Oumou Sangare - Mogoya [VINYL]

The wait is finally over. The greatest living female voice in African music Oumou Sangare releases a new album Mogoya (meaning people today) on a new record label with an all-new production team and a wonderful new set of songs. p The power of Oumous voice and the potency of her message remain as strong as ever and while her sound is rooted deep in the continuity of Malian tradition Mogoya has a strong new sound. Co-produced by Andreas Unge in Stockholm and by the French production collective A.l.b.e.r.t. (who have worked with among others Air Tony Allen Charlotte Gainsbourg Beck Franz Ferdinand) in Paris it draws on a rich musical heritage whilst also looking to the future. P We wanted to emphasise the raw power of Oumous voice and songs. We wanted to find a new modernity says co-producer Ludovic Bruni one of the three members of A.l.b.e.r.t. with Vincent Taurelle and Vincent Taeger. p On the album traditional African instruments - the kamele ngoni (harp) karignan (metal scraper) and calabash percussion - are augmented by electric guitar bass keyboards and synths with Tony Allen on drums. As Oumou puts it This time round I wanted to go for more of a modern sound to satisfy young people in Mali but being careful all the while to respect my culture and tradition. p The songs describe what Oumou knows best human relationships. She addresses difficult topics with incredible frankness - jealousy ingratitude and betrayal never afraid to sing about the day-to-day problems faced by African society particularly women. p Oumou has a high international profile touring all over the world collaborating with artists such as Alicia Keys Tracy Chapman Bela Fleck and Dee Dee Bridgewater and featuring on the soundtrack of Toni Morrisons Beloved. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation and has three businesses in Mali a range of SUVs called Oum-Sang a hotel in Bamako and Oumou Sangare 769 Rice grown in her own fields. P She has released six albums on the World Circuit label Moussolou meaning women(1990) Ko Sira (1993) Worotan (1996) Oumou (2003) Seya (2009) and Kounadi (2012). P Music is at the absolute centre of Oumous life without it Im nothing and nothing can take it from me and Mogoya represents an exciting new chapter in her career something which she approaches with a mixture of boldness humility and confidence.It was new for me because my music has never had this kind of arrangement and sound before. Ive been totally in the tradition for years now so to get out of that and have a look around elsewhere was a total pleasure Oumou Sangare.