Customer Reviews

Outstanding acoustic classic - By: One more opinion, 12 Feb 2010
Another brilliant acoustic album from Salif. The first track, La Difference, opens with some English vocals that seem a little obvious (I am black, my skin is white - I am white, my blood is black, I am what I am). For anyone who doesn't know, Salif is an albino. The musicians thoughout are wonderful & the instruments varied. Kante Manfila & Djelly Moussa Kouyate are on guitars. There's plenty of n'goni, camele n'goni, percussion & gorgeous backing singers - but also many surprises such as piano, trumpet, cello, oud, & on four tracks a six piece Arabic string section.
There's a stunning version of Seydou, with a vibraphone, floating chorus singers & the swaying string section, all led by the gently weaving guitar lines.
Gaffou has two n'goni's, oud & cello.
Folon appearsin a different version with Bill Frisell on guitar & some subtle piano.
Ekolo d'Armour is a perky dance track with strings, piano & oud.
Djele has accordion, cello, balafon.
Samigna with it's two n'goni's, swirling strings & then trumpet is a wonderfully diverse sound.
The CD ends with a version of Papa, complete with breathy vocals, piano, & subtle bass from the camele n'goni & double bass.
Salif's voice is almost upstaged by the brilliantly diverse instruments!
Outstanding.