“Deli”, a song about friendship, is the first single from the forthcoming Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba album ‘Miri’, the fifth album by Malian ngoni maestro and the follow-up to the acclaimed ‘Ba Power’ (2015) which saw a more electric approach, complete with distortion and wah-wah pedal (as Mojo magazine says “in Kouyaté’s hands, the little lute, with its skin made from the head of a cow, becomes every bit as thuggish as a distorted Les Paul.”).
The sound on this new album is more rootsy and reconnects to the beginnings of Bassekou’s solo career and his celebrated debut album ‘Segu Blue’ (2007). They will kick off their UK tour in January at Celtic Connections and will also perform a double bill with Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita at Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan and Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff (dates below).
‘Miri’ (“dream” or “contemplation” in the Bamana language) sees Bassekou in a somber, contemplative mood, reflecting about life, love, friendship, family and his country in a time of crisis. Mali’s problems are plentiful: egoism in politics, Islamists, tensions between nomads and cultivators and climate change (including the Niger river drying up).
As always there is the intricate sound of Bassekou’s virtuoso ngoni playing – and, ever the innovator of the ngoni, one of the album’s stand out tracks, “Wele ni” sees him playing slide ngoni with a bottleneck.
Guests include Habib Koite, Afel Bocoum, Abdoulaye Diabate and Michael League (Snarky Puppy, Bokanté) amongst others.
The album ‘Miri’ will be released by Outhere Records on 25 January 2019 (LP/CD/DL/Stream).
UK Tour – January 2019
Friday, 25 January 2019 – Celtic Connections (with Sian) – Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow
Candleriggs, Glasgow G1 1NQ, (details)
Saturday, 26 January 2019 – Howard Assembly Room, Leeds (details)
Sunday, 27 January 2019 – Subterania, London (details)
Monday, 28 January 2019 – Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff (double bill with Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita) (details)
Tuesday, 29 January 2019 – Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan (double bill with Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita) (details)
Wednesday, 30 January 2019 – Philharmonic Hall (Music Room), Liverpool (details)
http://www.bassekoukouyate.com/