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January 25 - Feb. 1, 2001

[Music Reviews]

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***1/2 Amadou et Mariam

TJE NI MOUSSO

(Circular Moves)

There ’s been plenty of good new music coming out of Mali over the past few years, but to some ears it may not kick quite hard enough. Amadou et Mariam, once billed as the “Blind Couple of Mali,” are just that, a blind husband-and-wife musical act: both sing, and he plays ripping electric guitar. They are Bambara, and that’s significant because Bambara music bears obvious resemblance to American blues. And after many record releases — including at least two on the international market — the couple are hip to the substance and the marketing value of that connection. On Tje Ni Mousso, they exploit it with a vengeance. The punch and swing of Chicago blues is evident on many tracks, including the boisterous opener, “Chantez-chantez.” “Dans ce monde troublé” brings in a powerful backing horn section; other tracks feature organ and violin flavoring. For the most part, though, this is no-nonsense, small-ensemble, electric African blues, more urban than Ali Farka Touré or Boubacar Traoré but still right up front with its Malian roots. And it’s one African pop album with more than enough rhythmic rock punch.

-- Banning Eyre


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