World music rarely crosses off over into the conscious of the American music scene so when blind Malian husband and wife musicians Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia started getting a lot of attention, it had to be either because there was something really special here or their PR people were putting in some serious overtime. It’s probably due to both, but I’d say it was more of the former than the latter. In other words, “Yes Virginia” there really is great music out there!
One of the many happy surprises surrounding the music made by this musical duo is its instant accessibility. There are techno bits mixed in the album’s beautifully layered songs that overflow with such an urgent energy that true music lovers might be lining up in droves to get a stamp from Mali in their passports. Singing in French, but with gritty passion instead of the cabaret tones of the Champs-Élysées, the couple will easily win over any doubters with their mixture of duets and songs sung separately by Amadou and Maraim.
Covering a wide variety of musical terrain, the song M’Bifé Balafon is sultry with just a hint of cool breezes blowing in from some exotic shore. Pulling a complete 180, and just as successfully, “La Realite” is completely urban in feel and burns with a techno groove. The separation between a song like this and the disco groove that artists like Goldfrapp and even Madonna are kicking out is way less than six degrees. These two excel at mixing many musical genres including American blues and Cuban rhythms into a propulsive undeniably fresh concoction.
You don’t have to understand French or hold an advanced degree in African culture or musicology to be swept away by the sounds of Amadou & Mariam. In fact, all you need are two ears – hell, even one will do! |