What do you get when you cross elements of electronic, pop and African blues music with a blind couple from Mali? You get the wining guitars and soulful wailing of Amadou & Mariam on their latest opus Welcome to Mali.

Known the world over for creating a unique aural stew with ingredients from music around the world, the couple takes a new direction this time, stepping into modern, popular music by incorporating vocal effects and droning synths on tracks like ‘Sabali’, yet they manage to hold on to their traditional African roots throughout the bulk of the album. ‘Bozos’ introduces the elements of early rock ‘n roll with a sound reminiscent of the experimental 1960’s and 70’s, while tribal grooves such as ‘Unissons Nous’ and ‘Sekebe’ radiate the blistering heat of an unforgiving African sun.

Now, if you’re not a fan of foreign films with not a lick of English in them, then this record might not be for you. There’s hardly a word of English in the vicinity other than the front cover and a few choruses sprinkled here and there. But if this is not a problem for you, then you’ll enjoy the warm dialogue and glacial crooning of an ancient tongue presented over a psychedelic mix of some of the dark continents finest.

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