Atlanti Kaw

Now based in Belgium, the Burkinabé guitarist Sina Kienou and European vocalist Soledad Kalza met at a festival in 2019 and became both life and musical partners. Following a self-released live album in 2022, this is their studio debut and it’s no simple task to pin down its intriguing fusion of styles. Kienou’s origins lie in Mande griot music and it’s a grounding that is evident in his virtuosic acoustic guitar playing, although somewhere along the line – presumably influenced by Kalza’s Mediterranean roots – he’s incorporated flamenco and gypsy jazz into the mix. The ten songs here are simple and stripped down as Kalza’s sonorous voice sings haunting, lyrical melodies mostly in French, although the title-track finds her singing in Spanish. On ‘Sira’ her poetic lyrics are spoken over an enchanting tune that hovers between Europe and Africa with lilting backing vocals in Dioula, while French chanson rules on ‘La Sambre’. Yet the duo are heard at their best on ‘Mamadou’ on which all their diverse influences flow together as one.