Tiger Run

Nyolo's eighth album in a solo career that began in 1996 with Tribu may just be her most cohesive and rewarding yet; the disparate facets of her musical personality have never come together in more satisfying equilibrium. Singing in her native Cameroonian language Eton, or in French or English, she glides easily and elegantly between the distinctive rhythms of her roots, bubbly Afro-pop with a Parisian twist and the kind of inventive hip-hop/pop fusions she once pursued with Zap Mama. She adds additional flavours to this rich mix, too, including an Indian vibe via sitar and tabla on ‘Me So Wa Yen’, jazz-soul lounge balladry on the title-track and swaying South African township jazz on ‘Medjok’. She even duets with the soprano Natahalie Leonoff on ‘Le Faiseur de Pluie Par Tous Les Temps’, the opera singer's voice soaring astonishingly over bubbling, 6/8 bikutsi rhythms and Nyolo's huskier tones. Best of all, perhaps, is the lovely ‘Eeeh’, which combines spiralling soukous guitars with an irresistible pop melody. At just 38 minutes, it is all over rather too soon, but it's better to leave your audience wanting more than outstay one's welcome.