November 09, 2009

Panorama

Having posted the first lp on the Mali Music label, it seems only logical I should also share the second with you. This album contains tracks by the same orchestras as on the first, with the addition of the regional orchestra of the Sikasso region.

The addition is absolutely justified, because the two tracks are of an Orchestre Regional de Sikasso in exceptional form. With the great guitarist Madou Sangaré a.k.a. "Madou Guitare" leading the troops, Sikasso never had a stronger line-up.

Some of these songs have been re-released on CD recently by Ibrahima Sylla, who - as reliable Malian sources have reported repeatedly - has obtained these recordings by other than purely legal means. The same producer has gained access to the Syliphone catalogue by the same or a similar dubious method; and in this case the report comes from the highest possible source, Justin Morel Junior, - a man not only involved in the Syliphone label at the time, but also (at least according to the latest reports) the present Guinean Minister of Cultural Affairs. In a later post I will return to this subject....

Returning to the lp, I would like to draw your attention to the two extraordinary tracks by the Orchestre de Gao, the first based on a takamba rhythm (at least, according to the sleeve notes; I still have problems recognising the takamba bit...) and the second described more accurately as a "romance sonhraï sur un air de blues" (and this time I do hear traces of takamba).

Strangely the Rail Band is represented by two tracks which I would normally expect from Super Biton. Both "Badialamale" and "Sounan" are bambara rhythms from the Segou region. The latter is based on the bara (picture on the left) rhythm which Biton have used more than once.

Personally I can't get enough of this music by those legendary orchestras from Mali.

Mali Music Mali 1002

EDIT: there was a problem with the file. This has (hopefully) been corrected.

13 comments:

urijenny said...

Ya estoy bajando la compilación. Muchas gracias.

Yo hice hace un tiempo una compilación de nombre parecido "Panorama musical de Mali", que puede encontrarse aquí:

http://radiolg.blogspot.com/2009/09/panorama-musical-de-mali-desde-que-me.html

Incluyo material encontrado en tu blog.

Cordiales saludos.

Anonymous said...

a3. Tandina (Orchestre de Gao).mp3 - CRC failed

WrldServ said...

@Anonymous: You are right, there seems to be a problem there. I can't repair it right now (working..), but will look into it later today.

@urijenny: Gracias!
Personalmente no me gusta tanto los discos de musicos de Mali con europeos o americanos.
Espero que has visto el casete de Molobaly Traoré aquí.

urijenny said...

Sí, ya he descargado el cassette de Molobali. Está buenísimo. Muchas gracias.

reservatory said...

Many thanks for this (even without track A3). This stuff is pure gold. On the subject, does anyone have the Orchestre Rail-Band de Bamako LP on the Mali Music label that released all the amazing LPS from the First Biennale of Arts and Culture for the Young 1970? I thought I had a line on a download a couple of times, but no such luck. Thanks again for this one!

WrldServ said...

@reservatory: if you're in a hurry and/or desperate, I can send it (in the Bärenreiter-Musicaphon version) to you later today. I hadn't planned to post it (yet), but I am sure I have it in a digital form.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for posting these two holy grails of Malian Music.

Regarding Sylla, for me the most frustrating aspect of how he has released this music is by slicing and dicing these great LPs into compilations every few years but only adding one or two new tracks and leaving out others.

-zim

WrldServ said...

I have checked the file, uploaded it again and changed the link.
Hopefully that solves the problem(s).

reservatory said...

THANKS for the link to the long sought Rail Band lp, as well as the redo on Panorama. I really love the other five regional Mali Music lps, now I've finally got 'em all (as far as I know). Beautiful stuff!

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much is fantastic, especially the first track of Rail Band,is totally addictive.
I also find any Takamba rhythm in Tandina,I.H.Dicko version in the Gao album it is a Takamba but does not resemble anything, Bayen Wotti neither is a Takamba.

reservatory said...

Just sat down with this one again, and am blown away again. THANKS so much for this. I don't suppose you happen to have more Orchestre de Gao lying around?

øשlqæda said...

found it!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about those incidents, I hope the justice will win in the end - and happy to hear those songs, especially 'Tiebaou' just blows me away for some reason. I could listen to that song in an endless loop - and I do!
Thanks for another gem