M&G reviewers pick through the latest albums from, among others, N’Dambi, The XX and Ba Cissoko.
Ba Cissoko
Séno (Sheer Sound)
Guinean quartet Ba Cissoko introduced themselves in 2005 with their debut album Sebalon, a magnificent fusion album that was aptly described as “West Africa meets Jimi Hendrix”. The interlocking riffs of acoustic and electric kora, coupled with guitar, bass and drums, created an African psychedelic masterpiece. Their 2006 Electric Griot Land offered more of the same, even referencing Hendrix in its title. The band’s third album, Séno, offers a more delicate set of songs that brings reggae and Latin influences into the mix. Séno is less of a fight-for-your-right-to-party and more kick-back-and-put-your-feet-up kind of album. Badinia has some great wha-wha guitar, whereas Chauffeur Taxi is a gentle acoustic Caribbean-meets-West Africa-styled song. Bambo, with its fuzz-guitar is the closest the band gets to their older material, despite being sedated under an infectious reggae groove. The verdict: Séno is nowhere near as impressive as their first two albums, but you can’t fault the band for pushing in new directions, no matter how disappointed it leaves you. — Lloyd Gedye
Bonga Best of (Sheer Sound)