World Circuit Records | Afel Bocoum - Bombolo Liilo (Official Audio) @WorldCircuitRecords | Uploaded August 2020 | Updated October 2024, 1 day ago.
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Afel Bocoum 'Lindé' out September 4th: worldcircuit.lnk.to/AfelBocoumLinde
Celebrated Malian songwriter and guitarist Afel Bocoum premieres ‘Bombolo Liilo’, the latest track to be taken from his upcoming album ‘Lindé’, released through World Circuit Records on 4th September.
Driven by an uptempo reggae beat, the song features the sweeping trombone of Skatalites veteran Vin Gordon, as well as guitar from Garba Touré (Songhoy Blues) and kora from Madou Diabaté (brother of Toumani). Rising out this care-free joyful sound come lyrics that attempt to temper the dream of a European El Dorado, a land where the hope and desire of a million African youth can supposedly be fulfilled.
Afel explains: “The small percentage of people who manage to make it to Europe shouldn’t cry ‘victory!’, because there are still many problems left for them to overcome, including finding a place to live, a job to do and food to eat. They mustn’t forget that, from the moment they arrive, they’re subject to the laws of the receiving country. And then they have to learn how to communicate and deal with the climate. Add it all up and you’ll see that overall, there’s more loss than benefit, and finding that anticipated happiness is just a lottery. More often than not, you’re talking about a 1 in 100 chance of success.”
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Named after the wild expanse near Bocoum’s hometown of Niafunké, ‘Lindé’ is a remarkable blend of deep tradition and audacious innovation. The album was recorded in Mali’s capital Bamako, and stitches together the age-old music of the Niger bend with styles from across the globe, boasting performances from a number of eminent Malian musicians including Madou Kouyaté, the late ‘Hama’ Sankaré and Madou Sidiki Diabaté, along with the drums of recently-departed Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen, the trombone of Vin Gordon (Bob Marley / Skatalites) and the violin of Joan as Police Woman.
Traditional instruments like the ngoni, njurkele, kora and calabash blend with guitars, percussion and call-and-response vocals. The result is a gently undulating flow that emanates from a source hidden deep in the historical and mystical traditions of Bocoum’s native land, enriched along its way by musical tributaries and cross-currents. It’s music that rolls rather than rocks, graceful, unforced and minimal by design.
‘Lindé’ is also an album with a message – in the face of an uncertain and turbulent world, and a homeland struggling with jihad, poverty and tribal war, Afel Bocoum urges hope, solidarity and unity. “We have to meet each other, talk to each other, look each other in the eye and tell the truth,” Afel says. “If we’re not united, I can see no solution. Our social security is music. That’s all we’ve got left. People love music, so we have to make use of that fact.”
#AfelBocoum #BomboloLiilo #Linde
Produced by Paul Chandler
with Mark Mulholland.
Executive producers Damon Albarn & Nick Gold.
FOLLOW WORLD CIRCUIT:
Subscribe: WorldCircuit.lnk.to/WCYouTubeID
Website: worldcircuit.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/WorldCircuitRecords
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Spotify: open.spotify.com/user/worldcircuitrecords
Apple Music: music.apple.com/gb/curator/world-circuit/1487850681
Subscribe to World Circuit - worldcircuit.lnk.to/WCYouTubeID
Afel Bocoum 'Lindé' out September 4th: worldcircuit.lnk.to/AfelBocoumLinde
Celebrated Malian songwriter and guitarist Afel Bocoum premieres ‘Bombolo Liilo’, the latest track to be taken from his upcoming album ‘Lindé’, released through World Circuit Records on 4th September.
Driven by an uptempo reggae beat, the song features the sweeping trombone of Skatalites veteran Vin Gordon, as well as guitar from Garba Touré (Songhoy Blues) and kora from Madou Diabaté (brother of Toumani). Rising out this care-free joyful sound come lyrics that attempt to temper the dream of a European El Dorado, a land where the hope and desire of a million African youth can supposedly be fulfilled.
Afel explains: “The small percentage of people who manage to make it to Europe shouldn’t cry ‘victory!’, because there are still many problems left for them to overcome, including finding a place to live, a job to do and food to eat. They mustn’t forget that, from the moment they arrive, they’re subject to the laws of the receiving country. And then they have to learn how to communicate and deal with the climate. Add it all up and you’ll see that overall, there’s more loss than benefit, and finding that anticipated happiness is just a lottery. More often than not, you’re talking about a 1 in 100 chance of success.”
--
Named after the wild expanse near Bocoum’s hometown of Niafunké, ‘Lindé’ is a remarkable blend of deep tradition and audacious innovation. The album was recorded in Mali’s capital Bamako, and stitches together the age-old music of the Niger bend with styles from across the globe, boasting performances from a number of eminent Malian musicians including Madou Kouyaté, the late ‘Hama’ Sankaré and Madou Sidiki Diabaté, along with the drums of recently-departed Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen, the trombone of Vin Gordon (Bob Marley / Skatalites) and the violin of Joan as Police Woman.
Traditional instruments like the ngoni, njurkele, kora and calabash blend with guitars, percussion and call-and-response vocals. The result is a gently undulating flow that emanates from a source hidden deep in the historical and mystical traditions of Bocoum’s native land, enriched along its way by musical tributaries and cross-currents. It’s music that rolls rather than rocks, graceful, unforced and minimal by design.
‘Lindé’ is also an album with a message – in the face of an uncertain and turbulent world, and a homeland struggling with jihad, poverty and tribal war, Afel Bocoum urges hope, solidarity and unity. “We have to meet each other, talk to each other, look each other in the eye and tell the truth,” Afel says. “If we’re not united, I can see no solution. Our social security is music. That’s all we’ve got left. People love music, so we have to make use of that fact.”
#AfelBocoum #BomboloLiilo #Linde
Produced by Paul Chandler
with Mark Mulholland.
Executive producers Damon Albarn & Nick Gold.
FOLLOW WORLD CIRCUIT:
Subscribe: WorldCircuit.lnk.to/WCYouTubeID
Website: worldcircuit.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/WorldCircuitRecords
Twitter: twitter.com/WorldCircuit
Instagram: hinstagram.com/world_circuit_records
Spotify: open.spotify.com/user/worldcircuitrecords
Apple Music: music.apple.com/gb/curator/world-circuit/1487850681
