Search - Baaba Maal :: Lam Toro

Modern and traditional Senegalese styles

Pieter | Johannesburg | 09/26/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"On this great album sung mainly in the Fulani language, Baaba Maal performs both traditional Senegalese music and his own particular modern fusion of rock and reggae rhythms with traditional styles. The first track, Hamady Boiro, is a stunning song in English on which Maal introduces his country Senegal, its history and his type of music which is called Yella, over a hopping, skipping beat. This is a very catchy song and my favorite track on the album. Daande Lenol is a slow soulful ballad with soaring lead vocal, moody backing vocals and polyrhythmic percussion, whilst Lem Gi is a structurally complex number with stuttering beats, impressive percussive twists and wailing vocals. Ndelorel with its catchy melody and lilting rhythm has a more Jamaican dancehall orientation again and some gorgeous interaction between the lead and backing vocals whilst the song Yela also has some amazing call and response vocals over a slower atmospheric backing. Toro has a more traditional Senegalese feel in the griot style as found in the work of artists like Yousou N'Dour, with fascinating vocal improvisation. Danibe has the same griot vocal style and beautiful jangling string instruments. Hamady Bogle is a reprise of the catchy opening number. Lam Toro is a classic of African music, provides a great introduction to the various musical styles of Senegal and is surprisingly accessible to the Western ear."