Voyageur

A new album of nine unheard studio cuts from the Malian legend comes 17 years after his death, but slip on the first track ‘Safari’, and it feels like he and his music have never gone away. A lot has changed in music, and in Mali, since Ali succumbed to cancer in 2006, much of it for the worst – he was mayor of Niafunké, not only its world-renowned guitarist, and the broiling strife and violence unleashed across Mali would likely make him weep bitter tears.

For those who love his music, this is an unanticipated gift. Collected from his years of studio work and international touring, Voyageur's highlights are three scorching tracks with fellow Malian music legend, Oumou Sangaré, including the electric ‘Cherie’ and ‘Sadjona’ (The Weight of Fate), a traditional song for Wassoulou hunters that was sung by Oumou as a paean of praise to Ali during a microphone check. ‘Sambadio’ is a Fula song about farmers, and appears as a lean, dry acoustic version featuring the insistent ngoni of Bassekou Kouyaté and Mama Sissoko, its flow as constant as the flow of blood in your veins; and as a pumped-up electric showcase featuring his last band, with horns arranged by James Brown's Pee Wee Ellis.

Drawn from a ‘precious, private archive,’ we must thank the tape gods that their heads were rolling and able to capture Ali's magic once again for Voyageur.