Customer Reviews
Simply brilliant! - By: Morris Minor, 17 Nov 2007 
Approach this from the Cuban end of the World Circuit catalogue, via Orchestra Baobab, & you slide into a heady melting pot of swirling rhythms & styles that'll put a big grin on your face & set your feet tapping. "Africa Challenge" is a salsa to end all salsas, & you can only imagine the atmospherein Bamako's Hogon Club when the Symmetric Orchestra end their set with it.
All World Circuit releases are special - this one just a bit extra special!
C'est Fantastique !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - By: Dr. R. Shahdadpuri, 23 Jul 2006 what an amazing piece of work from the kora maestro ! great album. have his other albums including kulanjan with taj mahal &in the heart of the moon with ali farka toure, & this is up there with them !! i had the very good fortue of seeing him livein dublin last nightin the iveagh gardens, & it lived up to all my expectations & beyond! he also stayed back after the gig to chat to the fans & signed autographs & posed for photos - so friendly & humble & so likeable. but back to the music - if u have it, u know how good it is ; if u don't - what r u waiting for ???? GET IT !!
Upbeat Malian delight - By: B. A. Woodhouse, 10 Apr 2006 You might not think the delicate strains of the Kora would fit into a modern african dance-band style, but you'd be wrong.
The Symmetric Orchestra (so-called according to the rather nice accompanying DVD because it combines old & new styles) start the album with a burst of jazzy trumpets, & kick off into a lilting beat that features drums, electric guitars as well as Diabate's virtuoso kora playing & some traditional percussion. The vocals are great, the songs flow along & the sheer enjoyment of the performances seeps out of the speakers. The overall mood is constantly upbeat & the final track is a real peach but just fades out a bit too suddenly when it sounds as if they could carry on all night.
Great for fans of West African music, a must for those who enjoy Orchestre Baobab & Cheik Lo, even the East African styles of Thomas Mapfumo & others.
Top stuff from Africa's best - By: , 05 Apr 2006 
Wow! Toumani Diabate has produced some fantastic stuff over the years, but this is a modern gem. This is the sound of a very modern Mali. If you love New Ancient Strings then you'll find Boulevard de L'Independance very different, but no less engaging. Here, Diabate's kora often forms the backing to hauting vocals & pounding drums, rather than the obvious centerpiece to his previous albums. It's easy to see where this album has come from, it's basically Diabate+friends, & although not wholly traditionalin griot terms, it's a modern African masterpiece. If you enjoyed In the Heart of the Moon with the late Ali Farka Toure, you're sure to find this equally rewarding.
The sound of silences - By: Jos Mouronho, 31 Mar 2006 Different from the classic Diabaté, but great combination of Afrikan musicians, sounds & silences. Modern instruments & the Griot master of Kora. Wonderful.
