Track Listing

1. Ciew Mawele
2. Diama Don
3. Koroto
4. Numu
5. Kanou
6. Djigui
7. Kalan Nege
8. Dya Bana
9. Dya
10. N'Deri
11. Touba
12. Chauffeur
13. Furu
14. Joola 5

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #158702 in Music
• Released on: 2004-08-03
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Malian singer/songwriter Issa Bagayogo has proven himself to be a major new player in 21’st century African music. His first two Six Degrees releases, Sya and Timbuktu have both topped the European World music radio charts and have been tremendously influential templates for beautifully mixing traditional West African music with modern electronica. Issa’s music appeals to fans of dub and ambient groove without alienating the people who came to African music by way of Ali Farka Toure and Oumou Sangare.

On his new CD, Tassamakan ( which translates to "voice of fire"), Issa sends a message to his many imitators that he is still the master of striking that magical balance between roots authenticity and dance club hip. Bagayogo once again collaborates with his French producer/keyboardist, Yves Wernert who provides the cutting edge beats that compliment Issa’s kamele n’goni African lute) playing. The sessions also included the talents of West African guitar master, Mama Sissako who adds a unique Afro-blues flavor to the CD.

Amazon.com
People like to see artists improve upon past efforts, but count it as a victory that Issa Bagayogo was able to match the beauty of 2002's TIMBUKTU. Like its predecessor, Tassoumakan features a seamless fusion of traditional Malian griot roots music and 21st-century electronic programming. Longtime producer, musician and collaborator Yves Wernert has continued to shine as the sound architect, making the sonic marriage more natural sounding than ever. The band also features hot guitarists Mama Sissoko and Karamokou Diabate as well as flutist Djuro Diallo, who does excellent work throughout. Less flashy than many singers out there, Bagayogo is brooding and moody---it comes out in his evenly modulated vocals (in Bambara and French) and the somber melodic turns he sometimes takes. Yet there is a quiet tension to the slower work, and a yearning to his faster songs that makes the music compelling. Highlights include a talking blues entitled "Ciew Mawele," the hypnotic sing-songy "Dya," and the galloping, n’goni-driven "Chauffeur." --Tad Hendrickson

Folk Roots (UK)
Bagayogo may radically reshape West Africa's groove… Put simply, when Issa plays, only the dead stay still

Customer Reviews

The whole package has strong appeal.
Issa Bagayogo is unusual in that he's essentially a traditional West African n'goni player (similar to the kora) who uses modern studio tricks and electronics on his records. "So what?" you say?
 The difference is that Issa records in Mali, not London or Paris; so there's no European hipster D.J. remixing the sound until it's unrecognizable from the original product.

Fantastic!
This album never leaves my cd player; it's varied in tempo, has both more traditional sounds as well as the ultimately danceable Diama Don. Just a great mix. I first heard a cut off it played on Afropop Worldwide (NPR), and had to find it. I'm so glad I did. This album is more cutting edge than Timbuktu, but along similar styles, get both and see!

A Jam!!
This album rocks. You don't need to be a fan of African music to enjoy this. If my kids are grumpy, I play Kalan Nege and the whole family is singing and dancing within seconds. All of the tracks are great.