Nahawa Doumbia

one of Mali's defining vocalists revives her 1981 debut and it turns out to be an absolute gem built on the simple marriage of her own dazzlingly pure voice and gentle, rhythm-focused, acoustic guitarplay.

since the late '70s, her version of Wassoulou music developed from vocals-and-guitar duo into full-scale touring bands packing a bombastic, electrified punch. The recording looks back to the beginning of Doumbia's long career, when she was performing in a simple voice and acoustic guitar format. the singer was barely 20 years old when it was recorded. She was accompanied by her future husband N'Gou Bagayoko on acoustic guitar, whose style echoes the nimble runs of traditional kamele n'goni players. The stark simplicity of this highly intimate recording - the audible room acoustics, the occasionally in-the-red vocals – add a vivid sense of presence to the album.