History

Whereas Salif Keita's recent album, Un Autre Blanc [reviewed in #146], only featured a lone foray into AutoTune vocals, the new one from this other regal West African singer leaps in with consistent usage, even though the results are relatively subtle compared to some. This is Youssou's move towards a mainstream pop album, although he presumably wasn't coerced into such a corner. Through the decades Youssou has certainly ventured closer to the mainstream, but many of his admirers probably still get most excited by his harder, faster percussion-and-guitar mbalax of the early years. We could forgive much else, but now he's messed with his own golden voice. The effects sometimes make Youssou sound like he's singing while chewing gum.

Despite the worthy backdrop of homages to departed friends and bandmates (bassist and musical director Habib Faye, master Nigerian percussionist Babatunde Olatunji), the final result is a bland songbook, even though reworking a trio of oldies.

The best songs are ‘Confession’ and ‘Macoumba’, particularly the latter, with its more involved criss-crossing production, plus some deep Senegalese scatting improvisations. I imagine the remix of Mohombi's ‘Hello’ will provide an unbearable experience for most Songlines readers.