Talking Timbuktu

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 5019842004027 Label: World Circuit Manufacturer: World Circuit Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: World Circuit Release Date: 1994-03-28 Studio: World Circuit
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Editorial Reviews: Talking Timbuktu is a groundbreaking record that vividly illustrates the Africa-Blues connection in real time. Ali Farka Toure, one of Mali's leading singer-guitarists, has a trance-like, bluesy style that, although deeply rooted in Malian tradition, bears astonishing similarity to that of John Lee Hooker or even Canned Heat. It's a mono-chordal vamp, with repetitive song lines cut with shards of blistering solo runs that shimmer like a desert mirage. Toure may be conversant with some blues artists, but it is unlikely that artists like Hooker or Robert Pete Williams ever heard these Malian roots, which makes the connection so uncanny. Ry Cooder, well versed in domestic and world guitar styles, is the perfect counterpoint in these extended songs/jams, his sinewy slide guitar intertwining with his partner's in a super world summit without barriers or borders. --Derek Rath
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Talking Timbuktu Comment: A beautiful mixture of music from Mali, the most recognisable African music,and the superb guitar of Ry Cooder. If you only listen to one track try track 5, Amandrai. Put a do not disturb sign on your door, Turn off the lights, sit back and be smothered in the lovely slow and smooth playing. Any music lover cannot fail to enjoy it. Also try Niafunke and The River also by Ali Faka Toure Customer Rating: Summary: Unbelievable "Feel Good" Bluesy Music of Mali - The Best Comment: I have 6 or 7 CDs of music from Mali and find myself listening to this one most often. While I love them all --- the combination of musicians: Ali Farka Toure and Ry Cooder is unbeatable. Track #1 "Bonde" sung in Peul begins with a fantastic guitar introduction by Ali Farka Toure. Each note is drawn out just right to hook the emotions. The congas played by Oumar Toure provides an infectious rhythm. One male voice begins while a chorus responds in rhythmic unity, telling the story of why some women are unsuitable for marriage. Track #2 "Soukara" is sung in the Bambara language ... it has the sound and feeling of music from the Caribbean with a suitable ambient melody. The male vocalist pours his heart out to his lover at night, so say the liner notes. Another favorite track is #5 "Amandral" sung in the Temasheck language. The rhythms and sounds of this desert tribe is familiar. They are unforgetable on the CDs, "Festival in the Desert" and "Radio Tisdas Sessions", both of which are highly recommended. As each guitar note is plucked, the feelings of the listener are hooked. The feelings rise ... ever higher in resonance with the melody and mood expressed on the slide, acoustic and bass guitars, drums, calabash, and congas. Without exaggerating, I feel this CD contains some of the finest guitar playing on the planet. Other favorites are: #6, "Lasidan" (#6) which has a peppy, cheerful and upbeat tempo and #7, "Keito", which has musical elements of India and Pakistan or is it the Meditarranean? Ry Cooder plays the tamboura, Ali Farka Toure plucks and strums the electric guitar. There is a syncopated rhythm played on the congas and calabash. The music of Mali is highly distinct and very appealing. It is the best music from Northern Africa, and to this listener, the best from the whole continent of Africa. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla) Customer Rating: Summary: Disappointing Comment: Not what I (or many others) expected. Might sell well in Africa, but everyone that I've played it to thinks it's a big disappointment. Customer Rating: Summary: A risky buy that made me happy Comment: Anybody who has read Robert Palmer's "Deep Blues" or Alan Lomax's "The Land Where The Blues Began" will know that the roots of all todays popular music lie in the rhythms that the slaves brought with them from Africa. I was browsing on Amazon when I came across this CD and thought it would put some music to the words, so I decided to buy (1-click does that to you!) Having played this CD a few times now, loud, quiet, in the car, at home I can certainly recommend it to anybody who has an interest in the history of whatever they're listening to now. More importantly, this is not just history, the music is very alive and vibrant and immaculately produced. Ry Cooder - keep searching and delighting real music lovers. An excellent buy. Customer Rating: Summary: Excellent stuff Comment: I only discovered this cd when I hired it at random from Sheffield City Library. It wasn't my normal type of music and I wanted to hear something different. I noticed it had a Grammy Award and I thought I'd try it. I was not dissapointed. This is a superb, well recorded cd and the bluesy style rythms just draw you into it. Whilst some of the rythms are quite repetitive it never gets boring and keeps you listening from start to finish. Highly recommended More Reviews