TOUMANI DIABATE . KYTE “50 RELEASED The Mande Variations . Kyte Janet Jackson coco 000 . Toumani Diabate is one of those great Malian musncians that cannot be knocked. The album Kaira was his first: a beautifully melodic 40-minute I ' ' ' . — kora solo. released in 1989. Since then he has been a collaborators dream. ' ' : : » " .: - ' . “ working with everyone from Ali Farka TOUre to Damon Albarn. Then. he ‘ 1 '~ -.:-‘ ; released Boulevard de L'Independence in 2005 with his Symmetric ‘ ' Orchestra - perhaps the most exhilarating, indiwdual album to ever emerge from Africa this decade. Every track was as exciting as the last - traditional Malian instruments were twisted and flecked with jazz, salsa and blues. ;.- . -; - Phew, it was that good. It still is. " v-- r ' The Mande Variations is his first solo album in almost 20 years. and it ' ' ' ‘ ' ' should supposedly be a progressmn from Kaira. but it isn‘t. It sounds much the same, which. to be honest. isn't such a bad thing. It is absolutely ' . . . pete and the beautiful — the solo sound of his choice of instrument. the resonant, 21- : " ’ : ' :' - :1 pirates_ stringed harp-like kora always is - and it's extremely accessible. ' . - Those craving his furious Afrobeat tendencies won‘t find much ' ' ' a ~. .. ;., I :. consolation here and there are times you can't help feeling a little wistful for ' the energy and flair of his Symmetric work at times. The Mande Variations " : ' ;-- .' . ', ‘ : ‘ ' ; " - .3 . pares Diabate back to the bare essentials. though, and offers a purer, more " ' »- ~ ' ' " g : ;' ~ ;- introspective side to the incredible musicnan's skills. (Florence Thompson) ‘ " ; ,~ .. PAT METHENY j " I', j ‘ : Day Trip ' ‘ " i " ' Sebastien Tellier .... Sheryl Crow CATRIONA i: .- MACDONALD .' '- Over the Moon g: w. i' ' .... :v L-nsm';"w JUDITH WEIR j‘ ' g I H - .. .. TheWelcomeArrival 'y‘ I' L l "_’ . 1' ‘ w :.if»-: ofRain . " ' "' " 1‘ ' “1- "“ ~ ‘; ... .... . .M.H lg... ,., .uw;izryf : .filz . ,Ih, I x ‘ .‘ ., 1, ‘ ' The Feeling "' "/ , 'l ‘ a; .1 ," .. ‘ W l ' l " ‘ ' ' TALKINGMAKES ’ NOSENSE ”~**' mm»..- The Winter Drones ' h -- . f*':' .:0000 ' ":” '“~ :~ w ' 'w;:'.': CHEER ,-.,;g_.l ,_-. ... , StaticTraps ~~ _ 3;. z. 1‘ g ,. 1:...1'1. :3.-;. 1.... ;H ,. . :__ i . I, I “Va/,3. . 'l";y" . ‘ ;:/' r u - - / i 1., x H
70 THE LIST '-