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Welcome to Mali

Amadou & Mariam  Main Performer

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Long Play Record [2LP/1CD]

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1 Sabali Doumbia/Moreau 3:15
2 Ce N’est Pas Bon Bagayoko/Moreau 3:49
3 Magossa Doumbia 3:43
4 Djama Bagayoko/Dembele 3:15
5 Djuru Doumbia 3:35
6 Je Te Kiffe Bagayoko/Rosoff 4:18
7 Masiteladi Bagayoko 3:56
8 Africa Bagayoko/Warsame 3:48
9 Compagnon De La Vie Bagayoko 3:46
10 Unisson Nous Doumbia 4:16
11 Bozos Bagayoko 3:46
12 I Follow You Bagayoko 4:02
13 Welcome To Mali Bagayoko 3:20
14 Batoma Doumbia 4:13
15 Sekebe Bagayoko/Doumbia 4:31
16 Compagnon De La Vie    
17 Unissons Nous    
18 Bozos    
19 I Follow You (Nia Na Fin)    
20 Welcome To Mali    
21 Batoma    
22 Sebeke    
23 Sabali    
24 Ce N'est Pas Bon    
25 Magossa    
26 Djama    
27 Djuru    
28 Je Te Kiffe    
29 Masiteladi    
30 Africa    
31 Compagnon De La Vie    
32 Unissons Nous    
33 Bozos    
34 I Follow You (Nia Na Fin)    
35 Welcome To Mali    
36 Batoma    
37 Sebeke    
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Welcome to Mali

Long Play Record [2LP/1CD]

Label: Nonesuch

Style: Worldbeat

Welcome to Mali

UPC: 075597982732

Release Date: 06/02/2009

Original Release Date: 06/02/2009

Number of Discs: 3

Tracks: [Sabali, Ce N’est Pas Bon, Magossa, Djama, Djuru, Je Te Kiffe, Masiteladi, Africa, Compagnon De La Vie, Unisson Nous, Bozos, I Follow You, Welcome To Mali, Batoma, Sekebe, Compagnon De La Vie, Unissons Nous, Bozos, I Follow You (Nia Na Fin), Welcome To Mali, Batoma, Sebeke, Sabali, Ce N'est Pas Bon, Magossa, Djama, Djuru, Je Te Kiffe, Masiteladi, Africa, Compagnon De La Vie, Unissons Nous, Bozos, I Follow You (Nia Na Fin), Welcome To Mali, Batoma, Sebeke]
Contributors:

Thom Jurek

Following the wildly successful Dimanche a Bamako in 2008, World Circuit decided to bring the blind Malian duo Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia to American shores. Welcome to Mali, issued here on Nonesuch, is their debut in the United Stares (we're always last, even the Canadians were in on the debut, and their hotshot rapper K'Naan appears on one cut). Blur's Damon Albarn was enlisted to help out here -- and he does as a co-writer and producer on the album's opening track and first single "Sabali." It's a killer track, with waves of Malian blues and incantatory singing, especially from the plaintive voice of Mariam, which contrasts well with the grainy, more guttural inflections of Amadou. Albarn also adds waves of gentle but pronounced electronica and some fine basswork, and pushes Amadou's raw guitar into the forefront. The rest of the set -- whose only real flaw is how long it is -- is filed with infectious Malian folk music threaded through with European pop influences. And does it ever work. The best cuts, such as "Compagnon de la Vie" with its funky Hammond B-3, "Ce N'Est Pas Bon" with its driving guitar and marimbas, and the traditional "Djuru" are simply infectious with their rhythmic invention and meld of voices. There is even a love song in English here, "I Follow You," that works despite the corny lyrics. The title track -- also in English -- is pure funky goodness with its killer meld of Malian folk forms, perfusion, and European-style street funk. Ultimately, Welcome to Mali is an auspicious and welcome introduction to Amadou & Mariam, whose music has universal appeal and breaks new ground for Afro-pop worldwide. [A two-LP/one-CD version was also released.] ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi