Afel Bocoum - Alkibar

That Afel Bocoum is the protégé of Ali Farka Toure is apparent as soon as you hear his guitar work--there's the same fluidity and muscle in his lines and a very similar raw, bluesy feel to the playing. But, unlike Toure, that's the only place you'll find something that sounds like the blues. Bocoum's music is far more African than that of his mentor, full of unison singing or call and response between his voice and a female chorus. While Alkibar might be less immediately accessible to Western ears, it's still a powerful record. Bocoum has depth in his voice and resonance in his writing, which appears completely timeless, the slave to no fashion--African or Western--at all. Toure has obviously chosen his successor well. --Chris Nickson Amazon.com

Breath of fresh air...

Despite all of music coming from America (mainly due to its large size, and technology allowing easy recording), there is a strong opinon in the mainstream that no music created today is any good and it was all done in the 60's by the classic rock artists that it seems like 90% of America is stuck on. I remember traveling to Amsterdam and finding Afel Bocoum's new cd "Niger" on the shelfs and it threw me into Mali Music (although I already heard Ali Farka Toure for some time). I went back and am current listening to Akibar (the song "Salam Aleikum"). This record is beautiful beyond description. Afel has a great singing voice, and combined with the call and response tradition with his great backup singers and hypnotic rythms creates a unique expierence. I recommend picking up "World Circuit Presents", which contains a rare track from this session recorded outside (you can even hear the crickets). This track, Fafaye Yo" is a musical treasue. Check it out June 24, 2007

beautiful, calm, organic, accomplished...

Bocoum's fluid, cyclic acoustic guitar in simple settings of percussion and njarka by the banks of the Niger river is the premise of this album, and it is carried through with effortless virtuosity.

Like his mentor Ali Farka Toure, Bocoum is a farmer first -- his love and understanding of the land is evident even if you are entirely ignorant of the various Malian dialects he sings in. This is a beautiful landmark of Malian guitar music. September 26, 2006

Haunting...

No need for many words. Simply put, one of the most beautiful, pure, and haunting recordings of this genre that I have heard. July 2, 2005

Original, yet reminiscent.

Afel Boucoum grew up as the protege of the great Malian troubadour Ali Farka Toure. While this album reminisces the sound and atmosphere of Ali Farka Toure's earlier works like "The Source" or "The River", it nonetheless comes across as one of the most honest and evocative efforts yet rendered by any Malian musician. Very highly recommended! October 11, 2004

A Mali powerhouse

Farka Toure and a Mali powerhouse in his own right, is out with AIKBAR - and you'd probably guess Bocoum's roots from the first notes of his Toure-like guitar and vocal blends, rooted in blues and backed by haunting, chant-driven vocals.
 AIKBAR blends acoustic guitar with traditional violin for maximum impact: his songs are all originals and features his prowess as a songwriter/composer as much as his guitar skills.
September 1, 2004

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