Set Sela

In a part of the world where a music scene is starting to make itself heard, Senegal's Guiss Guiss Bou Bess throw an offering into the mix that's more on the experimental side but is still heaps of fun to dance to. Set Sela is their debut album, and it is an innovative ferocious and vibrant set, a mix of West African arrangements backed with a strong electronic undertone. Their live shows have been met with acclaim following their performances at WOMEX and Atlantic Music Expo in the last couple of years. And it translates well on record too, which is something that's rare to find.

The opening track, ‘Sunu Gal’, sets the tone for the album, blending deft electro beats with traditional West African music. It also has band member Mara Seck bellowing ‘as-salamu alaikum’ (‘peace be upon you’) within the first five seconds. There are too many highlights to list in a short review; the album is an absolute must-listen. ‘Waxtane’ is an impossible-to-resist dance number and ‘Jëm Ça Kanam’ is a call-and-response for all African nations to represent themselves. A brilliant record from a brilliant ensemble.