there as well. I wager that what Amadou et Mariam play is pop music. There are plenty of other Mali pop musicians whose rhythms sound more African. For the Western avant-hip cogniscenti of World Music, Mali has become a happening place. As far as I know, there is nothing special about the year 1997. The European and American musical influences go back more than a century. Ex-British colonies seem to have produced more European-sounding African recordings than the rest of Africa, with more vocal harmonies using the third interval (do - mee), but maybe I'm overgeneralizing on the basis of paltry evidence. I wish I could clone myself, go out and buy the book West African Music: The Rough Guide, read it and get back to you on these issues..
Sturgell, digability is this song's best trait, isn't it?
My Trusted MOGs
Ah, but an ignoramus with a very good ear!
Thanks Spike
My Trusted MOGs
Thank you, inrumford!
My Trusted MOGs
wow, this song is totally different from what i was expecting when i clicked the button. i like it nonetheless. this may not be obscure to some people, but Amadou and Mariam are brand new to my ears. thanks for the introduction Spike!
My Trusted MOGs
mollifire, I like to surprise you. Amadou and Marian are almost brand new to my ears. I'm happy you like it.
My Trusted MOGs
I have seen their discs, but no chance to spy their sound. thank you.
simply beautiful. thanks, too for the background. Def gonna spend some $ to support this duo.
My Trusted MOGs
wassonii, it's good to hear your feedback. Their 2004 Nonesuch CD Dimanche a Bamako is a more urban experimental project, but it works for me.