Segu Blue, by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

[howard male]

Philip wrote -

There are much better releases that don't for some reason get the same attention and gushing reviews from the critics, the pair of Mandekalou CD's are similar in style to "Segu Blue"

I have to confess I hadn't heard the Mandekalou albums either, but I'm just listening to the Sterns sound samples as I write, and they're kind of what I expected.

I think the reason Segu Blue has got such a positive response is that it's different. It's a more stripped-down take n'goni music - not so busy, not so showy, not so full of rococo flourishes.

But comparing the two seems pointless as I disagree that they are very similar in style. They share a core instrument but seem to me to have very different aims. The Mandekalou songs have more of a stately chamber orchestra feel, whereas Segu Blu seems more like a subtle take on western dance music, and unlike anything I've heard before.

Perhaps other critics also have the same weakness I have - which is to go for what sounds fresh and new, over something which one has heard many times before, however well it's played and produced.

But having said that, if I'd been sent 'Art and Soul of the Mande Griots,' (which I wasn't) as far as I can tell from listening to six samples, I'd have given it an excellent review too.

[Charlie]

They're two albums produced by the legendary Ibrahima Sylla

Technical pedantry: Sylla doesn't produce records in the sense that the word is normally used in the music world. He finances them, as a film producer would, but he doesn't spend much time in the studio.

He describes his role in the sleeve note of the 5xCD celebration of his (first) 20 years of releasing records. He commissions a producer/arranger to supervise the recording of an album to an agreed budget, listens to the first mixes, makes his comments and then checks the next mixes to make sure they've been taken on board.

So while he may listed as a recod producer, he doesn't produce the music. How's that for a confusing definition?

[Charlie]

Too many of the songs sound the same, starting off with backing female vocal then moving into a repetitive plodding rhythm.

I don't think the album is sequenced very well - I would have put the last five tracks at the front and then followed with the ones that currently begin it. But with so many different singers, I'm surprised you find it samey.

The low point is the instrumental track "River Tune". An unbearable soundtrack to a donkey ride along Blackpool beach.

Or a leisurely stroll on the back of a camel alongside the River Niger? I like it.

the pair of Mandekalou CD's are similar in style to "Segu Blue" but much better with raw edges to the vocals

Not sure how similar they are - I can only hear the differences, it's a bit like comparing apple juice with cider, both drinks from the same fruit, but not really comparable.

[Charlie]

As a record of an inspired jam session it somehow stands on its own terms

I hope you won't mind if I step in here to say that far from being a jam session, the songs were all rigorously rehearsed for many months. So much so, that producer Lucy Duran suggested loosening up some of them so that the band didn't sound like one of those jazz groups that love to play a succession of chord changes altogether to show how slick they are.

[Tom McPhillips]

which only goes to show how little I know!

- removing my walking member from my speaking member - I guess what I'm trying to get at is that most of these tracks aren't immediately identifiable as tunes... and even if it's rehearsed, to my ears it still feels like the source material is improvised rather than written down...

or am I wrong again?

[Charlie]

or am I wrong again?

Lucy's sleeve note goes into some detail about the origin of many of the songs, that go back centuries.

But I agree with your fundamental point, that it feels live and spontaneous, despite the age-old material and the months of rehearsal.

[Tom McPhillips]

Lucy's sleeve note goes into some detail about the origin of many of the songs, that go back centuries.

But you see, given our present times, that's a low blow! I was overjoyed to find the CD to download on iTunes, but of course the sleeve notes are missing! And given the dollar no froots or Songlines either....

One step forwards, and one step backwards, onwards on our merry way!

[Con Murphy]

Technical pedantry: Sylla doesn't produce records in the sense that the word is normally used in the music world.

Thanks for the explanation, Charlie. Now that you've explained what he does, maybe I no longer need to attend Sylla's talk at the ICA which clashes with your Sunday afternoon AFWM winners showcase. I can attend that instead!

[Charlie]

Now that you've explained what he does, maybe I no longer need to attend Sylla's talk at the ICA which clashes with your Sunday afternoon AFWM winners showcase.

I would not belittle his role, simply because he doesn't spend 24/7 in the studio. Sylla has been a unique force in African music, spending a large fortune on financing Salif's Soro album, for instance, with no certainty that he would ever get it back. He is behind the concepts of Les Quatre Etoiles, Africando and Kekele, funded the first Oumou Sangare album (picked up for worldwide release outside West Africa by World Circuit). He is a lifetime connoisseur of Cuban and other Latin American music, with a record collection that would put the rest of us to shame. It's a very unfortunate clash, but I think if I were you, I'd be at the ICA.

[howard male]

Charlie wrote -

It's a very unfortunate clash, but I think if I were you, I'd be at the ICA

But if you were Con, Charlie, there wouldn't be a problem as you wouldn't be doing your gig. Unless of course - by inference - Con was you. In which case he wouldn't be able to go to the Sylla talk anyway, as he'd be too busy chatting to K'naan and Camille.

[Con Murphy]

Charlie wrote -

It's a very unfortunate clash, but I think if I were you, I'd be at the ICA

But if you were Con, Charlie, there wouldn't be a problem as you wouldn't be doing your gig.

And if I were Charlie, I'd allow emoticons, so that dunces who can't properly articulate tongue-in-cheek comments don't risk looking like they're writing off the contributions of one music's great figures :-)

[Rob Hall]

I seem to have accidentally wandered into Second Life.

Does anyone know the way out?

[howard male]

Con wrote -

And if I were Charlie, I'd allow emoticons, so that dunces who can't properly articulate tongue-in-cheek comments don't risk looking like they're writing off the contributions of one music's great figures :-)

Aah, yes, but it depends on what we mean by Charlie being you, Con. Are we talking about the very essence of Charlie Gillett being submerged in the new identity of Con Murphy, or would Charlie Gillett still exist as a personality simply occupying the physical form of Con Murphy?

There are complex philosophical issues to be addressed here before we can decide if anyone's contributions to the universe as a whole are being written off. (at this point I shall risk leaving out the emoticon, and instead just say 'frrrroooots!' to indicate my levity.


Rob wrote -

I seem to have accidentally wandered into Second Life.

Does anyone know the way out?

When you get to the first black hole on your right you'll see two parallel universes. Take the one which looks most inviting and then continue your life from within it. Good luck.

[Chris P]

At the very time of Segu Blue's release it was clear that this was an effing exceptional, fresh and unique album, a sort of 'gold standard' album (like say Savane or Immigres). And it's a continuing joy and revelation.

Toumani's Djelika was the only thing that had prepared me to some extent for the wonderful sound of the ngoni in such a tight group context.

Recently I've realized that Bassekou's concept has one clear antecedent and probable influence : the group that Mamadou Diabate put together for 'Tunga' with Fuseini Kouyate's ngoni. There is a very clear Bassekou/ Segu Blue forshadowing in this album's sound. Great record ! (if not on the same exalted elevation as SB)

(Dwelling on Segu Blue, while we punters wait months for 'Speak Fula')