Search - Toumani Diabate, Ballake Sissoko :: New Ancient Strings

Enchanting plucked strings from the land of Timbuktu

Joanna Daneman | Middletown, DE USA | 05/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an album of music played on the kora, a "harp-lute" with 21 strings in two parallel rows. Toumani Diabate is the world's formost kora player, from Mali--a musically rich land in Africa. He plays here in a duo with Ballake Sissoko, a longtime friend and musical associate. There is nothing else on this album--just the two koras. The sound is utterly captivating.At first, you might feel that the songs are somewhat similar to each other. But the pleasant plucking sounds certainly had me listen again and again. I then noticed the jazzy sound of the first cut "Bi Lambam" This is a song that dates back to dancing girls and musicians in the court of the kingdom of Mali and it doesn't take much imagination to see cool, shaded stone courts and gently twirling dancers and their seated musician accompanists, entertaining a king and his courtiers. However, Diabate plays a contemporary style and this accounts for the hint of a modern jazz mood in some of the songs.My favorite cut, however, is the second one on the album "Salaman" which is a love song and is so mysterious and haunting. The minor key and rocking rhythm are hypnotic.This album was recorded live at the Palais de Congres in Bamako, Mali. The marble hall lends that "palace of ancient kings" sound and this is a live album, recorded in one take, which always lends a sense of intimacy and reality to any recording.This album is great for relaxation, party or dinner background music, yoga or for relaxing kids before bed. It is also just great to put on any old time and feel, perhaps, like a courtier in the exotic palaces of old Timbuktu. The album grows on you. I just love it."

A star on the world music scene

Joanna Daneman | Middletown, DE USA | 08/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"New Ancient Strings introduced me to the kora, a 21-string, traditional African harp-lute from the ancient land of Mali in Africa. It is a cross between a harp and a lute (and the lute, of course, is African in origin as well.) It has the softness of a lute, the tuneful note range of a harp and the gentle, plucked sound of both instruments. I really like it! It's exotic, yet not strange or hard to listen to.
Toumani Diabate is a reknown kora master, and this all-intrumental album is pleasing in every respect. The sound is foreign (to American ears) but immediately accessible. Because there is no singing, if you are new to world music, you will find this a charming introduction to a new land of music."

Beautiful music, superb performance

Jan Gudell | Chicago | 11/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to find fault with anything about this recording. The playing is brilliant, the sound quality is exceptional and the music is sublime. It's like Debussy transplanted to Africa and played on indigenous harps with healthy doses of inventive soloing. This is the most refreshing recording I've heard in a long time, regardless of musical genre."