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I attended a music business
conference recently and heard some statistics which confirmed
what I already knew intuitively, and
what you probably
already knew, too. They went something like this: almost 90
percent of CD sales are fueled by two percent of the releases.
Those releases, of course are by the boy bands (N'Sync,
Backstreet Boys), the hotties (Brittney Spears, Christine A.,
and maybe Mariah), and the rap flavor of the week. The rest of
it either sticks to the wall or falls through the cracks and
just about every level, whether it be promotion, distribution,
or airplay. The result is that a lot of really, really good
music falls through the cracks.
Mama Sissoko is an artist that you're
probably gonna pass up just on his (yeah, his) name alone,
thinking, yeah, I've already got a Paul Simon CD, and he does
that African shit, and it's cool, but one is enough, and there's
a new Dave Mathews Band CD coming out next week. This would be a
mistake. Sissoko, who handles vocals and lead guitar on SOLEIL
DE MINUIT, is not to be passed up.
Sissoko is from Mali, a nation in the
Northwest area of Africa. There is quite a music scene there,
and Sissoko is one of its mainstays, in no small
part due to the strength of AMOUR, his 1997
release. Even a cursory listen to SOLEIL DE MINUIT quickly
establishes why. The music, interestingly enough, is primarily
guitar, as opposed to percussive, driven. It's faintly
reminiscent of what Rusted Root does without the
pretentiousness.
While the rhythms are occasionally
hyperkinetic to western ears, there is an
element of soul to many of the tracks. I have
absolutely no idea what Sissoko is singing here --
the lyrics are reprinted in the CD booklet, but are in his
native language, while alas, I am still mastering English -- but
no matter.
Sissoko's voice, smooth with just a hint
of stubble at the edges, is an adaptable instrument, capable of
communicating by turns joy, wistfulness, and desire. His guitar
playing is fast and fluid, but he does not try to stuff three
notes in where one does just fine. Everything
feels like it belongs
where it is.
Do not pass this one up. It avoids falling
into the "boring, but good for you" category that a
lot of what passes for world music does. And if you can't
understand the lyrics, you will understand the music, no matter
where your musical tastes lie. Very highly recommended.
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| Artist |
Mama Sissoko |
| Title |
Soleil de Minuit |
| Label |
Tinder Records |
| Reviewer |
Joe Hartlaub |
| Rating |
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