Television

Baaba Maal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 25, 2009)
• Original Release Date: August 25, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Palm Pictures
• ASIN: B00265SCO8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,104 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2009 album from the celebrated Senegalese master-musician. With its subtle blending of Electronic Dance elements and West African musical traditions, the record is a groundbreaking successor to 2001's Missing You. Television was produced jointly by Baaba Maal and Barry Reynolds, once the guitarist with the legendary Compass Point Studio Band, and mixed by Jerry Boys. The album was made in London and Dakar, the Senegalese capital. Baaba Maal worked on its eight songs with various musicians, but most specifically in a collaboration throughout the recording with singer Sabina Sciubba and keyboardist Didi Gutman, both members of New York's Brazilian Girls, who blend electronic dance music with a diversity of eclectic styles. Eight tracks. Palm.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's His Career ..., April 21, 2010

By 

Giordano Bruno (Wherever I am, I am.) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Television (Audio CD)

... and his success as a "world music" star speaks for itself, but I for one preferred the musical substance of Baaba Maal's much earlier CDs like 'Lam Toro' and 'Wango' from the 1990s. Then he was firmly engaged with the musical forms and traditions of Senegal, particularly of the Fulani, his own people, whose language he sings. This CD and most of his more recent performances are too generically African 'world beat' for my ears. So my three-star rating is totally personal, just my own taste.

Born in 1953, Baaba Maal has had an interesting life and is entitled to some success by going his own way. He came from a village family of fishermen, not from a griot clan of traditional musicians, but he's not precisely 'self-trained'. His musical education includes formal conservatory studies. He has a lifelong friend, the blind griot Mansour Seck, who has sung on most of his recordings and who still accompanies him on tours. Mansour does little more these days than back-up vocals, but his mere presence adds an aura of humanity and tradition to Baaba Maal's stage performances. These days, Baaba Maal has a decidedly "rock star" stage presence, a bit of Mick Jagger or Bruce Springsteen about him, one moment brimming with enthusiasm but the next frowning with what looks a lot like disdain. He's become a "crowd stirrer" as much as a singer, and likewise his music has become a little monochromatically 'stirring', even when he sings a song with 'softness' implied in the lyrics. Using predominantly 'western' melodic instruments -- electric guitars and electric keyboard -- he has in effect jettisoned the scales and microtones of traditional Muslim African music. Likewise he employs a standard trap set of drums, like a jazz combo would, to frame his songs, while other members of his combo provide fireworks, physical virtuosity on the 'talking drums' and other African percussion. His drummers are very skilled, very exciting, but only on a momentary level. There's not really much 'musical thought' behind their virtuosity, or in Baaba Maal's current compositions.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars African Contemporary, October 19, 2009

By 

J. Vanzyl (Santa Monica, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Television (Audio CD)

Having been raises in Africa, I reach back to roots and have a substantial collection of African music. I have to admit that while I enjoy live shows, I'm often not that into full albums and have many I seldom listen too. Not so with this effort from Baaba Maal .... its a wonderful blend of African and contemporary, with a perfect balance between Baaba & Sabina's voices. Tindo Quando is especially haunting. Be warned: You likely won't be able to stop listening!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baaba Maal - Un milagro!, November 8, 2009

By 

Constance J. Whitesell (Sarasota, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Television (MP3 Download)

I began listening to a podcast ([...]) of Baaba Maal on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic last week and had to get up out of bed to share it with my husband and son. His music is completely arresting, layered with interesting instrumentation and voices. I downloaded Television and haven't stopped listening to it since. Plan to add every other Baaba Maal album to my collection.