★★★★☆
(Glitterbeat Records)
Bassekou Kouyaté, from Mali, has been one of the most impressive new arrivals on the African music scene in recent years. He’s not only a commanding presence and virtuoso player, but has brought a hitherto obscure musical instrument – the ngoni desert lute – firmly into the spotlight. Ba Power is his fourth album with his group Ngoni Ba and continues his progression to a more international sound, with heavier kit drums, distortion and wah-wah pedals. But despite some American guests and Robert Plant’s drummer Dave Smith, this album remains distinctly Malian in character. The fiercely intricate ngoni playing on the opening track Siran Fen burns with fire and vocalist Amy Sacko adds her touch of more feminine warmth.
