Skip to product information
1 of 1
Regular price £40.98
Regular price Sale price £40.98
Sale Sold out
Brand New From Reputable UK Company With 30 Years Experience In Retail, Please Note Not All Our New Items Are Shrink Wrapped.
All items shipped within 3 working days of payment.
Please note that all our DVDs are Region 2.


We take every step to ensure your vinyl purchase is delivered to you in the same pristine condition as when it leaves our packing area. We have selected very robust 12 inch mailers in order to protect your valuable vinyl throughout its journey to your doorstep. Even when handled incorrectly, your item should still arrive in tip-top condition.


'Dire', Idrissa Soumaoro new album, comes as a surprise to Malian and international audiences. Composer, singer, guitarist and master of the kamalen n'goni Idrissa Soumaoro presents here a beautiful collection of songs on his third album, Dire, named in honor of the town where he met his wife and where his first daughter, who is no longer with us, was born.

In 1971, after his studies at the INA in Bamako, Idrissa was transferred to Dire to teach music at the lPEG (Pedagogical Institute of General Education). He was 22 years old when he arrived in Dire. Idrissa has always been nostalgic for this beautiful place in the 333 Saints of Timbuktu region. As Idrissa sings in 'Dire taga' (Going to Dire), the track that opens the album, the city evokes deep emotions for the artist, as if it were a long-lost friend or lover. Celebrating the memory of the city of Dire leads the artist to retrace stories and lived situations that marked and animated him in years gone by: 'I really miss the people, the colleagues, the friends and that period. Despite the time that has flown by, I would ardently wish to see Dire again'. Today, at the difficult time Mali is experiencing, remembering the city of Dire in the 1970s also means for the artist not giving up hope for peace: 'The memory of Dire, a beautiful town in northern Mali, strengthens my hope for peace, union and real independence for the happiness of my people'; as he sings in 'Sababou', 'Without hope, there is no life. Together we will succeed'.

The ten highly original compositions of the album are strongly based upon traditional music of Mali, but Idrissa's life experiences, travels, education, collaborations and personal musical career have led him to compose and perform music with other influences. As Idrissa quotes: 'My inspiration generally comes from the donso n'goni, a Bambara instrument played by and for hunters throughout Mali. This is a pentatonic instrument, similar to the blues exported to the USA by black African slaves. I've also spent so much time playing a variety of music that my music also reflects rumba, salsa (as well as Bamanan blues and a few derivatives: jazz, country, soul, rhythm and blues) etc. I have looked for and hope to have found my own form of expression from these influences'.

Throughout the album, his strong, clear voice sings in French, Bambara and English. It rides seamlessly upon a complex rhythmic sea of distinctly West African stringed instrumentation and percussion with accents of flute and balafon. There are keyboards in a few songs, but these, happily, do not dominate the music as we hear so often in today's music. This album presents the music of a mature artist who has 'been there, done that' and returned to celebrate his country, his roots and his dreams in a flawlessly produced collection of songs of love, reassurance, fatherly advice and hope.

The album already has a long history: it was initiated in 2012 by Marc-Antoine 'Marko' Moreau, former producer and manager of Amadou and Mariam. Moreau had plans to produce the album and invited Idrissa Soumaoro to start recording in Manjul's studio in Bamako. When Moreau suddenly passed away, work on the album was still missing. The pandemic still added time for the production to continue. With the help of Climax Orchestra, arrangements and orchestrations were finalized in France. At the artist's behest, 'Dire' will finally be presented to the public by Mieruba, the independent label based in Segou, the home of the blues in Mali. 'Let's stand together so that Mali can flourish': from conception to production and distribution, this is the message that 'Dire' carries.

View full details
Description
Please Note Not All Our New Items Are Shrink Wrapped.All items shipped within 3 working days of payment.We take every step to ensure your vinyl purchase is delivered to you in the same pristine condition as when it leaves our packing area. We have selected very robust 12 inch mailers in order to protect your valuable vinyl throughout its journey to your doorstep. Even when handled incorrectly, your item should still arrive in tip-top condition.

'Dire', Idrissa Soumaoro new album, comes as a surprise to Malian and international audiences. Composer, singer, guitarist and master of the kamalen n'goni Idrissa Soumaoro presents here a beautiful collection of songs on his third album, Dire, named in honor of the town where he met his wife and where his first daughter, who is no longer with us, was born.

In 1971, after his studies at the INA in Bamako, Idrissa was transferred to Dire to teach music at the lPEG (Pedagogical Institute of General Education). He was 22 years old when he arrived in Dire. Idrissa has always been nostalgic for this beautiful place in the 333 Saints of Timbuktu region. As Idrissa sings in 'Dire taga' (Going to Dire), the track that opens the album, the city evokes deep emotions for the artist, as if it were a long-lost friend or lover. Celebrating the memory of the city of Dire leads the artist to retrace stories and lived situations that marked and animated him in years gone by: 'I really miss the people, the colleagues, the friends and that period. Despite the time that has flown by, I would ardently wish to see Dire again'. Today, at the difficult time Mali is experiencing, remembering the city of Dire in the 1970s also means for the artist not giving up hope for peace: 'The memory of Dire, a beautiful town in northern Mali, strengthens my hope for peace, union and real independence for the happiness of my people'; as he sings in 'Sababou', 'Without hope, there is no life. Together we will succeed'.

The ten highly original compositions of the album are strongly based upon traditional music of Mali, but Idrissa's life experiences, travels, education, collaborations and personal musical career have led him to compose and perform music with other influences. As Idrissa quotes: 'My inspiration generally comes from the donso n'goni, a Bambara instrument played by and for hunters throughout Mali. This is a pentatonic instrument, similar to the blues exported to the USA by black African slaves. I've also spent so much time playing a variety of music that my music also reflects rumba, salsa (as well as Bamanan blues and a few derivatives: jazz, country, soul, rhythm and blues) etc. I have looked for and hope to have found my own form of expression from these influences'.

Throughout the album, his strong, clear voice sings in French, Bambara and English. It rides seamlessly upon a complex rhythmic sea of distinctly West African stringed instrumentation and percussion with accents of flute and balafon. There are keyboards in a few songs, but these, happily, do not dominate the music as we hear so often in today's music. This album presents the music of a mature artist who has 'been there, done that' and returned to celebrate his country, his roots and his dreams in a flawlessly produced collection of songs of love, reassurance, fatherly advice and hope.

The album already has a long history: it was initiated in 2012 by Marc-Antoine 'Marko' Moreau, former producer and manager of Amadou and Mariam. Moreau had plans to produce the album and invited Idrissa Soumaoro to start recording in Manjul's studio in Bamako. When Moreau suddenly passed away, work on the album was still missing. The pandemic still added time for the production to continue. With the help of Climax Orchestra, arrangements and orchestrations were finalized in France. At the artist's behest, 'Dire' will finally be presented to the public by Mieruba, the independent label based in Segou, the home of the blues in Mali. 'Let's stand together so that Mali can flourish': from conception to production and distribution, this is the message that 'Dire' carries.

Track Listing

Dire taga

N'den tedi

Kalata

Don't worry

I djidja

Sally

Kassi

Sababou

Bi fourou

Yele

Details
  • Product Type: Vinyl
  • Barcode: 3760347748399
Delivery and Returns
Dispatch Information: Dispatch times vary by item and items are only dispatched on UK working days – not weekends or UK Bank Holidays. Items marked "Dispatched Same Day" will be dispatched on the day of purchase if bought before 2pm GMT. "Dispatched Same Day" items bought after 2pm GMT or on a non-working day will be dispatched on the next working day. We aim to dispatch all other items within 3-5 working days.

Delivery Information: We aim to deliver your order as quickly and efficiently as possible. All UK orders are dispatched using Royal Mail 48 Tracked service and the standard delivery times are 2-3 business days. Please note that delivery times for overseas orders will vary depending on your location and the shipping option you choose during checkout.

Shipping Costs: We offer free delivery on all UK orders and free worldwide delivery on orders over £15.

Tracking Your Order: All UK orders are tracked. Once your order is dispatched, you will receive a tracking number via email. You can use this tracking number to monitor the progress of your delivery on the Royal Mail Track and Trace website.

Returns and Exchanges: We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If for any reason you are not happy with your order, you may return it within 28 days of the item being dispatched for a refund or exchange. Please note the following guidelines:
- Items must be returned in their original condition and packaging – items that have been opened or had shrink wrap removed are not eligible for return or refund.
- Make sure to include your order number in the returned package.

How to Initiate a Return: To initiate a return or exchange, please contact our customer service team. The team is available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about the process.

Refund Processing: Refunds will be processed as soon as we receive your item back into our warehouse. Replacements are subject to availability and if a replacement is not available, a refund will be issued.

If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our customer service team or check out our FAQ’s. We're here to help ensure your shopping experience is enjoyable and hassle-free. Thank you for choosing Chalkys!