Search - Youssou N'Dour :: Rokku Mi Rokka

Delving into the traditions of Senegal.

write2me | New York | 10/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"No African musician has touched the international imagination quite like Youssou N'Dour.

"Rokku Mi Rokka" shows us a pared-down SuperStar which spotlights the elements of the band sound (bassist Habib Faye, percussionist Mbaye Dieye Faye and guitarist Papa Oumar Ngom).

This new album is the follow-up to N'Dour's bravely experimental Egypt, three years ago, in which he praised Islam while mixing Senegalese influences with Egyptian orchestral backing.

Setting out to explore the sounds of Senegal's arid north, with scratchy traditional instruments and twanging bluesy guitar, he employs a stark and jarringly modern production.

So he has now embarked on what ought to be another intriguing concept: exploring styles from northern Senegal, Mauritania and Mali, backed by a pared-down band that includes the Malian n'goni genius Bassekou Kouyate Segu Blue.

The result is patchy and a little disappointing .

Many of the songs are constructed around simple riffs and lightweight, repetitive melodies that fail to do justice to N'Dour's glorious voice. There are some exceptions, such as the slinky "Dabbaxx" and the opening section of "Baay Faal" (before the plodding backing kicks in).

"Wake Up" (It's Africa Calling), a pop-rap attempt to rekindle the million-selling magic of "Seven Seconds" with Neneh Cherry, feels a desperate, and fails to have the impact of their hit from 13 years ago, while his soaring voice sounds oddly self-conscious.

There's a throwaway feel to the album, the sense that N'Dour didn't give it quite the time and attention it deserved.

The album's highlights : "Sportif", "Sama Gammu" and "Dabbaax".

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