Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:  
Summary: Very disappointed
Comment: Very disappointed with this album. Not a patch on their original offerings. There were a few riffs here and there that were recognisable as Amadou & Mariam but mostly swamped by western rhythms and noise. I doubt if I will listen to it again.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A wonderful fusion of international styles
Comment: I heard opening track 'Sabali' on the radio and was captivated by its gentle electronics, spiralling synth riff and charming African-French vocals. There's nothing else quite like it on the rest of the album, in what is actually quite a diverse set. Bluesy guitars take over on 'Ce n'est pas bon', disco beats and reggae keyboards on 'Djama', with hip-hop, motown funk and dance elsewhere. It's quite a party.
Various guest contribute. Toumani Diabate lends his kora to the beautiful 'Djuru', Somalian rapper K'naan appears on 'Africa' for an "east-west coast collaboration", and Damon Albarn, who they have worked with before. Very familiar with Malian music, he is largely responsible for the aforementioned 'Sabali'. At no point do the guests overshadow the real stars here however, Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia.
'Welcome to Mali' is a wonderful fusion of international styles from two highly talented musicians, a up-beat hybrid of blues, dance, and African rhythms that adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Apparently Amadou and Mariam are due to play at Barack Obama's inauguration, which is sure to catapult them beyond the narrow interests of 'world music' and bring them the wider attention they fully deserve.
Customer Rating:
Summary: What the papers say..
Comment: "The most exciting pop album of 2008"
`Top 50 Albums of 2008' #2 *****
Observer Music Monthly
"Stands with the output of anybody on Atlantic, Motown or Stax"
`The 50 Best Albums of 2008' #21
**** Mojo
`Album of the Week'*****
Metro
"Damon Albarn assists joyous assault on the Western pop market"
***** Uncut
"Triumphantly vindicates Albarn's recent declaration that, `you won't find anything more authentic, genuine or ecstatic this side
of Bamako." **** Q
"Their big breakthrough album." NME
'CD of the Week' Daily Telegraph
`Mali stars shine'**** The Independent
**** The Guardian
'Album of the Week' ****
Saturday Times
Customer Rating:
Summary: Right, I've had it!
Comment: Right, I've had it, I can't take anymore! I'm moving to Mali. This is great!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting fusion of styles
Comment: World music "purists" may be put off by the guest artists and the thoroughly electronic treatment these two fine musicians get, but as a fusion of styles, this surely cannot be beaten. From the Grandaddyesque opener to the English language "I follow you" there is something for everyone in here and a slot on Later with Jools Holland surely beckons
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