Customer Reviews

Sigui

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I suppose it's theoretically possible to overstate the quality of this album, but only by saying something like, "This album is better than God. And air." In contrast with his work leading the Malian institution the Super Rail Band, Mr. Tounkara plays acoustic guitar on this record, which from the first track's dizzying intro to the last chord of the last track serves many flavors, all delicious. I am privileged to have twice seen the Rail Band in concert, however I missed Mr. Tounkara's stop in Minneapolis last November. My stomach stirs in anguish at this thought. Buy this album, listen to it over and over, and proceed to buy me a thank-you gift.

I had a chance to listen to this many times at my local shop and I must say don't hesitate to purchase this cd it's good, very good actually. The guitar is clear, unstoppable once Djelimady puts his strong hands on it. The most appealing thing to me about this cd is the guitar, the lyrics(vocals)are great even though the man himself is not the leading vocalist. Some of the tracks have an AfroSpanish feel to it U could swear that Djelimady once had a Spanish guitar teacher. U can actually feel the variety within the songs each with its own sound though I must be honest on first listen I thought the songs sound the same but as I listened more, well I was hooked. I listened to B.Traore' & I must say Djelimady has an upper hand to him i.e Djelimady sounds better than Troare'(Apologies to Troare')Overall? this is a great cd it has a rooty feel, bluesy,AfroSpanish,but at the end of it all its an African Malian music at its best.

still waiting for another another solo from the man. his very good.

When I first heard this record, I was not overly impressed. At the time, I was expecting something more traditional and more raw sounding, and the polished and delicate acoustic sound of Sigui sounded too latin and not African enough for me. Over time, however, I have changed my views almost completely, and Tounkara's Sigui has become one of my favorite records of all time! A veteran of the Malian music scene and a former member of Super Rail Band. Tounkara's solo acoustic album is an amazing mix of re-africanized Cuban music and Western African traditions. The more I listen to Tounkara's amazing guitar playing, well arranged call and response vocals, and latin infused melodic elements, the more impressed I have become. Tounkara's guitar playing is simply amazing: jazzy, bluesy, spacey, and highly exquisite. At times, his guitar solos sound eerily like kora. I haven't heard anybody else plucking out such beautiful sounds out of an acoustic guitar before. What I perceived to be overly Cuban melodies, have slowly grown on me and revealed the Western African traditions and foundations Cuban music is built upon. I'm sick of name dropping my favorite African musician, Ali Farka Toure, every time I talk about any Malian records. But I must: Djilimady Tounkara did to Cuban music the same thing Farka Toure did to blues. There is a sense of space and time to the songs collected in this superb record, and that - to me - is poetry. Highly highly recommended!

Djelimady Tounkara has some supurb moments on this CD. Over all a great listen. Instant gratification, great longevity, mega-fun.