World Circuit Vinilo y CD

Review: Oumou Sangare is an icon of Malian music, and African music overall. She first came to attention in the early 90s with songs descended from wassoulou traditional hunting songs. She's remained a creative and visible force ever since, and now she's back with her first album of new material since 2017's critically acclaimed Mogoya. Timbuktu fuses Sangare's Malian sound with elements of blues, folk and rock to create a timeless body of work which winds up all her own. You'll instantly be transported into her rich and rooted world of sound, where she uses her position as a hugely influential African musician to push for women's rights amongst other socially-conscious themes.

Review: Seventeen years after the death of Malian wallahidu music legend Ali Farke Toure, his label is treating us to a brand-new album - or, more accurately, a brand-new album of previously unheard songs culled from archives of recordings that, in some cases, have remained unissued for decades. 'Voyageur' is simply superb, with the included recordings sonically sparkling (the mixing and mastering is terrific) and deftly showcasing the inspiring vibrancy of the legendary artist's trademark style. That sonic hallmark- all infectious Malian rhythms, warming bass, fluttering flites, glistening guitars and his heady lead vocals - comes to the fore on a swathe of album highlights including opener 'Safari', the sun-baked, country-tinged genius of 'Cherie' and complimentary acoustic and electric versions of 'Sambadio'.