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- Summary: The third solo release for Thrill Jockey by the Malian songwriter and guitarist was influenced by the armed conflict in his homeland.
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- Record Label: Thrill Jockey
- Genre(s): West African, African Traditions, Malian Music, African Folk
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Score distribution:
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Positive: 6 out of 6
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Mixed: 0 out of 6
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Negative: 0 out of 6
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Dec 9, 2013This stuff is engaging and accessible; it reminds us, lest we forget, that there is so much more going on in contemporary music than what is being performed on the main stages of Lollapalooza and Coachella.
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Dec 9, 2013Alafia is a serious album, and its musical complexity, its rich lyric structures, dynamic textures, and complex rhythmic palette serve to reflect on the bitter fruit of conflict, yet make it Touré's most compelling musical statement to date.
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Dec 9, 2013The intricate interweaving of guitar and ngoni juxtaposed with the bright, clear backing vocals makes for a sound that’s dynamic and assertive.
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Dec 9, 2013The n’goni and Cheick Diallo’s flute indicate that Touré is going for a more pan-Malian sound; whether that matters to you or not, they give Alafia a more varied sound that its predecessor without sacrificing the propulsive, calabash-driven feel of its predecessor of its immediate predecessor Koïma.
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MojoDec 9, 2013His most impressive album yet. [Dec 2013, p.86]
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UncutDec 9, 2013Sidi broadly draws on the same blues traditions Ali Farka Toure, but there are subtle differences here, too.[Jan 2014, p.78]