Customer Reviews

Firin' in Fouta

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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Buy pure chance I was introduced to this album,back in 1995(I think).I met up with a guy,Mark was his name,he had the greatest job in the world,ever.He was in Zimbabwe,looking into signing new artists for Island Records and as fate has it's ways he came and stayed with us at a backpackers lodge where I was working.
Heaven Lodge Chimanimani.No place on the earth I have ever been
can compare to the Chimanimani Mountains,living and working in such paradise was uncomprehendible,now that I look back at it all.

Along came Mark with a few cassettes of his favourite African
musicians,paradise became utopia!!Baaba Maal was introduced to
Chimanimani.Music like I had never heard,in a language I did not
understand it just blew me away,the depth,the sheer feeling of Baaba's soul poors out at you in uncontrollable bliss.Words will never describe what a brilliant musician/singer Baaba Maal is.
He could be singing me into hell and beyond,I would know no different and LOVE every second of it.Go Baaba I thank you,I also thank Mark without him I would never have been introduced
to the music that now carries me around the World.

Ilost the cassette Mark gave me,bought another in Johanessburg'that also went to someone else,bought it on CD and left it with a mate and will carry on buying and conveniently
leaving it where ever I can,Amazingly Awesome,what else can I say?
Thank You
All the best
Doof

Living in a southern US city, the musical tastes of my friends tend to the provincial (Shania Twain, Hank Williams I, II or III, and the sound of NASCAR engines roaring), so I have become somewhat a proselyte for the infectious music of west Africa, especially mbalax from Senegal and especially Baaba Maal. There is not a single person I have played this album, my all time favorite, for, who has not enjoyed it at the least or came back to me slack jawed and said something to the effect of "what is this, it's awesome." The drumming and rhythm will shake you to your roots.

This is one of my favorite CDs in any category. If you can stand still listening to this music, you are probably not alive. Baaba Maal mixes it up with a fantastic contemporary sound, electronics and all, and traditional Senegalese music. His singing is powerful and dynamic, and the instrumentation is wild yet captures the nuances of his voice; or is it his voice that captures the nuances of the music. You can decide that for yourself, but don't miss listening to it. If you like more traditional Senegalese music, perhaps earlier Baba Maal will be for you. I like it all, but Firn' in Fouta is fresh and exciting and flies beyond the confines of categorization.

Baaba Maal is by far the most exciting musician writing and performing in Senegal. His music, deeply rooted in the culture that he cherishes, translates powerfully across cultures. If you ever get a chance to see him perform - don't miss it!

I saw Baaba Maal in San Francisco at the Maritime Hall a couple weeks ago... Oh my god, they rocked so hard. They played for a couple hours, but I got the feeling that when they left the stage they left because the *crowd* was too tired to continue, not them. They seemed to get more energy all night long.

If you have a chance to see these guys live, DO NOT MISS IT. Also, SF Rhythm Collective that opened for them rocked. Good to see the guys up on da stage!

This African brothers voice is out of this world. I strongly recomend this CD & his other releases too.

It is clear from listening to Baaba Maal that he is what I would term a "musical sponge." That is, you can hear the influence of so many different types of music in his own. In this regard, Baaba Maal's music is everything "world-beat" music should be. Indeed, he is one of the few artists whereby after hearing him for the first time, I went and purchased all of his recordings within a week or two. I'm looking forward to seeing him perform in person.

Firin' In Fouta combines Maal's amazing talents as a tradtional musician with his turn towards Western pop. This album is amazing, each cut gets better and shows off Maal's amazing voice and the intensity he brings to his music. All his earlier albums and "Missing You"keep the traditional sound at least at the heart of the album, whereas "Nomad Soul" is too Westernized and poppy. I was happy to see him bring back some of the traditional stuff on "Missing You", but this one is still his best and is one of my all time favorites.

Firin in Fouta by Baaba Maal is more than interesting. It is intriguing.

It is Maal like I never heard him before. He seems to be lost in his own music; really enjoying himself and and his work with other muscians.

Unfortunately, my CD was scratched when it arrived. I still listen to it. Nothing is keeping me from Baaba Maal.

Firin is different for me. I have listened to others of his music. This is more infused with jazz.

This is a wonderful cd, and I have played it 24/7 since I received it.

Truely beautiful melodies from Baaba Maal. Not one bad track on the cd!

Takes you to Africa for sure.....