Amadou Balaké is, apart from a musical hero, an artist with more than average dose of authenticity. He can perform with any band and still be recognisable as Amadou Balaké. And not only that, but he can play the same song with another orchestra, and it will sound like a completely new song!The proof of this is in this album from 1981. "Whisky et Coca-Cola" is a version of the track released on CVD 52, "Wariko" a reworking and re-arranging of a track on LS 7-78 (and was later reworked again on MGS 3120*) and "Voiture D'Occasion" ("second-hand car") is a cover of "Mobili Occasion" on CVD 59 and "Super Mobili Occasion" on CVD 008. But on "Afro-Charanga", accompanied by studio musicians from New York, these songs sound completely fresh and new, like they were composed just for this lp.
The other songs, "Zimbabwe" (introducing the 'new' Zimbabwe) and "Hayafam" (which I suppose is meant to be "Janfa ma", i.e. "I'm sorry"), are of the same unique Balaké quality.
In a time when hordes of people are running to the shops to buy Michel Jackson CD's, why can't this great classic lp by Amadou Balaké be the summer hit of 2009?
Zamidou Prod. 1582
* The relation with the track of the same name on CVD 008, however, seems unclear...
Thank you again for this wonderful Amadou music.
ReplyDeleteKostas from Greece.
I'm getting into this Balake really hard, thanks for this great stuff. (did you forget to tag ?)
ReplyDelete@Poutencon: I had indeed forgotten to add tags. I guess it's the heat here in Holland....
ReplyDeleteYes, Balake hits straight to the dance feet! Big thanks for his singles collection also.
ReplyDeleteThat's true WrldServ, people should try some dose of Ballake!
ReplyDelete"Hayaham" is really wonderful.
Wow thanks!
ReplyDeletethank you very very much worldservice for sharing that wonderful music each time again.
ReplyDeletethankfully, now everybody can listen and feel, this is the best album of all Burkina's history!!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for this music. Amadou is indeed great.
ReplyDelete