oumou sangare - moussoulou (World Circuit)

Oumou Sangare - Moussoulou (World Circuit)

It's funny how, when I first heard the music of Malian diva Oumou Sangare on her landmark release "Moussoulou" (World Circuit) in the early 90's, I found some of it a bit impenetrable and strident, yet now those same pieces seem perfect, the songstress' voice a honeyed instrument emanating sensual power and commanding nobility. There have been some remarkable female vocalists to come out of Mali since then, most notably the sweet-voiced Rokia Traore, so "Oumou" (World Circuit) , a double album compiled by Charles Gillett and Nick Gold collating 12 tracks from the first 3 CDs and 8 previously unavailable songs is a timely reminder of the singer's unique, unassailable stature.

Oumou ranges from Malian desert blues that throb with spiky ngoni and haunting violin, majestic call and response between vocals and female choir to modern flavours and some beautiful, ballad material, most notably a slightly truncated version of "Djorolen" from her last release 7 years ago "Worotan". Inexplicably the masterpiece "Moussoulou", the title-song of Oumou's debut CD in 1991 which placed her on the map throughout the whole of West Africa and cemented her reputation as a champion of women's rights, is not included. An essential release, especially for those who have none of the singer's work.