Amadou Diangne: Introducing Amadou Diagne (World Music Network)

 |   |  <1 min read

Amadou Diagne: Yaro
Amadou Diangne: Introducing Amadou Diagne (World Music Network)

Singer/songwriter Diagne from Senegal comes from impeccable pedigree. He was born into a griot family, started on drums at age four, played in the Senegalese National Band and his song Senegal won a Battle of the Bands on the World Music Network's website.

And there is no doubt Senegal is a moving piece with Diagne's quavering but strong vocal filled with emotion and is offset by gentle acoustic guitar.

However over the hour here -- despite the inclusion of cello, saxophone, djeme and shakers -- his voice mostly works the same narrow vein and that makes for rather less enticing listening than you would hope for given those credentials.

Because of that, this album is best and more enjoyably sampled in small, isolated doses during which songs like the lovely Kharit and Suma Dom emerge like intimate message and can be appreciated outside the context of the similarly framed, whispered songs.

Like the sound of this? Then check out this.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   World Music from Elsewhere articles index

Various: Marabi Africa 2 (Marabi)

Various: Marabi Africa 2 (Marabi)

The first compilation Marabi Africa won plaudits at Elsewhere because, if nothing else, Marabi was the label which brough the great Malouma to world attention -- and so this sequel commands... > Read more

Te Vaka: Havili (Spirit of Play/Triton)

Te Vaka: Havili (Spirit of Play/Triton)

Te Vaka have refined and defined a particular kind of pan-Pacific pop with its roots in tradition but driven by ringing folk-rock guitars as much as percussion, and on this melody-stacked album... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

THE BARGAIN BUY: Suzanne Vega; Suzanne Vega + Solitude Standing

THE BARGAIN BUY: Suzanne Vega; Suzanne Vega + Solitude Standing

Ever wonder what happened to Suzanne Vega who was big in the mid-to-late Eighties with hits like Marlene on the Wall, Tom's Diner and Luka? Well, she's still out there and still doing it . . .... > Read more

Moana and the Tribe: Rima (Black Pearl)

Moana and the Tribe: Rima (Black Pearl)

For my money the most powerful, enjoyable and important act on the mainstage at this year's Womad in Taranaki – and there were some over-acclaimed but perfunctory internationals –... > Read more