Neil Spencer 

Amadou & Mariam: Folila – review

Western guest stars serve to hinder rather than help the brilliant couple from Mali, writes Neil Spencer
  
  


The husband-and-wife team have blazed a charmed trail out of Mali to conquer the world, but Folila, packed with western friends, mixes the inspired and mundane. A blazing opener, "Dougou Badia", has Amadou's sinewy guitar trading licks with Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and New York's TV on the Radio bring slinky atmospherics to "Wily Kataso". Other contributions – Scissor Sister Jake Shears's disco touch, Amp Fiddler's retro soul – are marginal. The pared-back, guest-free "Sans Toi" and "Chérie" shine enchantingly by comparison.

 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

*