La Vérité

Fode Baro is from Guinea, of Fulani-Mande descent, but he is not from a griot family. His music is a fusion of popular West African styles and Afro-Caribbean zouk that’s popular in swanky sophisticated Paris nightclubs and in bars and clubs throughout Francophone Africa – Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, Gabon and the French Antilles.

Earlier releases that I’ve heard from Fode Baro have been somewhat overcomplicated in their production, with too many tricky synthesizer arrangements – examples of West African producers being guilty of trying to be too clever with available studio technology. La Vérité is certainly sophisticated in its production but it manages to remain restrained in its rhythmic structure. This results in a thoroughly satisfying collection of in-the-pocket dance tracks. The first couple of songs are pure modern zouk, others are laced with Congolese guitars and vocal harmonies. To Western listeners this may sound like one of those formulaic Paris-style productions, with too many gimmicky vocal effects and far too little authentic African roots flavour. But the truth is that is what much modern African music is all about, and this album is a particularly fine example.