Segu Blue, by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

[Con Murphy]

I like the Tinariwen album, but if you aren't coming from the blues (or rock) angle, you might find your rhythm buds tickled by the more subtle approach of Bassekou Kouyaté's new album, Segu Blue. I'm over a dozen plays into the album and I'm still waiting for it to stop getting better.

[howard male]

Segu Blue is an absolute delight - it has timeless classic written all over it.

[Dominic]

I like the Tinariwen album, but if you aren't coming from the blues (or rock) angle, you might find your rhythm buds tickled by the more subtle approach of Bassekou Kouyaté's new album, Segu Blue. I'm over a dozen plays into the album and I'm still waiting for it to stop getting better.

It's not out until 26th March!!!
I've already had a dozen or more enquiries thanks to Charlie's OMM review. Luckily I've been given a big poster with the release date on it, so I can just point for the next month.

[Con Murphy]

It's not out until 26th March!!!
I've already had a dozen or more enquiries thanks to Charlie's OMM review.

I do apologise, I should have checked the release date. And I do realise how lucky I am to have had a copy in advance.

Good news about the enquiries. It just goes to show that no matter what people might think about the Observer Music Magazine, the fact that it gives such prominence to Charlie's reviews probably negates any doubts people might have about it.

[Tom McPhillips]

I like the Tinariwen album, but if you aren't coming from the blues (or rock) angle, you might find your rhythm buds tickled by the more subtle approach of Bassekou Kouyaté's new album, Segu Blue. I'm over a dozen plays into the album and I'm still waiting for it to stop getting better.

It's not out until 26th March!!!
I've already had a dozen or more enquiries thanks to Charlie's OMM review. Luckily I've been given a big poster with the release date on it, so I can just point for the next month.

But astoudingly I did find it in the itunes store here in the US - and downloaded it - (along with Vieux Farka Toure) - and for sure it's a great album - It's been my sole in-car listening for the last week - absorbing and very easy to get caught up in the playing as I drive along the salted roads among the snow melt fields of Rapho....

[Charlie]

Bassekou Kouyaté's new album, Segu Blue ...
It's not out until 26th March!!!
I've already had a dozen or more enquiries thanks to Charlie's OMM review. Luckily I've been given a big poster with the release date on it, so I can just point for the next month.

Sorry about reviewing it early. But at the start of this year I was juggling at least four contenders for the Observer Music Monthly. They were all scheduled for release in the UK in March, but I didn't want any of them to lose their place in the monthly top ten. So I started in January with Vieux Farka Toure, whose record was out in America and therefore physically possible to get hold of; then came Segu Blue in February, with Andy Palacio due for March and probably Malouma in April.

[howard male]

Here's my take on it for the Word. Don't worry Dominic, it's not published until early May!

The ngoni (a kind of rudimentary African lute) has a dry brittle sound with very little sustain, so how did Lucy Duran manage to produce an album featuring four of them and get a full enough noise to satisfy western ears? Having the warm breath-textured vocals of Amy Sack at the centre of things certainly helps. Those fluttering runs of interlocking ngoni notes get to dance around her while the bass ngoni provide the velvety ballast which - along with a minimal use of percussion - keeps things moving along smoothly and funkily. Only in one song 'Banani' is this primarily acoustic sound broken into by some cool clean notes of bluesy electric guitar from Lobi Traore, but even that doesn't spoil the party. Although it's still early days, Bassekou's Malian masterpiece is sure to end up as one of the African albums of the year.

[Jamie Renton]

Here's my take on it for the Word. Don't worry Dominic, it's not published until early May!

The ngoni (a kind of rudimentary African lute) has a dry brittle sound with very little sustain, so how did Lucy Duran manage to produce an album featuring four of them and get a full enough noise to satisfy western ears? Having the warm breath-textured vocals of Amy Sack at the centre of things certainly helps. Those fluttering runs of interlocking ngoni notes get to dance around her while the bass ngoni provide the velvety ballast which - along with a minimal use of percussion - keeps things moving along smoothly and funkily. Only in one song 'Banani' is this primarily acoustic sound broken into by some cool clean notes of bluesy electric guitar from Lobi Traore, but even that doesn't spoil the party. Although it's still early days, Bassekou's Malian masterpiece is sure to end up as one of the African albums of the year.

This review is spot on. I particularly like the phrase "velvety ballast" & will attempt to use it in my everyday conversation at every opportunity (although I can't, for the minute, think what that opportunity might be)

For those who'd like to read the story behind the CD, I'm currrently writing a piece on Bassekou Kouyate for the May issue of fRoots.

Jamie

[Tom McPhillips]

This review is spot on. I particularly like the phrase "velvety ballast" & will attempt to use it in my everyday conversation at every opportunity (although I can't, for the minute, think what that opportunity might be)
Jamie

Whilst "velvety ballast" is relatively easy to slip into a conversation, (" the heavy draped fabrics that framed the window provided a velvety ballast to the view over the downy hills that we could see from the music room") just trying to remember the name "Bassekou Kouyate" let alone pronounce it, is providing me with a bit of a challenge.. there's probably a reason why bands have those short snappy memorable names....

- but still enjoying the CD a lot!

[Ian M]

Lovely name for a band. You'd just have to listen to them, wouldn't you?

[Alan]

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba: ‘Segu Blue’



Release Date: UK 26.3.07 (Proper)

Bassekou Kouyate from Mali is one of the true masters of the ngoni, an ancient traditional lute found throughout West Africa. He has collaborated with many musicians in and outside of Mali: He played in the Symmetric trio alongside Toumani Diabate (kora) and Keletigui Diabate (balafon). He was part of Taj Mahal’s and Toumani Diabate’s ‘Kulanjan’ project, as well as touring with the late Ali Farka Toure and playing most of the ngoni solos on Ali Farka’s posthumous album ‘Savane’. Towards the end of 2006 Damon Albarn invited journalists and fellow artists to Mali – one of the Malian artists that left a lasting impression was Bassekou Kouyate (see Fatboy Slim and Damon Albarn quotes below).

'Segu Blue', Bassekou's first solo album to be released on Out Here Records on 26 March 2007 (UK distribution by Proper Music Distribution), features guest musicians Kasse Mady Diabate, Lobi Traore, Lassane Diabate and singers Ami Sacko and Zoumana Tereta. The album was produced by Lucy Duran, recorded by Yves Wernert at Studio Bogolan in Bamako and mixed by Jerry Boys ('Buena Vista Social Club') in London.

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WHAT’S BEEN SAID ABOUT BASSEKOU

"… a fantastic example of how music can lift your mind and soul at the same time … the perfect proof of how inspirational African music can be, how it can touch so many people on so many levels."
Damon Albarn



"First there was African tribal music which evolved into slave songs which became the blues which gave birth to the funk. Bassekou and his band tell the whole of this journey in one chapter. The most delicious mix of the finest musical ingredients make a stew that warms the heart and shakes the hips. Trust me, it tastes good!"

Fatboy Slim

"The album Segu Blue is a MUST for anyone seeking new musical adventures."
Dee Dee Bridgewater

"… a genius, a living proof that the blues comes from the region of Segu."
Taj Mahal

"There’s a delicious sound to this record, whose warm, cohesive textures linger in the mind long after it finishes, luring the listener to go and play it again ... Remarkable."
Charlie Gillett, OBSERVER MUSIC MONTHLY

"Both ancient and utterly contemporary ... like some African answer to Hendrix."
Robin Denselow, THE GUARDIAN

"... surprisingly intricate melodies being teased out of the ngoni... "
Con Murphy, FROOTS

"I went to an impromptu concert with Damon Albarn and musical chums to Bassekou's apartment in Bamako in September 2006 and everyone was knocked out by the music. Bassekou's quartet played on traditional instruments - it really rocked. His debut album, Segu Blue, is my critic's tip for 2007."
Simon Broughton, EVENING STANDARD

"The whole band kicked in, Bassekou grinning with delight as they fired out unexpectedly grungey blues. A talking drum flitted over the top, while the floorbound vocalists swayed their arms in time to the music. It was the start of an extraordinary set that seemed to run from hard rock to jazz flicks to dub reggae, at times trancelike, at times heavy, at times delicate, but all carried off with astonishing virtuosity on these traditional instruments. Like the best of Africa's music, it was powerful and contemporary while remaining recognisably in touch with its roots."
Ian Birrell, THE INDEPENDENT


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WOMAD, OBSERVER MUSIC MONTHLY, FROOTS, BBC RADIO

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba have been booked to perform at the 25th anniversary of the WOMAD festival taking place at their new home of Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, 27-29 July 2007. One of their performances at the festival will also be broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

'Segu Blue' has already received a rave review by Charlie Gillett in this month's Observer Music Monthly magazine. The album is also reviewed in the March issue of fRoots and it is featured amongst the 10 CDs in their playlist. Tracks from 'Segu Blue' have been previewed on various BBC radio shows, including Charlie Gillett's BBC World Service show, Andy Kershaw's BBC Radio 3 show and DJ Ritu's World Music show BBC London.


see also http://www.charliegillett.com/rotm.php?date=february07

[Dayna]

I think I'd like to order this one, unless it's in a store here. I'm kind of hoping maybe to order it from there. I've only heard the song Charlie played, though.

[Dayna]

I kind of was thinking of ordering this CD by phone, because I thought it might be fun, if there isn't anything wrong with that. But if it's 18. 95 pounds(Sorry, havn't got a symbol for it), then it's $37.00. Is that right?

[Des]

My copy arrived today courtesy of Amazon. Perhaps I was expecting too much with all the rave reviews but on first hearing only a few tracks really stood out. I will obviously have to play it a few more times before I make up my mind - the musicianship is very fine though.

[Con Murphy]

My copy arrived today courtesy of Amazon. Perhaps I was expecting too much with all the rave reviews but on first hearing only a few tracks really stood out. I will obviously have to play it a few more times before I make up my mind - the musicianship is very fine though.

I'm usually quite encouraged when a first listen doesn't immediately hit the mark. It often means there's a bit of depth there. This one takes a little time, Des, but you'll probably find new favourites regularly jumping out at you as you go along. Bassekou's gift is one that keeps on giving - in fact, the album's had me scuttling back to albums he played on in the past (like Kulanjan by Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal) to have a proper listen to what his underrated instrument has been surreptitiously doing for my ear-holes all these years without me realising it.