Tipped by the New York Times: ‘I have heard no more beautiful record this year… a righteous calm takes over the album like a spirit force.’

Highly rhythmic ensembles of percussion, flutes, whistles and trumpets from the mountainous north of the country; and brilliant pichanchalassi playing, five flat stones struck with two oval stones.

Two albums from the early 80s which made this king of Malian music known to the world. Here nicely packaged with notes, lyrics, photos. Highly recommended.

The Groupe Asko recorded in 1991, with Taj Mahal on two tracks.

Pure Malian blues for the heart and soul.

Hotly recommended, utterly ravishing Cubanismo by the great Amara Toure from Guinée Conakry. All ten releases, 1973 and 1980, starting with three sublime 7” singles recorded in Cameroon with the Black & White group, and ending with the LP recorded in Gabon, when AT was with the Orchestre Massako. 
‘Latin music, is it really foreign to us Africans? I don’t think so. Listen to the drums, to the rhythm. It all seems very close to us - it feels like it’s our own culture.’

Scorching live recordings from a knockabout Bamako club in 1995, with Lobi putting his new flanger through its paces. Easing in with the soulful, hypnotic Ni Tugula; Sigui is down to business.