La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol 1

Awesome Tapes from Africa began its life as a record label with a reissue of Malian Wassoulou singer Nahawa Doumbia's third album back in 2011. Now with 30 releases under its belt, the label returns to Nahawa's catalogue to examine her earliest recordings. This album was Nahawa's debut in 1981, released as Mali's entry into the Africa-wide Discoveries 81 competition run by Radio France Internationale. Although she later became known for her combination of traditional instruments from southern Mali with heavy bass, electric guitars and synthesizers, this first album is beautifully stripped back.

Featuring only Nahawa backed by her husband N'Gou Bagayoko on acoustic guitar, this album has a real intimate vibe that lets both musicians' considerable skills shine through. All ears are, of course, on Nahawa, whose powerful young voice is more than capable of taking the breath away multiple times per song (just listen to the introduction of ‘Djankonia’), but N'Gou's guitar, in echoing the styles of both the kamalengoni (hunter's harp) and the ngoni, also provides an amazing example of Mali blues. The recording here isn't the best – it struggles with Nawaha's voice on the high notes – but there's no doubting the music it contains. This album is a fascinating look at a different side of the Wassoulou sound.