In review--Peace for Mali
World/Mali
Vieux Farka Toure
Mon Pays
Six Degrees Records
Mali faces more trouble with Islamic fundamentalists warring
against Tuareg nomads in the north part of the country and music was
banned. Anyone who enjoys Malian music
has most likely heard of this sad news, yet the music keeps coming, showing us
a face of hope, defiance and peace, at least in the hearts of the Malian
people.
Vieux Farka Toure, the son of the late Malian guitar legend,
Ali Farka Toure records his best album thus far, Mon Pays which speaks of anguish for his fellow Malians and also
possesses a healing force not found anywhere but in music. Mostly an acoustic album with blues guitar,
the traditional kora (West African harp), ngoni, and calabashes, you will also
hear piano on the final track Ay Bakoy,
played by Israeli Idan Raichel, a friend and musical collaborator of Vieux.
These aren’t the only instruments you will hear on this
tapestry of African, Middle Eastern and European instruments and the first
track, Diack So sounds like Tuareg-style
blues with Djodjo on lead vocals, but is in fact a folksong from northern Mali and a tribute to a late musician friend of the family. While
the production can only be called splendid and musicianship heartfelt, Mon Pays is easily the most powerful
album to come along in a long time. I’m
reminded of American jazz trumpeter Terrance Blanchard’s post-Katrina recording
Requiem for Katrina (A Tale of God’s
Will) where emotions fuel musicians’ best performances by taking them to
the edge.
I’m not one to promote suffering for art, however, often
times when life circumstances push us to the edge, we mature artistically. I can’t imagine that anyone listening to this
CD won’t feel pangs of sympathy or empathize with the grief of the musicians. And yet, and yet, on the surface, if you don’t
understand the lyrics, some of these songs sound celebratory or uplifting, such
as Safare with its driving beat and
sparkling guitar. Only on the closing
track, Ay Bakoy does the gravity of
Mali’s situation sink in.
Personally, I believe that Mon Pays is among the best recordings for 2013 thus far. With its tight production, beautifully
sounding instruments, and vocals raw with deep emotions, I ask you not only to
pay tribute to Mali and its stellar musicians by purchasing Mon Pays (and other Malian recordings),
but to send a prayer out for peace in Mali, knowing also that these dire
circumstances unite a people who learn just how deeply they love their
homeland. Perhaps, we love Mali too.
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