Nomad Soul

Baaba Maal

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 14, 1998)
• Original Release Date: July 14, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Palm Pictures (Audio
• ASIN: B000009DYV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #164,742 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > World Music > Africa > Senegal & Gambia

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On Nomad Soul Baaba Maal has stayed true to his Fulani herdsman roots, singing as he travels and working with the best of those he meets along the way. On his seventh U.S. release, you will find collaborations with ambient pioneers Brian Eno and Jon Hassell, Celtic influences with Irish singers "The Screaming Orphans," and a duet with reggae star Luciano. Afro Celt Sound System mainstay Simon Emmerson produces, as do Groucho Smykle, Ron Aslan, and Mykael Riley. This CD is a successful blend of diverse musical influences united by the solid Senegalese sound of Baaba Maal. Maal and his band Daande Lenol are known for extraordinary live performances full of passionate playing and gravity-defying dancing but Maal also makes carefully refined studio recordings using top producers. The result is a polished album that does not lose Maal's vibrancy. --Jeff Grubb

The Los Angeles Times
[Nomad Soul] explores African/pop connections, in tracks that range from gentle, acoustic ballads and surging percussive dance numbers to duets with reggae star Luciano and Sinead O'Connor's back-up singers, the Screaming Orphans.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not his best, but groovy, November 25, 2001

By	Christo "montxsuz" (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews

Like his fellow Senegalese countryman Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal has become one of the most important African musicians in the world today. I have been a Baaba Maal fan for a long time now, and have followed his career over the years. The first album I bought was "Baayo", which was released in 1991. Then came "Firin' In Fouta" in 1994. "Nomad Soul" was first released in 1997. His long time companion, Mansour Seck, who has launched his own solo career in the last few years, seems less prominent on this CD.

Over the years Baaba Maal's music has become progressively more "mainstream", no doubt opening more markets to his music. "Nomad Soul" is no exception, though the tradisional sound is still strongly evident in tracks such as Mbolo, Cherie. Other songs, like Souka Nayo and Fanta have a much stronger pop influence, while tracks like Guelel and Yiriyaro have that strong traditional and dance blend which has become characteristic of Baaba Maal's music. The last track, Lam Lam, which is a religious song about what the future might hold, is my favourite on this album. It's interesting combination of sounds along with its devotional melody/voice line does it for me.

In a way I prefer Baaba Maal's older recordings. Don't get me wrong. I am not a purist when it comes to "ethnic" music. If music stays closed to outside influences, it may end up in a museum, after all. Music is there to be listened to. But "Baayo" is still my personal favourite Baaba Maal CD. I especially like the track Diahowo in which the tension is built up to a climatic and finally inspirational release. "Firin' In Fouta" was more dancy, and features a few tracks through which it is impossible to sit still.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A few really good tracks; Otherwise disappointing, September 5, 2004

By	Tom B "handydandy" (Westport, CT USA) - See all my reviews

Baaba Maal is one of Africa's, and the world's, most amazing and spellbinding talents. I own and have played his previous albums many times, and have captivated friends and guests with the surging rhythms and soaring vocals of his music. But I'm afraid that on this disc some record company execs got wind of his talent and said, "Let's make him commercial." How else to explain the syrupy sound of the opener, "I Will Follow You," or the poppy beats and production of "Africans Unite," "Fanta," and "Douwayra?" The good news is that five of the other tracks are pure, undiluted brilliance, Baaba Maal at his usual best. The closer, "Lam Lam," was produced by Brian Eno, and has lots of droning synths and horn-like sounds, meant I guess to sound like nomads in the desert. It's interesting, but at twelve minutes is way too long and in parts lacks energy. Buy it or not? Certainly get Baaba Maal records and enjoy his phenomenal work, but get his great earlier discs, like Missing You and Baayo, first. Then if you're hungry for more, like me, get this one too, and listen to it selectively.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Okay, May 4, 2000

By A Customer

Baaba Maal is arguably one of the greatest African vocalists ever to acheive international renown. Here on this collaborative album of bland pop and Celtic fusions. His distinct brilliance becomes submerged to lesser singers and you want to throw the CD against the wall in frustration. This does not mean the album is bad compared to lesser mortals this would be a great album and you still get the incredible Fulani melodies flowing through especially with his more successful reggae fusions. It is just that this album has allowed the other performers rather mediocre sound to dominate Baaba Maals on several songs. I would still recommend this CD because it has diversity but for Baaba Maal purists this will be a thorn in the side