When the Time Comes
Author: Alex De Lacey
View album and artist detailsAlbum and Artist Details
Artist/band: |
Barika |
Label: |
Barika |
Magazine Review Date: |
October/2017 |
Kamalengoni player Craig Myers is a busy musician. He currently performs with Mike Gordon (of Phish fame) and was a founding member of Brooklyn indie-pop group Rubblebucket. Six-piece ensemble Barika are an altogether different prospect, combining elements of West African music with contemporary song. Their latest album, When the Time Comes, is an interesting listen.
The album opener begins with a chorus of children and a luscious soundscape of kamalengoni, keyboards and a backbeat groove, while ‘Banni’ features some lovely playing from Dave Kobrenski on the Fula flute. After this, however, the momentum breaks down and Barika perform a mixture of rhythmic excursions on traditional instruments and collaborations with local artists. The standout collaboration, ‘Gotta be Another Way’, features vocals from Daby Touré and his contribution works wonderfully with the horn arrangements. However, many of the others fall flat. Myers is certainly passionate, but this record is torn between meditations on classical West African style and songs that sound slightly rushed. There are plenty of good ideas on When the Time Comes, though, that over time could evolve into something special.
The album opener begins with a chorus of children and a luscious soundscape of kamalengoni, keyboards and a backbeat groove, while ‘Banni’ features some lovely playing from Dave Kobrenski on the Fula flute. After this, however, the momentum breaks down and Barika perform a mixture of rhythmic excursions on traditional instruments and collaborations with local artists. The standout collaboration, ‘Gotta be Another Way’, features vocals from Daby Touré and his contribution works wonderfully with the horn arrangements. However, many of the others fall flat. Myers is certainly passionate, but this record is torn between meditations on classical West African style and songs that sound slightly rushed. There are plenty of good ideas on When the Time Comes, though, that over time could evolve into something special.
