Vik Sohonie

The Original Sound Of Mali samples tracks from across the landlocked West African country. Has Psychedelic Rock vie with Afro-Cuban Rhumba. Tumbling drums and swirling Vox Continental. Ray Manzarek backing the Lizard King`s thing while Abel Lima E Les Sofas launch into a Cabo Verde killer. Fela-Like keys and brass punctuation. The Jazz of Satchmo`s muted horn. Guitars that move between acoustic strum, Link Wray twang, hypnotic snaking figures, and virtuoso Blues picking. Flute and violin in a duet that recalls Shadow`s D`Hardest. Balaphon Jams and Funk as tight as The Daktaris covering James Brown. Grooves as loose as the Lijadu Sisters. Vocals in carnival chant, or Salif Keita`s plaintive soar. Tempos that rise and fall as naturally as imagined tides.