Next Friday (19 June) sees the digital release of ‘Acoustic’ (physical release 28 August), the final instalment in a trio of related ‘Mogoya’ projects from the Malian pioneer Oumou Sangaré, following 2018’s ‘Mogoya Remixed’, which captured Oumou’s tracks re-tooled by high profile fans including Sampha and Spoek Mathambo.
Sangaré recorded ‘Acoustic’ with the same small band that she first debuted her new unplugged live set with at a London EartH show to celebrate the 15th anniversary of her label, No Format. Featuring backing singers Emma Lamadji and Kandy Guira, the guitarist & musical director Guimba Kouyaté and kamele ngoni virtuoso Brahima ‘Benogo’ Diakité, the line-up here also includes Vincent Taurelle of Parisian outfit A.L.B.E.R.T., who co-produced the original ‘Mogoya’.
She recently released a live video to accompany the single ‘Djoukourou’ which is also our Song of the Day.
Speaking about the impetus for creating ‘Acoustic’, Nø Førmat founder Laurent Bizot recalls; “I suggested to Oumou that she record this album after a show in London to celebrate 15 years of Nø Førmat. At that concert, for the first time ever, she had agreed to try out this acoustic approach, which is all about letting go. The space it created for her voice was really wonderful.”
You can hear that for yourself on the video above and this release comes high up on our list of recommended new releases.
The album was recorded at the Midi Live studio in Villetaneuse in ‘live’ conditions, with no amplification, no retakes or overdubs, no headphones. ‘Acoustic’ features a band comprised of backing singers Emma Lamadji and Kandy Guira, the guitarist & musical director Guimba Kouyaté and kamele ngoni virtuoso Brahima ‘Benogo’ Diakité, alongside A.l.b.e.r.t.’s Vincent Taurelle, here providing toy organ and celesta.
Stream Djoukourou here: https://idol.lnk.to/Acoustic
Photo Credit: Benoit Peverelli