Average Rating: 
Rating:  - great collanboration
This CD is the result of a great collaboration between two very talented but different musicians. Ry Cooder and Ali Farka Toure. Toure plays in a rhythmic blues influenced style that is evocative of John Lee Hooker and Lighnin Hopkins. The music here is contemporary yet distinctly African. Cooder and Toure are supported by a great group of session musicians here including jazz bassist John Patitucci and guitarist Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown. This recording is ideal for anyone interested in African music from a blues perspective.
Rating:  - Talking African Blues
Ry Cooder brings another great musician to light. Ali Farka Toure is a leading singer-guitarist from Niafunke, Mali and Ry Cooder has made quite a discovery in this artist. His music is quite good, and very bluesy, though it's a laid back blues. It has been said all along (I don't know by whom, but it has been said) that most of American Blues is just transformed African music, and I think this album clearly illustrates that. The resemblance between this music and just about any album by John Lee Hooker is quite amazing at times. The lyrics are somewhat repetitive in that African chanting style, but the music that weaves under and around the lyrics is phenomenal at times. Ry Cooder does a good job of extending some more traditional blues stylings into the great music that is led by Toure, just as he has with so many other international artists. My favorite track from this CD is "Gomni" this track is a very emotional song about hard work and the effects it has on the individual. The melody is trance like at times but changes around enough that it feels almost vivacious in its sound. There are quite a few other great songs on here like "Bonde", "Amandrai" and "Keito" but they all have to be listened to truly appreciate their beauty. The CD as a whole works very well and seems to present a unified face of music that winds around your heart and your ears, much like the Niger river that flows through Toure's homeland. My one complaint about this CD is that maybe Ry left this CD too much up to Toure, Cooder's great work is almost overpowered by the singer/guitarist wonderful sounds. I think that Cooder achieved a much better synthesis on the Buena Vista Social Club and on BVSC presents Ibrahim Ferrer, where he works with some Cuban musicians. I've also heard that his work on A Meeting by the River is really good, where he teams up with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and looks at classical Indian music. If you like this CD I would recommend any of the ones mentioned above as well as Kulanjan where the Blues artists Taj Mahal teams up with another Mali artist Toumani Diabate. I think Taj Mahal's work is actually superior to Cooder's mainly because he injects himself more into the CD. Nonetheless, I would recommend this CD to anyone who wants to hear where American Blues music really came from, or for anyone who is ready for something a little different. It's a great CD overall.
Rating: - Universal Sounds
A stunning collaboration hihglighting Ali Farka Toure's uncanny ability to evoke deep southern blues and Ry Cooder's equallly uncanny ability to blend traditional music with his own jazz and blues sensibilty (as well as that of guests such as bassist John Patatucci and Clarence Gatemouth Brown)in a respectful and successful way. This album will appeal to many people including fans of Ali Farka Toure and Ry Cooder as well as anyone who appreciates blues. This is contemplative music that can really set a mood; gentle and deeply funky all at the same time.
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