Afel Bocoum - Niger (2006)

Best known in Britain for the key role that he played in Damon Albarn's Mali Music project, Afel Bocoum is a quiet, easy-going guitarist and singer who is heir to one of the great African musical traditions. He comes from Niafunke, in northern Mali, on the banks of the river from which this album takes its title, and here he was a protégé and accompanist for the great Ali Farka Toure, who died earlier this year. Bocoum and his impressive band don't set out to imitate Toure, but comparisons are inevitable, especially when the opening track is a plaintive tribute to Africa's greatest guitarist, as Bocoum laments, "My life's best friend is gone."

His own style is more gentle and acoustic, with his drifting desert blues guitar work and harsh-edged guitar work matched against the squeaky but stirring sound of the njarka desert fiddle. But there are sections where he switches to electric guitar for rolling, stately improvisations that echo the work of his teacher and patron.

Tracklisting:
01. Afel Bocoum - Ali Farka (3:52)
02. Afel Bocoum - Bambarare (3:55)
03. Afel Bocoum - Barke Dawi (4:05)
04. Afel Bocoum - Denke Denke (3:26)
05. Afel Bocoum - Inkey (4:42)
06. Afel Bocoum - Mali Chinda (6:29)
07. Afel Bocoum - Manni (3:37)
08. Afel Bocoum - Njordu (6:18)
09. Afel Bocoum - Niger (4:48)
10. Afel Bocoum - Politique (0:10)
11. Afel Bocoum - Tandina (4:31)
12. Afel Bocoum - Uma Eya (3:24)