THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE MUSIC OF "West Africa"

[01].THE ROUGH GUIDE TO WEST AFRICAN GOLD

While there's plenty of great African music being made today, a lot of people forget (or don't know) that there are also many classic vintage sides. Covering several West African countries, from Mali to Ghana, Rough Guide to West African Gold is a veritable feast of beat and melody. Some of the names, like Rail Band DeBamako (better known as the Super Rail Band), with the glowing voice of Salif Keita on vocals, or Orchestra Baobab, the Senegalese group who added Latin music to their native style to great effect. Equally joyful is the elastic sound of Bembeya Jazz National, where the guitar work sparkles, or E.T. Mensah, who for many years was the king of high life music in his native Ghana. With a wealth of material to choose from, it's no surprise that there's not a dull track on the compilation, whether it's Eric Agyeman's jazzy guitar work on "Abenaa Na Aden?" or Dexter Johnson & the International Band taking on the Latin classic "Manicero." At times it might sound raw, but that's part of the pleasure. There's never a sense of anything being slick or over-produced. Instead, passion is the motivating force here, everyone playing as if their lives depend on it. These tracks, recorded between the '50s and '80s, capture the sense of independence and possibility that pervaded the region at the time, The sound of a Golden Age indeed. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
| MP3 160 kbps | Incl.Covers | 85 MB |

TRACK LISTINGS

[01]. Ghana-Guinee-Mali - E.T. Mensah
[02]. Let Them Talk - Pino
[03]. Whiskey Soda - Bembeya Jazz
[04]. Manicero - Laba Sosseh
[05]. Ife Si Na Chi - Celestine Ukwu
[06]. Moi Je Suis Décourage - Balla Et Ses Balladins
[07]. Geej - No. 1 De Dakar
[08]. Were Were - Horoya Band
[09]. The Lord's Prayer - Super Sweet Talks International
[10]. Ekassa No. 34/Igiodo-Giodo - Uwaifo
[11]. Abenaa Na Aden? - Eric Agyeman
[12]. Mali Cèbalenw - Salif Keita
[13]. Boulmamine - Orchestre Baobab

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[02].THE ROUGH GUIDE TO MANU DIBANGO

A nice compilation of the ultra-varied career of Manu Dibango. The disc jumps from era to era comfortably, but hits upon almost every phase Dibango passed through (with the surprising exception of the original "Soul Makossa"). The album starts out in his early years with a sax-saturated ska in "Ngolowake," moving to the solo marimba work, a smooth jazz-esque version of "Nature Boy," and an orchestral work from his early days. Also included are pieces from the makossa days, contemporary R&B, urban grooves and more. The album ends with a contemporary remix of "Soul Makossa" and "Big Blow," with Bill Laswell and Herbie Hancock taking the sideman roles. Dibango has an über-impressive resume, and this is one of the better collections to introduce listeners to the variety present. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide| MP3 160 kbps | Incl.Covers | 80 MB |

TRACK LISTINGS

[01]. Ngolowake
[02]. Miango Ma Tumba
[03]. Miss Cavacha
[04]. Nature Boy
[05]. Mi Niya
[06]. Oa Na Mba
[07]. Mouna Pola
[08]. Baobab Sunset
[09]. Super Kumba
[10]. Bayam Sellam
[11]. Camp Yabassi Echoes
[12]. Negropolitaines
[13]. Makossa Blow

HERE

[03].THE ROUGH GUIDE TO YOUSSOU N'DOUR & ETOILE DE DAKAR

It's widely accepted wisdom that the early, rawer material of Youssou N'Dour had an edge he's never been able to recapture since becoming a major international star. Certainly his more recent studio recordings lack the urgency and energy of the material here, which was recorded in the early '80s when he was the frontman of Etoile de Dakar, before personnel splits left him heading up the new Super Etoile de Dakar and starting to make his first global inroads. The Cuban influence that had pervaded Senegalese music was still apparent at the beginning of N'Dour's career, and it can be heard in tracks like "Absa Gueye" and "Jalo," while the epic "Thiapathioly," a big West African hit, shows the start of the transition to a more individual sound, the juddering, polyrhythmic mbalax, with its sabar drums cutting across the beat. By the time the last couple of tracks from the new band appear, the group had turned into a powerful, unstoppable outfit with N'Dour's trademark high, keening griot voice the central instrument, since he was no longer sharing the spotlight with the two other vocalists, who'd left to form Etoile 2000. As an insight into N'Dour's relatively early development -- he was in his early twenties during this period -- this shows him gaining in confidence and ability, both as a singer and a writer, slowly nailing down the percussive mbalax style that would bring him fame and developing his charisma in front of a band. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
| MP3 192 kbps | Front Cover | 100 MB |
TRACK LISTINGS

[01]. Absa Gueye
[02]. Jalo
[03]. Thiapathioly
[04]. Diokhama Say Ne Ne
[05]. Lay Suma Lay
[06]. Walo
[07]. Yalaye Dogal
[08]. Youssou
[09]. Alboury
[10]. Independence
[11]. Wadiour

HERE

[04].THE ROUGH GUIDE TO HIGHLIFE

In Ghana and Nigeria, highlife was one of the main popular musics of the 20th century, made for dancing. While this collection doesn't reach back to the very early days of highlife, it does cover a fair number of classic artists, including the great E.T. Mensah, acknowledged as the King of Highlife. Joe Mensah (no relation), offers a jazzier take on highlife with the lengthy "Bosoe." While essentially guitar music, saxophone is often featured, as in Celestine Ukwu's "Igede." The incessant groove swirls all through these tracks, about the only common denominator between the pieces and the times. Unfortunately, no dates are given for the tracks, with the exception of George Darko's "Hilife Time" from the '80s, where the rigid drum machine and keyboard work against the flow of the music rather than with it; this needs a human touch to make it real. More than half the tracks here are unavailable on either vinyl or CD, making this a treasure trove for anyone remotely interested in the percolating music. And the excellent sleeve notes give a short history of the style. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide | MP3 VBR kbps | Incl.Covers | 110 MB |

TRACK LISTINGS

[01]. Igede - Celestine Ukwu
[02]. Ka Anyi Jikota
[03]. Ekombi - Ramblers Dance Band
[04]. Bosoe - Joe Mensah
[05]. Guitar Boy - Victor Uwaifo and His Titibitis
[06]. Bone Biara So Wo Akatua - African Brothers, Nana Kwame Ampadu
[07]. Asare - Alex Konadu
[08]. Esonta
[09]. Medzi Medzi
[10]. Omo Pupa - Victor Abimbola Olaiya
[11]. Ohia Asoma Wo - King Onyina
[12]. Bere Bote - Rex Lawson
[13]. Agyeman Baidoo
[14]. Binu Binu - Orlando Julius
[15]. Hilife Time - George Darko

Part One
Part Two

[05].THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE MUSIC OF NIGERIA & GHANA

It might be more apt to call this a guide to some of the musical styles of Nigeria and Ghana. While both highlife and juju are well represented, with the less conspicuous, very percussive Fuji genre evident in the track by Adewale Ayuba, something's missing -- Afro-beat. One can only assume the label couldn't license any tracks by Fela Kuti or his son, Femi; instead, the closest they've come is a cut by Fela's former drummer, Tony Allen. It's fabulous stuff, very cutting edge in its approach -- but it's not Afro-beat, which is arguably the most successful music to come out of the area. That said, the rest of the album is great, tracing juju from its pioneer, I.K. Dairo, to the man who brought it to the international stage, King Sunny Ade (and having an early-'80s cut, rather than something more familiar, proves to be an inspired idea, as you can see the succession from Dairo). And the highlife content from Ghana, often difficult to find in the West, is exemplary. The "King of Highlife," E.T. Mensah, offers "Day By Day," a classic cut, followed by the wonderful guitar player Eric Agyeman, who brought a Congolese rhythmic feel to the music, and then Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, whose Nigerian take on this Ghanaian music is much more percussive. So, in what it does cover, this compilation does a generally excellent job, although you have to wonder why modern artists like Lagbaja weren't included. And if you understand from the beginning that this is far from being a complete exercise, you won't be disappointed. But if you want the whole story, well, this just isn't it. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide
| MP3 VBR kbps | Incl. Covers | 105 MB |

TRACK LISTINGS

[01]. Okin Omo Ni (The King Of The Children) - I.K. Dairo
[02]. Maa Jo - King Sunny Ade & His Afican Beats
[03]. Funky Hi-Life - C.K. Mann
[04]. Asiko - Tony Allen
[05]. Neribalankina - Captain Yaba
[06]. Fuji Shuffle - Adewale Ayuba
[07]. Bra Ohoho - E.K. Nyame
[08]. Joromi/Monkey Yanga - Sir Victor Uwaifo
[09]. Day By Day - E.T. Mensah
[10]. Matutu Mirika - Eric Agyeman
[11]. Oyolima - Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
[12]. Fakye Me - Sweet Talks
[13]. Baawo - Amanzeba Nat Brew

Part One
Part Two

[06].THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE MUSIC OF CAPE VERDE

This CD collects works from the tiny islands off Senegal and, as is usually the case with Rough Guide albums, the spectrum is decently covered by a huge number of artists from the best known to the essentially obscure. The four basic forms of Cape Verdean music are covered here: the haunting vocals of morna, the percussive batuque, the accordion-based funana, and the fast-paced coladeira dances. The two greatest morna singers are present in Maria Alice (performing her signature, "Falso Testemunho") and Césaria Evora. Coladeiras are well represented by both Simentera and Nilsa Silva's ensemble. The music is generally relaxed, with even the most up-tempo works having a soft tone to them; a case in point is dance musician Tito Paris and "Dança Ma Mi Criola," a light but peppy number that still maintains a feeling of calm. The instrumental work is basically always worth hearing on this album, as numerous virtuosos and multi-instrumentalists are represented throughout. For an overall look at the major genres and styles of Cape Verdean music, this is a wonderful way to go, avoiding the usual pigeonholing of Cape Verde as a solely morna-based land of music. Pick it up as a great overview. ~ Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
| MP3 128 kbps | Incl. Covers | 75 MB |

TRACK LISTINGS

[01]. Dor Di Amor - Simentara
[02]. Falso Testemunho - Maria Alice
[03]. Danca Ma Mi Criola - Tito Paris
[04]. Papa Joachin Paris - Cesaria Evora
[05]. Toy - Bau Listen Listen
[06]. Africa Um Dia - Bana
[07]. Nha Fidjo - Agusto Cego
[08]. Cornologia - Grupo De Nilsa Silva
[09]. Grito Magoado - Djurumani
[10]. Chapeu Di Palha - Vasco Martins/Voginha
[11]. Filosofia - Herminia
[12]. Rabecadai - Finacon
[13]. Fundo Baxo - Grupo Ferro Gaita
[14]. CPLP - Grupo De Batuque Da Cidade Velha
[15]. Cor Di Rosa - Mendes Brothers
[16]. Sarapilhera - Travadinha
[17]. Dor Di Nh' Alma - Ildo Lobo

HERE

[07].THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE MUSIC OF SENEGAL & GAMBIA

Like most of the Rough Guide series, this CD takes a well-rounded, all-encompassing look at the music of a particular region, but The Rough Guide to the Music of Senegal & Gambia stands out due in large part to the rich musical traditions of the region it covers. Even casual world music fans are familiar with the buoyant sounds of Senegalese singing sensations like Youssou N'Dour and Baaba Maal, while others like Cheikh Lo and Mansour Deck have achieved only slightly lesser international recognition. All those stars, and a few future ones, are covered on this 13-song compilation, which proves why the music of Senegal and Gambia has emerged as a worldwide favorite. ~ Bret Love, All Music Guide
| MP3 320 kbps | Front Cover | 115 MB

TRACK LISTINGS

[01]. Jeuness Senegal - Cheikh Lô
[02]. Nguisstal - Assane Ndiaye
[03]. Loodo - Baaba Maal, Mansour Seck
[04]. Mouhamadou Bamba - Orchestra Baobab
[05]. Bitillo - Tata Dinding Jobarteh
[06]. Salimata - Ifang Bondi
[07]. Letter - Youssou N'Dour
[08]. Wango Arti - Baaba Maal
[09]. Kairaba Jabi - Dembo Konte, Kausu Kuyateh
[10]. Diamano Bifoula/Ha Ma Ti Wouna - Malang Mane
[11]. Taar Doucey - Ismaël Lô
[12]. Aminatta - Mass Lowe
[13]. Yelayo - Mansour Seck

Part One
Part Two

[08].THE ROUGH GUIDE TO WEST AFRICAN MUSIC

How do you try to capture the music of such a large, rich area as West Africa on one disc? The answer, of course, is that you can't, although this compilation does glide over some of the high spots -- but only some. So there are classic performances by Mali's Super Rail Band and Ali Farka Toure, plus Orchestra Baobob, revealing the influence Cuban music had on the nascent homegrown scenes in both Senegal and Mali. Altogether, it offers some semblance of a picture, fleshed out by the thrilling kora work of Toumani Diabate on "Djelika" and the south Mali wassoulou vocals of the excellent Oumou Sangare, who brings a rougher dimension to the proceedings. There's no Youssou N'Dour or Baaba Maal to show their stuff as Senegal's brightest stars (West Africa's biggest names, in fact), but Maal's sidekick, griot Mansour Seck, is represented. Perhaps one of the oddest choices is the inclusion of Dimi Mint Abba from Mauritania. Granted, she's the country's most famous singer, but there are others artists of greater stature from the region not included. E.T. Mensah is an astute pick for Ghanaian highlife, and Kante Manfila is probably a fair nominee for mande music. The real problem with this album isn't the music, which is glorious throughout, but the fact that it suffers from the size of its ambition and the inability to full realize it. Within a small range -- Ghana, Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania -- it does a partial job, but to call it a summing up of West African music is neither fair to the geographic area nor the listener. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide

TRACK LISTINGS

[01]. Super Rail Band - Foliba (Mali)
[02]. Toumani Diabate - Djelika (Mali)
[03]. Ali Farka Touré - Roucky (Mali)
[04]. Moussa Poussy - Toro (Niger)
[05]. Sona Diabate - M'Bore (Guinea)
[06]. Oumou Sangare - Djama Kaissoumou (Mali)
[07]. Bajourou - I Ka Di Nye (Mali)
[08]. E.T. Mensah - 205 (Ghana)
[09]. Orchestra Baobab - Utru Horas (Senegal)
[10]. Mansour Seck - Almamy Bocoum (Senegal)
[11]. Khalifa Ould Eide & Dimi Mint Abba - Mauritania My Beloved Country (Mauretanien)
[12]. Kante Manfila - Agne Anko (Guinea)

FLAC tracks (EAC Rip): 400 MB | MP3 - 320 kbs: 160 MB | Covers

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[09].THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE MUSIC OF MALI

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