Play 90 second soundbite of 'Blimo' @ 'CD quality'
Seckou Keita SKQ is built around Senegalese songwriter/kora player/vocalist Seckou Keita. He is joined by the stunning musicianship of Gambian vocalist Binta Suso, Italian bass player Davide Mantovani, Egyptian violinist Samy Bishai and Gambian percussionist/kora player Surahata Susso - and what a coming together!! The sound here is pure, expressive and absolutely delightful. The counterplay between kora and violin has to be heard to be fully appreciated - suffice to say it's a marriage made in heaven, perfectly matched and beautifully performed! And, as you'd expect, there's plenty of percussive interplay and rhythmic eloquence on show here - get those hips movin' coz it's really hard to ignore! 'The Silimbo Passage' is Africa through and through and yet somehow SKQ manage to instil a very modernistic folk/rock twist without ever losing the true ethnic identity and/or the passion of Africa.
This is a stunning album if only to sample the magnificent sounds of the kora. I've been fascinated by this instrument since experiencing it first hand in Gambia a few years ago. Just how the hell they play this monstrously difficult instrument I'll never understand but it's fascinating to watch and just as rewarding to hear. And here, you can hear and feel its depth, expression and dynamic intricacies - elegant and harp-like it's simply divine!!
'The Silimbo Passage' is essentially a chilled piece of work - nothing seems hurried, nothing's harsh, nothing's even the slightest bit angular. The stunning vocalisation vies superbly with the crystal clear instrumentation to form a hypnotic kind of sound that's as pleasing as it is vibrant. 'The Silimbo Passage' is African music aimed at the world market and yet it remains African to its core - anyone can listen and understand this music, anyone should be able to enjoy the inherent beauty of what Seckou Keita SKQ are doing here.
'The Silimbo Passage' is seriously brilliant - a real piece of Africa in your own home - how cool is that?! The Seckou Keita SKQ demonstrate stunning musicianship here and 'The Silimbo Passage' is a quality work to admire and cherish - beautiful in every aspect and absolutely stunning from start to finish!
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