Piers Faccini, Ballaké Sissoko - When the Word Was Song (2025) [Hi-Res]

Anglo-Italian singer-songwriter Piers Faccini and Malian Kora player Ballake Sissoko, who previously released the successful duo album Our Calling, are putting out a follow-up EP featuring new compositions. This release continues the theme of their deep musical bond and cross-cultural dialogue, which has developed over more than two decades of friendship, and is characterized by songs of profound emotional intensity. The EP includes tracks from the original Paris studio sessions, such as "Melancholy" featuring cellist Vincent Segal and "Harbour" featuring Badjé Tounkara on ngoni, as well as a rendition of Skip James's blues "Special Rider Blues," recorded at the BBC in London. The release concludes with a live version of the jointly written song "When The Word was Song."

Tracklist:
1-1 Ballaké Sissoko - Special Rider Blues [5:10]
1-2 Ballaké Sissoko - When the Word Was Song [4:14]
1-3 Ballaké Sissoko - Harbour [4:16]
1-4 Ballaké Sissoko - Melancholy [3:32]