Moods of the Sahel Desert in West Africa are created when Ballake Sissoko’s kora and Vincent Segals’s cello get together. The two strum, pluck and bow their strings to create wondrous interchanges as they go back and forth in lead and supporting roles. Sissoko’s kora can create harplike droplets of rain as Segal lilts behind on”Niandou” and the bluesy “Passa Quatro” drones in a blues rubato during a bowed cello encounter. Segal gets a bit Mingusy as he slaps his strings around while Sissoko evokes sonic images of a desert sunset when Segal starts bowing behind on “Balazando.” The strings sparkle as they are plucked together on “Super Etiole” and there is a lovely cantor on “Samba Tomora” while the title track quietly broods in a meditative sigh as the album closes. Why hassle airports when albums like this can take you to faraway and exotic locals?
Six Degrees Music