Track Listing

1. M' Bifé
2. M' Bifé [Balafon]
3. Coulibaly
4. Réalité
5. Sénégal Fast Food
6. Artistiya
7. Fête au Village
8. Camions Sauvages
9. Beaux Dimanches
10. Paix
11. Djanfa
12. Taxi Bamako
13. Politic Amagni
14. Gnidjougouya
15. M' Bifé Blues

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #127600 in Music
• Released on: 2005-05-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Album Description
Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia, a blind married couple whose life story is as remarkable as its music, have long been stars in West Africa. They draw the musical traditions of their natice Mali and the neighboring Ivory Coast, while also embracing the Latin American salsa, Cuban son, reggae, American R&B, and English blues-rock that they discovered via long-distance broadcasts. Dimanche a Bamako, cut in both Paris and Bamako should instantly appeal to fans of Chao's easygoing, dance-oriented, multiethnic mix, as to admirers of Mailan stars Rokia Traore and Ali Farka Toure.

Amazon.com
Having issued a handful of excellent Afro-rock albums on small independent labels in the last few years, which have attracted attention within the world music community, Amadou and Miriam are poised to break out with Dimanche A Bamako, arguably the best album of a career that goes back 30 years. Produced by mischievous French/Spanish pop star Manu Chao (who even co-wrote and sings on a few tunes), the album fuses the couple's dynamic grooves with the producer's signature everything-and-the-kitchen sink backgrounds. This is truly a collaboration of like-minded individuals: Chao's own rabid multi-culti mix of styles enhances the blind couple's guitar-driven mix of blues-rock and African percussion, as well as Latin, dance and reggae grooves. Highlights include the impossibly catchy "Senegal Fast Food" and the percolating "Coulibaly," while the couple's political bent comes out on "Politic Amagni." Truly an album with a global perspective, there is something for everyone here, and rather than diluting the stew, it makes it all the more tasty. ­ --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

sample before you buy
There is much that could and should be said about this selection. But buyer beware I recommend sampling the CD before you buy. I will even sale you my used copy---cheap. Watch out for the review on this site and take their advise carefully. I have been doing a little experiment buying by recommended reviews on this site and in world music the results are less than stellar! In fact the overall selection is so limited for world music on this site I can honestly say you should google another site and buy there.

The New Sound of Malian Music
The Sahel, the hot, dry, dusty region of West Africa, has produced many great superstars of African music. Names like Baaba Maal, Dimi mint Abba, Yossou N'Dour, Salif Keita, the late Ali Farka Toure, Oumou Sangare and the Toureg rock band Tinariwen. Well, now you can add another name to that long, and growing, list - the blind husband-and-wife duo of Amadou and Mariam. And this is the CD to get if you want to hear them in all their glory!

Produced by none other than Manu Chao, this album showcases a very slick Afro-pop sound, geared as much towards the larger World Music crowd as their native Mali. But even with all the polishing, the real soul of the Sahel shines through on this phenomenally cool release. Songs like 'Taxi Bamako,' 'Coulibaly,' and 'M'bife' (which gets several versions, actually, including a 'blues' version) are all well and good. But what REALLY sells this album is the fantastic song 'Senegal Fast Food.' That song deserves far more airtime on American radio. Even without speaking French, this is an Afro-pop release for people who don't think they like African music. Or who have never heard African music, for that matter. After listening to this CD, I'm willing to bet you will get HOOKED on Amadou et Mariam.

Definitely one of the best 'World Music' releases of recent years, and well worth checking out. Especially if you've never heard Amadou and Mariam's OLDER material, which deserves far more recognition. Five stars all the way

Truly an International Production
Amadou and Mariam are a blind married couple from Mali. She sings, he plays guitar. This is a great album of world music that combines West African beats, reggae, soul, blues, and latin influence as well. It is produced by International Pop Star Manu Chao, who uses a lot of sound effects in his music. The songs are great, fantastic production and recording, and eminently danceable!