Ooroo

Like an Israeli equivalent of Nitin Sawhney, the composer and multi-instrumentalist Sangit draws on global influences and a wide range of collaborators and guest vocalists to realise his musical vision. Ooroo means ‘gold’ in Bambara, one of half a dozen languages heard on his third album, alongside French, Portuguese, Hebrew, English and Spanish. With lyrics by the Tel Aviv-based writer Noa Golan, eight different female singers grace the album, starting with Mali’s Sadio Sidibé, whom Sangit discovered singing on Facebook and whose haunting voice is heard over swooning horns and keyboards on the bluesy opener ‘Tefi Cabara’. Djely Tapa, another Malian singer, now based in Canada, lends her throaty tones to ‘Mes Chante’ while Dobet Gnahoré on ‘Danser’ and the Congo-born Natalie Wamba on ‘Qu’est-ce Que Tu Fais?’ lend a more straighforward Afro pop vibe. Ladino singer Yasmin Levy is heard on the power ballad ‘Ahora Más Cerca’, Brazilian diva ‘Mariene de Castro’ sings ‘Até Acabar’ with the sort of seductiveness we associate with Bebel Gilberto and the Spanish singer Sheila Quero is sweetly affecting on the Iberian pop of ‘La Luna’. Overall it’s a little too MOR for this reviewer’s tastes, but the best moments are worth seeking out with judicious use of the shuffle button.