Product Description TITLE: Kongo Mangni .com While his Malian compatriot Ali Farka Touré's output is redolent of John Lee Hooker and blistering high noons on two continents, Boubacar Traoré's Khassonke-bred form of "African blues" evokes Robert Johnson and cautionary fables about avoiding crossroads at twilight. But although he deplores the bitter state of the world and is in perpetual mourning for personal losses, he is also guardedly optimistic about his new granddaughter's future, recommending dignity and self-sufficiency as building blocks for a useful, happy life. For this outing, the lone troubadour is joined by a sympathetic and respectful team of collaborators. The acoustic backup blooms with robust squeezebox and harmonica, plangent kameli nogoni (young person¹s harp), skittish balafon (xylophone) ripples and hissing, rattling percussion. Known familiarly as Kar Kar, Traoré began his career as a pop star and well comprehends the impact of a good hook -- his songs may be more conventionally melodic than those of his great countryman but their aching, shadow-haunted beauty is no less primal. His rough-hewn, discursive, keening voice, in dialogue with the chiming modal arpeggios of his guitar, expresses a voluptuous fatalism that sends chills racing up and down the spine. --Christina Roden
M**E
Mood lifting music
Actually I had never heard of Boubacar Traore untill I read a review of this cd in a Dutch magazine. I ordered a copy unheard (nice way to surprise oneself) and was not disappointed with what I heard.This is wonderful relaxed music with a warm African base but with definitely some jazzy and contemporary elements in it. Fabulous guitar play, wonderful voice!
B**R
Great African Music
Baba Karkar has created more musical magic with this CD. His use of African rhythms with some French sensibilities make for an interesting mix of modern yet ancient tunes.
"**"
Good music, though not the best from Kar Kar
While I love Boubacar Traore and enjoy listening to this album, it is not my favorite. That being said, don't let my criticisms deter you from listening to it. Kar Kar and his fellow musicians have succeeded in making a new kind of music with this album -- a kind of Kayes-based world folk. All the non-African musicians who play with Kar Kar do a great job of playing those distinctive Kar Kar melodies, and yet the effect is something quite different than when Kar Kar plays with other Malians, as on "Sa Golo" or "Macire." It is not bad, in fact it is quite good, but it is also not what a fan of Malian music might expect.It is not this new type of music that makes me feel this is not Kar Kar's best, however. That opinion derives from Kar Kar's singing, which I feel sounds hoarse and weak compared to the strong smoky vocals of his previous albums. His guitar is still quite excellent however. My favorite track is the instrumental duet of guitar and harmonica.
O**H
HYPNOTIC, SOULFUL AND TRANSCENDENT
From the master guitarist of Mali (believe it or not, he's been called in Brit folk magazines the Neil Young of Mali - ?????), here is a CD of deep and soulful music beautifully played. Traore puts me in mind of Mississippi Fred McDowell in the unaffected way he picks the guitar and in the deeply human pain that infuses his voice. The winds of the dessert blow through this man's voice. He has lived this music and it comes with all the mystic, griot power of truth handed down the ages. This, like many of his recent CDs, is so genuinely delivered that its subtlety easily washes over you. You will find yourself replaying this often to get every bit of news our each note. There is so much on offer.
M**R
Truly Wonderful!
When I first encountered Boubacar Traore, I heard him before I saw him. I thought to myself that I'd never heard two guitar players who were so perfectly in time with each other. Imagine my shock when I discovered that it was one man alone, playing the guitar so proficiently that he sounded like two. The music is a perfect blend of Delta blues guitar and Malian rhythms and melodies. On this album, he's accompanied by a number of talented musicians who support his incendiary guitar work beautifully. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!
D**A
Great Malian Blues
The Malian singer/composer/guitarist scores again with a release full of the passionate, Afro blues music for which he is justly famous. He's backed by a small combo which includes accordion, harmonica, balafon and traditional percussion. It's rich , honest, and oh so good. He knows pain, and it comes though in his music. This release should appeal to fans of all blues, not just those that like world music. The more I listen to this, the more I love it.
