Talking Timbuktu

Ry Cooder is always great and this had flashes of what I’ve liked so much about other World music we’ve heard in this list, but Thais didn’t grab me like the others. Still pretty good, though.

Not understanding any of the lyrics really limited my enjoyment of this album. Instrumentals were pretty good. Favorite song was Bonde.

This is beautiful music

Relaxing Aftican music. Easy to listen to when you need to concentrate in task at hand

So it's been over 2 years since I listened to this - but I can finally edit my reviews and knew there was one that I rated and it immediately saved it with no written critique.

So here goes. . .

This could have been so much better, but then Ry Cooder got involved. African Music for White Folks.

Gorgeous interlocking lead lines from the guitars, kora and vocals, a relaxed mostly acoustic palette, and trance inducing drone/rhythm parts made of layers and layers repeating melodic figures and hand drums. There's a totally distinctive approach to guitar playing here that I wonder maybe has something to do with a applying a kora-informed sensibility combining rhythm and lead playing and featuring short expressive runs?

Ry Cooder is great but next to Toure it's a hat on a hat. These guys are amazing.

Very world blues vibes.

Qué bien suena esto! Cuántas cosas interesantes se hicieron en los 90! Fue degenerando de más a menos pero no está mal.

I prefer Ali Farka Toure on his own.