Some unusual, eclectic stuff here, mostly very soulful and not the blithe, shallow high-life stuff that gets passed for "world music." There are only a couple of tracks that aren't really good. Check out "Kadia Blues" - sounds like a New Orleans funeral march.
..but no longer free! No problem, well worth downloading.
Way to go, Emusic.
My ear is still untutored when it comes to African music in general, but several of these pieces really grab me. Just beautiful. Oh, a few are perhaps too exotic for me, like "Bakari Jan"--but maybe even those will grow on me. If not, well, it's FREE, right? And I'm just delighted to have discovered this album in the free downloads. Thanks eMusic. :)
This comes from Anciennes Cordes, recorded in 1970, which is the first album of traditional Malian music ever to be made. Batourou Sékou Kouyate & N'Fa Diabate are two of the everlasting giants of the kora. This album as far as I know is out of print in the USA; get this stunning track while you have the opportunity.
Having downloaded several other Frochot Music samplers, I have to admit I was a little disappointed with this one. Perhaps it's just me but it didn't seem to have the same "wow factor" as, for example, the CONGO album. That's not to say that this is bad music by any means, but at least for me there weren't any tracks that really made me sit up and pay attention.
This is a great set. It's free -- just download it and stop reading this. P.S. "Whisky Soda" is priceless.
