Kairo

Kairo is a very sonically diverse and soulful record from the young Senegalese maestro, aiming to bring together ancient and contemporary music practices. It kicks off atmospherically, with thick layers of strings providing an ambient and dramatic introduction to Maiga’s soft kora and vocals. The following tracks move away from this cinematic and classical style and pivot to an invigorating fusion of flamenco and traditional West African elements. Maiga’s composition and technical skills are really highlighted in the jazzier numbers, such as ‘Fonyo’, where intricate kora melodies interplay with syncopated percussion, each instrument pushing and pulling with the rhythm, creating a compelling energy, particularly evident on ‘Mbolo’. When the instrumentation allows room, Maiga’s talented kora playing and voice blend together beautifully, such as on the more stripped back ‘Kele’, a sombre sounding piece in which parallel violin and kora melodies craft a warm ambience to sink into.