Dimanche a Bamako

There is much that could and should be said about this selection. But buyer beware I recommend sampling the CD before you buy. I will even sale you my used copy---cheap. Watch out for the review on this site and take their advise carefully. I have been doing a little experiment buying by recommended reviews on this site and in world music the results are less than stellar! In fact the overall selection is so limited for world music on this site I can honestly say you should google another site and buy there.

The Sahel, the hot, dry, dusty region of West Africa, has produced many great superstars of African music. Names like Baaba Maal, Dimi mint Abba, Yossou N'Dour, Salif Keita, the late Ali Farka Toure, Oumou Sangare and the Toureg rock band Tinariwen. Well, now you can add another name to that long, and growing, list - the blind husband-and-wife duo of Amadou and Mariam. And this is the CD to get if you want to hear them in all their glory!

Produced by none other than Manu Chao, this album showcases a very slick Afro-pop sound, geared as much towards the larger World Music crowd as their native Mali. But even with all the polishing, the real soul of the Sahel shines through on this phenomenally cool release. Songs like 'Taxi Bamako,' 'Coulibaly,' and 'M'bife' (which gets several versions, actually, including a 'blues' version) are all well and good. But what REALLY sells this album is the fantastic song 'Senegal Fast Food.' That song deserves far more airtime on American radio. Even without speaking French, this is an Afro-pop release for people who don't think they like African music. Or who have never heard African music, for that matter. After listening to this CD, I'm willing to bet you will get HOOKED on Amadou et Mariam.

Definitely one of the best 'World Music' releases of recent years, and well worth checking out. Especially if you've never heard Amadou and Mariam's OLDER material, which deserves far more recognition. Five stars all the way

Amadou and Mariam are a blind married couple from Mali. She sings, he plays guitar. This is a great album of world music that combines West African beats, reggae, soul, blues, and latin influence as well. It is produced by International Pop Star Manu Chao, who uses a lot of sound effects in his music. The songs are great, fantastic production and recording, and eminently danceable!

If there were any justice in music popularity, this disc would do for West African music right now what "Getz / Gilberto" did for Brazilian samba in the early 60s. It's that good. Amadou and Mariam fuse infectious rhythms with masterful tunecraft, humor and political commentary and reflections on the sweet sadness of life. There's nothing not to like...

The influence of Manu Chao has helped produce this incredible cd. The music and lyrics reflect a collage of traditional and contemporary elements that work really well together. Senegal Fast Food is one of the most haunting and beautiful pieces I've heard in a long time. I heard of this cd on an NPR piece and ordered it. I play it often and never get tired of it probably because of the French/African/Spanish elements and how well they play together.