Savane

An African Blues album by Malian musician Ali Farka Touré and his final album, recorded while he was suffering from cancer. Mainly for fans of World Music, but I liked it.

Ay chihuahua that was a snoozefest

Mostly boring and repetitive 2.2

liked the general vibe of this one, although he declares himself a blues singer and I thought it sounded pretty upbeat, obviously couldn't understand it lyrically though. overall no fave song but just enjoyed having it on

Each song is kind of the same droning guitar riff over and over and over and over and over and then there’s some western African singing over top of that. It’s not like… awful to listen to. It’s good for when I’m working or something. Or if you were running you could keep a good pace with the tempo of the songs. But nothing really stuck with me. And I feel like this album is only on this list because it’s a very influential artist. The album itself didn’t really feel like anything all that magnificent. 1 ⭐️

It was a cool ambiance, loved the blues sounds. But it was hard to really appreciate or connect to without understanding anything being sung, I’m sure if I did it’d be a higher rating so this is just based on my listening experience. My favorite was N’jarou. Unfortunately I don’t see myself ever coming back to this though.

I enjoyed it a lot at first which I didn’t quite expect to seeing as I couldn’t understand a thing he was saying, but then because of that I think I lost a lot of interest later into the album. I must say it was still quite good though and I really did love the music and the guitar and everything. Great stuff fs, just mildly unnoticeable.

Another lesson in: enjoy for a song or too, clearly too much for an album for my tatse

Could be into this under the right circumstances. Think road trip through Spain.

Nice to chill to

I have so little precedent for this type of music. I genuinely didn’t k ow what I was supposed to be listening for and what he did well or poorly. A thoroughly confusing experience.

This was a really welcome change of pace from the white British indie rock that gets served up so regularly here. Some chilly, sunny vibes

Meer Malinees getokkel vanuit de luie stoel. Best aardig, maar we hadden zoiets al gehad, toch? Op zich sympathiek, weinig attentiewaarde, maar het heeft de gunfactor.

Eerder mochten we een mijmer-album van Ali beluisteren. Dit komt wel terug op dit album, maar het album is veel gevarieerder. Daardoor valt wel op dat de zang niet altijd even zuiver is. Ik luister deze keer via de TV en dat beïnvloedt de luister-ervaring. Want ik kijk de hele tijd tegen een ontzettend vrolijke volle lach van een muzikant aan. Ik neem aan dat dat dan Ali is. Kunnen we afspreken dat alle muzikanten voor gewoon uitstralen dat ze er zin in hebben? Daarmee verdien je van mij alvast je eerste ster!

We hebben de beste man al een keer eerder mogen beluisteren en ik vraag me af wat het verschil is met dat album. Het bluesy gitaartje ben ik op zich best fan van, maar het is vaak wel ietwat eentonig. En om dan 2 albums er in te zetten, vind ik simpelweg onnodig. Zeker aangezien er zoveel artiesten onterecht in deze snoblijst ontbreken. En daar hadden ook prima wat onbekende Afrikaanse artiesten bij kunnen zitten. Het gitaarspel is zeker een 3 waard, maar de eentonigheid en snobkeuze zorgen ervoor dat ik een strafpunt uitdeel.

More richly produced and fully arranged than his more bare bones early 90s albums, AFT reaps the rewards of his breakthrough into the world music genre on this album. It's a more fully realized, if slightly more generic sound as a result. His guitar work is great, all mesmerizing drones and melodic fills, working with and against the kora GOAT Toumani Diabate to weave together a complex call and response, polyrhythmic, relaxed but super energetic sound. The sokou single string violin adds an awesome lead element and extra melodic voice on a few songs, really bringing that wild trancey velvet underground sound. I might've picked In the Heart of the Moon over this one, but this is a great representation of Malian music at its moment of peak global recognition.

Guitar picking over African/middle eastern backing, nice background

Али Фарка Туре исполняет традиционную малийскую музыку, которая, как говорят, некогда стала родоначальницей блюза. Возможно и так, но для меня — слушателя, взращённого на степных просторах Средней Азии, — здесь улавливается не столько генеалогия блюза, сколько знакомый с детства шёпот домбры и песнопения акынов. Музыка самобытная и местами даже завораживающая. Эдакий аудиальный бархан в пустыне, наметённый ветрами трансцендентного — бесконечность, процеженная сквозь струны. Туре, как заправский шаман, будто бы заклинает и Сахару, и время, и саму музыку, заставляя её течь вспять, к истокам. Как и любая этника, этот альбом — культурный код, шифр, понятный только своим. Для остальных — не более, чем набор экзотических звуков, заставляющих фантазировать об уголках мира, в которых ты никогда не был. Вполне годно для разового употребления в качестве этнографического аттракциона, но переслушивать вряд ли захочется.

Pleasant enough instrumentals.

Dusk is setting. You're sitting on a Malian porch, next to you is Ali in his laid-back rocking chair - in just the same position as on the cover. As the sun sets, he keeps plucking warm, mellow tones out of his guitar strings. On another day or on another whim, he might have been playing a functionally interchangeable set of songs and tones, but all you know is that it's been a good day, and this music serves a good ending to a good day.

This was interesting, had some cool rhythms to it. Not something I would pick off the shelf and listen to again but can appreciate the style, I just prefer to listen to either instrumentals or something that I can understand.

One of those albums where I really appreciate being exposed to it, even if I don’t necessarily love it. Kind of muted and verges on boring, but still a valuable and unique mixture of sounds and cultures. Best song: Banga

This rocks. Apparently this is a mix of traditional music from Mali and blues. I listened to it twice. The more blues leaning songs were more up my alley than the ones that I guess were more straight up Malian music but it still sounded like nothing else I've heard before so that's cool.

The album cover had me excited. Music was alright.

I enjoyed this

I’d never heard this guy before - it was really gorgeous

Interesting African Blues good beat

Easy to see where Songhoy Blues got inspiration from. I like it!

African Blues....pretty badass.

I’ve enjoyed just about all of the African music that’s come to me through this project. Glad to have my horizons expanded.

"The King of the desert 'blues' singers". Tiene algo de blues, se siente esa nota, pero está mezclada con música africana o incluso escalas medio asiáticas o japonesas que me suenan muy disonante. Técnicamente es bueno pero me cuesta apreciar escuchar estas canciones

I really want to get into a non-English album on this list, but I still haven't been able to do it. I don't mind listening to this, but nothing sticks even as it's playing. There was cool instrumentation on this, and I didn't mind the singing. I struggled to connect with it, ultimately.

Refreshingly different. More of this and less repetition of bands and artists with several albums would be welcome.

Not my type of genre

This is the stuff that's so far outside what I normally listen to that I'd never find it and ... if I never had, I'd be sad.

Ali Farka Toure - I recognized this name and soon figured out that it was in fact the father of Vieux Farka Toure - a beautiful musician himself who is featured on Khruangbin’s “Ali” record. While listening to “Savane”, I felt immersed inside the African culture and world that Ali pulled inspiration and love from. Every song has its own flavor and magic that makes you smile and dance. I really enjoyed the purity of this record, I just might come back for more… Favorites: Savane, Soya, Banga

I enjoyed it as background

Not really my kind of music

🎧Add Ali Farka Touré and this very cool African blues album to the list of great discoveries from the 1001AYMHBYD project. Will be returning to this one.

This is African blues. Well, technically all blues is African, but you know what I mean. Good album.

very cute very nice, good for a morning session. would’ve enjoyed it more if it wasn’t one of those albums that I’ve postponed listening to for more than a week and suddenly on one day decide to listen to all 16 of them.

very enjoyable

I don't hate this but I also don't particularly want to listen to it. 2.5

Albums like this are why I really enjoyed this project. Unless they are exceptionally bad, every world album has gotten a 4/5 from me. I love hearing music that I would have never known about had it not been for this. This one was very enjoyable!

Did not fully listen and give it the chance it deserves - but respect the artistry for sure

This gives me strong Songhoy Blues vibes, and it's difficult to pinpoint its exact genre. I found myself being a little bored with how long, and drawn out it was, but I also found myself bopping to the beats. It's a solid album that I would have never listened to if it wasn't for this generator. Favorite Song: "Soko Yhinka"

malian gabor szabo

pretty cool listen

It's alright, not a whole lot happens though

Quite good. Reminds me of Tinariwen. I may have to listen to more desert music.

This is not my first "Songhai Blues" record considering I'm familiar with the aptly named blues-rock group Songhoy Blues, but I do find Ali's take on it here very different. It's far less punchy than anything off of 'Music in Exile' for example. Instead, It feels like this album cover, depicting a man sitting on a rocked-back chair with his guitar - translating all his memories, experiences, and burdens into these dense guitar improvisations. The vocals maintain the very smooth, and melodically vibrant style I was expecting though. I'll be the first to admit that longer-form blues albums, especially ones consisting of minimalistic guitar playing and percussion, don't go over well with me. Typically the lyrical aspects are what keep me engaged, but I couldn't even find a reliable translation for the lyrics here. So I'm saying a lot when I say that I loved all 58 minutes of this thing. It's a shimmering album, sun-kissed and Ali's guitar playing is soulful and bright - like a ray of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape. Doing barebones research on the guy, it seems he's a pioneer in this genre - It leaves me wanting to hear some of his earlier stuff, given this was his final studio album released just after his death. The guy's dubbed the African John Lee Hooker, and I see why, I can easily draw a lot of parallels between this and Lee Hooker's Delta blues style. But even as a late-career pick, the meditative nature, varied instrumentation, and subtle layering in the vocals here do wonders in establishing a soundscape that I can just lay in for days. That's the power of good blues music I guess.

5/5. Excellent guitar work and mesmerizing vocals. Could be due to the fact that I have no idea what he's saying but the cadences and flow with his guitar really enhances the music. The album flows together which can be a detriment in other albums but this one keeps the same energy while introducing new instruments or vocals to make them stand out. It's blues that's older than the blues, according to his words, and that tracks. Only complaint is that it is a little long, a 40 minute album would be perfect. Best Song: Soyas, Savane, Erdi

african blues is a genre i haven't heard too much of, and this sample is pretty promising. this album is the last of ali farka toure's; he unfortunately passed away a few months after this album released, which makes for a slightly somber atmosphere. it's a very quiet album; it's refreshing to hear a blues album that doesn't feel like it resorts to standard blues conventions. if anything, this is a beautiful little swan song from a songwriter who knew he only had so much time left. it's not the kind of music i listen normally nor am i obsessed with, but it's very notable and worth the listen for the most part in my opinion.

This is an interesting listen and exposure to world music is very important. However, I didn’t really vibe with this, even though I do believe it deserves a spot here.

I like the blues but a lot of songs end up similar in sound and structure. This has enough variety to raise it above the average blues album

Blind album and artist. Afro-blues? Definitely an interesting listen i personally wouldn't seek out, but glad I tried it. Sad this guy died cause Im sure a lot of people liked this, just not my thing.

Very good

I like the vibe of the record and the African sound, but I don't like the blues...

Didn’t have time to listen to all of this, but it’s pretty good. I am stuck in a 3/5 death spiral though.

Love this artist..always has great sounds on his albums. Well worth a few listens

It took 3 listens before this one got it's clutches on me, but once it got now that it's got hold, I don't expect its grip to loosen anytime soon. Hypnotic music that really draws you in. Favourite songs; Yer Bounda Fara, Savane, Penda Yoro, N'Jarou. The common thread; Slow burning intensity, atmospheric and beautiful ensemble playing. Great stuff; 4 stars

An interesting album with a unique take on a familiar acoustic blues guitar sound. I understand it's largely traditional minded African fold music, but there seems to be a broader range of cultural influences across the whole record. Some songs have a middle eastern feel, like Erdi and Penda Yoro. Some more reminiscent of old southern American blues/hymnals, like Yer Bounda Fara. A Hybrid of all that and more traditional African folk on Beto. And then you have what seems like a Celtic influence on Soya. The trend continues throughout the album with a variety of cultures blended into the core African folk foundation.

The time work on Erdi is really arresting. The title track is awesome. N'jarou is a real soothing closer.

The song openings often excite me, but the hypnotic grooves that almost every track falls into eventually loose my attention. The few times the rhythm fades out - does it ever stop? - a change-up is teased but never delivered. The songs are pretty and soulful, but not my kind of repetition. Ferocious, ragged and live records by the Saharan bands Group Inerane, Group Doueh and Bombino slay this sort of desert roots rock and make this record sound gentrified, excessively polite. This has the juice, just watered-down.

Not what I was anticipating, much more sombre and "devotional" than my limited experience of Malian music predicted. Understandable given the circumstances of recording but didn't hold my attention, sorry

Loved it. Could have this as the backing track to my life. No idea what he’s singing about though.

4.5

Transcendent at times. Super chill vibes, great for quiet night to just drift off to. Listen to the subtleties to his guitar playing. Exciting stuff I will need to check out the rest of Ali's discog

Tolle Gitarrenmusik

Ali Farka Toure performed African Blues, and Savane is the last album he recorded during his lifetime. Toure is one of the most internationally successful musicians from West Africa. He became famous in the 80s and 90s, as interest in "World Music" was developing. Toure was frequently compared to John Lee Hooker, for both vocal and musical style. Toure's vocals tend towards lower pitches, like Hooker's, but Toure's delivery and message is more uplifting. He tends toward simple accompaniment, making his "desert blues" sound similar to Delta Blues in the United States. Toure's work differs significantly from American Blues in the rhythms and tonal scales used. His music is of a very different tradition from American Blues, which makes the similarities all the more fascinating.

I suspect I’ve listened to it before but forgot to rate it. The tempo is consistently slow without much changing throughout the album, they use some traditional instruments (which have similarities to Indian ones I think) too I think and manage to get a good tribal sound.

Excellent and enjoyable low listening. This one can be a regular.

Quite relaxing and soothing!

Really enjoyed this. I love having this kind of music on in the background, great stuff.

You know, kinda weird. Not really my thing. Better than classical….that’s something I guess.

Another different kind of music I wouldn’t normally hear, good afropop/African music

It's nice, but I feel the songs don't really go anywhere.

Veldig kult, en helt spesiell vibe

Not bad. I understand its place in the list.

This was certainly interesting. I enjoyed some of it, but there are parts where high pitched sounds are used (Hanana is a good example) that are like nails on a chalkboard to me.

I was excited to hear another Ali Farka Touré album. However, I didn't enjoy this as much as I did the last one. I think the addition of Ry Cooder on the last made it a little more entry level for me.

11/26/24. Feel this one is a good introduction to African blues music. I hear a lot of sounds from one my current favorite bands, Mdou Moctar, so I now know where the influence comes from!

This seems like something I'd like, but I couldn't get into this.

Nice, classic African Blues. Quite enjoyable sound, cool guitar vibes, pretty nice album. It's not my favourite genre, but I still enjoyed it as much as I could.

Ali Farka Touré’s Savane is a masterpiece that captures the essence of traditional African music, incorporating elements of blues and jazz in a unique and authentic way. The compositions are marked by a rich and immersive sound, where Touré’s guitar playing stands out with its smooth textures and hypnotic rhythms. Cultural influences are masterfully interwoven, creating an atmosphere that transports the listener to the vast landscapes of Mali. The collaborations of talented musicians further enhance the depth of the album, resulting in a distinct listening experience that reflects the musical diversity of the region. However, the album’s long length may become a hindrance for some listeners, leading to a certain loss of interest as the tracks progress. While the depth of Touré’s songs adds value to his art, Savane’s excessive length can make the experience tiresome. The lack of rhythmic variation between some tracks contributes to a feeling of repetitiveness, which may turn off those seeking a more dynamic engagement. Overall, Savane is a rich celebration of African musical heritage, but its length and pacing could be adjusted to keep listeners engaged.

Hyggelig, og fint. Mine DJ Brevet øre var tilfredse. Bliver dog lidt meget det samme efter 50 minutter.

Åh det her må være det sværeste album jeg har fået ind til videre. Jeg har både tænkt det var en lille 5er og en stor 1er. Det er sjovt, legende og jeg forstår det ikke. En sang eller to underholder mig. Men så har jeg også brug for at høre noget hvor koderne er indlejret mere i min musikalske DNA. Kompromiset bliver en 3er.

Like the sound of this but the singing ruins it for me

Apparently, this guy is "the African John Lee Hooker." I could kinda hear it but also not for me

That was interesting. Not really my kind of music, but not bad.

I feel worldly!!

This is pretty awesome - would love to hear something like this at Folk Fest.

I couldn't get on this one's level

This was pretty good but not something I’d put on all the time. This is a light 3/5. It definitely has merit but not something I could listen to all the time

>3 <4

Can't say that this stood out in any way relative to the other album of Ali Farka Toure's on this list. I mean it is fine music, but I don't think it really moved the needle for me. Perfect 3 territory.

Same thing as last Ali Farka Toure review. Fine enough, but certainly not very engaging.

I like this album coming up for some variety and it has some really cool sounds. Pretty repetitive though and a bit long. Savane the song was really cool with the different guitar parts.

Not bad per se, just really not my jam. Songs felt a little too repetitive and way too long for what it is. High 2.

Give me more of this!

1.92

Good, not my cuppa

I didn't even know dessert blues was a thing. It was so different I don't know if it was brilliant or not. But I thought it entertaining

fun vibe!

Really good vibe, need to do some research into this guy

Sometimes the music transcends the language barrier. Good stuff

well crafted album that doesnt miss but also doesnt hit hard

So much fun! This one had me bouncing along in my seat, and I would definitely listen to it again!

My first foreign language album! Never heard of Ali Farka Toure before. Great music with a good beat and some wonderful twangy banjo. Not a single bad track on the album, with Yer Bounda Fara, Soya, and Soko Yhinka topping them. Definitely going to listen to more of him. The entire album just made me have a smile on my face, the whole way through. Love it. Best song: Yer Bounda Fara

The kinda music u listen to when u just wanna chill or do minimal dances

Blues with a worldly twist, great ambience. Something I'd never normally listen to, but I'll Definitely give this another spin

2.5

Bluesy african music, not what I'd typically go for but it was pretty good and I'm glad when this list gives me something different for once. It was a bit long though. Stand-out: Banga

Fascinating album. There are track that I totally and emotionally connect with. But there are as many that I’m, meh! 3.3

I really like when world music comes up on the project, as it’s typically something wholly new for me. You can tell this is music played for the love of it. It is by no means perfect, but it’s better for its flaws. Touré is a wonderful guitarist, and the music as an experience really brings your imagination to life and transports you anywhere

After waiting through over 50 albums to finally encounter a non-Western release on this list, two hit back-to-back. Once again, I have to admit I’m far from an expert in the genre at hand, let alone its African roots (or more accurately, its forefathers). Indeed, I’m ashamed to admit that, with a few notable exceptions, my knowledge of African music as a whole leaves much to be desired. But when someone is labelled "the king of desert blues singers" right on their album cover, you can’t help but pay attention. Speaking of the cover: Ali Farka Touré reclines in a wooden deck chair, beige chinos, a white t-shirt, shiny black shoes, shades on, cigarette in mouth, and a black guitar across his lap. Few people manage to look this effortlessly cool. Even without knowing much about Touré, I felt an immediate connection to Savane, despite understanding little of the lyrics. Maybe it’s because Touré passed away just weeks before the album was released, but the music feels like a quiet celebration—Touré’s final message to his fans and the world. There’s a deep intimacy here, like you’ve dropped by to hear Touré and his band play just for you. Don’t mistake the laid-back vibe for amateurism, though—the musicianship is incredible. The repetitive grooves of songs like "Erdi" and "Soya" are hypnotic rather than tiring. The call-and-response vocals pull you in as they dig into a groove and build something remarkable from it. I found myself especially drawn to tracks like "Beto," "Savane," and "Ledi Coumbe," where the West African influences shine brightest. Did/Do I own this release? No. Does this release belong on the list? Tentatively yes, though, considering his vast discography, one could argue for other releases in his catalogue. Would this release make my personal list? I really enjoyed it and will likely revisit it to fully grasp its depth. Will I be listening to it again? Definitely—I’m eager to explore more of Touré’s music.

I really like this one, it was new to me and I found it kinda relaxing

Interesting!

Excellent album! Really fun instrumentals. I can only hope that I can understand the lyrics one day. 'Soya' and 'Soko Yhinka' are tied for my faves.

Pretty cool record, if a little samey. Nice overall vibe.

Okay I guess!

# Playlist Track - Beto # Notes - Music that magically takes you somewhere else. Where? Heck if I know. - It sounds both familiar and new. Not being able to even recognize a single word or sound, but being driven by Toure's guitar in a comfortable, enjoyable place towards this place is super fun. - Incredible experience, strongly recommend!

Not to be listened to on a wet October night in Ireland

Nice vibes but just very repetitive

I like this but not sure if I like it enough for a 4. Maybe!

Not really my style. Didn't really care for it.

Unique and catchy desert groove that transports you

Intriguing!

A fun listen with plenty of variety, could have done with a few more upbeat songs though.

Hell yeah, love this one. It's been a while

I enjoyed it, but... after hearing the first 15-20 seconds of each song, you have pretty much heard the next four minutes. I get that most popular songs don't have seven different riffs, but the songs on the album seem worse than typical. I like the tunes, but the repetitiveness on most of the tracks is a negative.

For listening actively it's too repetitive. I used to play this as background music at work. Perfect for that. Favorite song: Savane

This is a strong album. I'm sad I didn't listen to it before. I've always been a fan of desert blues, even though I didn't know it 🤪.

No clue what was even being said half the time but I’m sure it’s decent if u can understand it

once again, stepped in musical traditions that i have v little experience with (i dont even have enough knowledge of american blues much less this african fusion). lacking more specific language or fallback mental models ill just say this is v v enjoyable. there is a rly warm and sweet quality to this that certainly stands out against the typical perception of the blues, and probably owes itself to all sorts of things from the geographical move away from the center of antiblack oppression to these songhai/mande traditions i am not familiar with. songs are very hypnotic and can be surprisingly varied in terms of sound palate. a barely posthumous release, im not sure if it was a self-conscious swan song (toure was battling cancer for a long time) but regardless of how it got here, its moving qualities of liveliness and being-at-peace are likely to stick with me

Would enjoy this in the background. Musically it was interesting. But the blues are hard to “get into” when you have no clue what is being said lyrically.

“Blues is my music. It comes from the Niger Delta, not the Mississippi Delta.”

Went in with an open mind. Never found a real groove. I do appreciate the blend of eastern drone with southern blues but was left wanting something more.

Sure. OK. I found myself wishing this album was shorter. Toss the filler and he'd have a solid album.

Really enjoyed the cultural notes of this album, very curious to what the words translate into English, adds a mysterious element to the album.

I usually like this type of album and the summer ambience it creates but this time it felt like something was missing. Not much progression or change through the songs, especially the longer ones. Highlights: Yer Bounda Fara

Not really something I find myself ultra drawn to, but fine.

pretty interesting, might need to take more time to listen though before I totally grok it.

Why

I like this guy. It’s pretty chilled, and sounds like he pioneered (of sorts) the distinct technique and style which is influenced other Malian bands. The kinda repetitive nature of some rhythms and sounds really drew me in. It’s maybe a little long, but it’s better than the one he did with Ry Cooder which we’ve already had in here, it seemed a bit livelier and varied. Defo something I’d put on again.

This was a hypnotic beast of a album. It kind of all rolls into one, didn't even notice it finishing. He's clearly a influential dude and I will definitely go down this rabbit hole again.

Day261 - i came here hoping to discover albums like this. world music is not something i would normally listen to but this is good stuff

Whack

I was hoping for the blues like Keb Mo or Taj Mahal, but this was the blues with a middle eastern accent. I need to be able to understand the lyrics as well, so this one just didn’t do it for me. Doesn’t really seem fair to rate this one, but I will give a 2 since I am really rating it for my own reference.

Super different w it h great percussion. Love!

This is a really good record. A bit too silent for me but with a beautiful instrumentation which makes up for the relaxed atmosphere.

Pleasant background music

Für mich unhörbar.

Erdi - 6/10 very repetitive Yer Bounda Fara - 7/10 fun Beto - 5/10 Savane - 6/10 i dont wanna listen to this anymore im giving up already

Not familiar with this genre, but honestly I liked listening to it. It's a whole new feel than most of the stuff I usually listen to.

Love the mix of blues and Africa influences

This was pleasant. I think if it was in English so I could understand the meaning better I might like it better.

the only thing i could think about during this listen is that it's basically the soundtrack of a movie set somewhere in africa(never a specific country), the main character is sent there for work but ends up moving there cuz it's "simpler and more peaceful, unlike the busy streets of nyc"

Not typically my kind of music, but an excellent record.

I think I liked this a bit more than the previous album by this artist on this list. Sounded great, and not knowing much about the music except that it was probably not intendes for this purpose, it made an excellent companion for errands and commuting.

This was chill as hell

This was so so SO repetitive. Not my favorite.

i often listen to these when i'm on my morning commute, and today this was the soundtrack to the first fall day where you have to put your defrosters on and the world full of fog all this to say: vibey, enjoyable, can't imagine i'll ever revisit it but it was a nice listen

I wish this wasn't quite as long, but I did have a good time

This was fun, I wish I was able to pay a little more attention to it but was slammed RIP

Es como india o africana ... cansina. No me ha gustado. Antes le puse un 3. Ahora un 2.

this is quintessential "never would have listened to this before this challenge" kind of album and to be frank I probably never will again but im glad I know it exists

Great blues but missing some of the melody I really connect with. This is a banger though by an artist I didn't know until now.

Easily the most unique album to date and I respect it for that. This isn’t something that I would normally turn and listen to but for a long drive or something to throw on while cooking etc. could be perfect

Yep, already like this, got it at the time. Provided a foundation for enjoying other stuff like Tinariwen and Mdou Moctar down the line. Proper chilled, yet complex blues. Nothing particularly stands out (maybe Machengoidi?) but it's all good. I left on recommendations based on this all afternoon.

Another one of Toure's albums. Too long and repetitive for my liking. I can tell theres a good voice and some decent licks lurking beneath but it just dragged on again. Shame really. Didnt hate it but definitely fell on the scoring due to the length and repetitiveness. I wont be coming back to this one.

While I'm on the fence about whether I'd make this a usual spin in my weekly rotation, I will say that if you sit and meditate with this album, it will naturally resonate with you in a pretty unexpected way.

Enthralling West African blues elevated by Touré's trance-inducing guitar work.

very chill but I can't pretend this was anything more than background music to me

Yes I love hearing the same bluesy guitar lick repeated over and over for 5 minutes, then getting a new lick on the next song that repeats over and over. 2nd album from this guy on the list and i'm not seeing what the point is at all. I'm completely ok with repetition if it's a cool idea (I love The Fall after all), but every song here is just one single idea drawn out to a full track.

‘Talking Timbuktu’ is Ali Farka Touré’s other album in the book, and ‘Savane’ is very similar, if not the same in tone and scope to that. If you didn’t like ‘Talking Timbuktu’, or thought it was very repetitive, then you won’t like this. It’s more of the same, and after having listened to 500+ albums as part of this challenge, I’m starting to have less patience and good will. I’m happy for Ali Farka Touré to have been featured, but we didn’t need two albums from him that are essentially the same. In this instance, one was more than enough.

Senz'altro particolare, una ventata di originalità in questo oceano di album rock. È un suono che si sente poco, almeno per me, ma le vibe sono molto belle, un perfetto album da sottofondo. Forse un po' lungo?

A lot of fun. African music continues to be a highlight whenever it comes up. Rating: 4.2

Absolutely smooth, guitar is just another vocals and it blends beautifully with the music. Distinctly African and also distinctly Blues.

Based on the description, I was expecting to like this more than I did. It did kind of grow on me though, but only to a point. I’m still not into the Indian-sounding stuff, but I like the bluesier parts. Unfortunately, the Indian-sounding stuff came to dominate the album.

Music for guys who love music. Unfortunately I’m too dumb for this

Deze ezel (niet mijn woorden hè, ik heb gewoon de Wiki gelezen) staat twee keer in deze lijst. De eerste keer heb je dan nog zoiets van 'ah oke, lachen dit' en dan doe je positief omdat je toch even wil laten zien dat je wagenwijd openstaat voor nieuwe culturele ervaringen. Krijg je vervolgens dit album dan is dat effect er wel een klein beetje vanaf. Nog steeds is het niet mega storend of iets dergelijks, maar je gaat je wel 57 minuten afvragen wat je nou eigenlijk zit te doen. Ik heb het idee dat ik dat andere album leuker vond, maar dat kan dus komen omdat het verse er bij deze al vanaf is. Ik ga deze dus iets lager geven en dan kom ik op een twee. In de praktijk zal het die andere niet ver ontlopen. De titeltrack is wel een banger.

Some cool stuff, but I can't pretend like I'm coming back to this one. Was a good listen, a little slow at time Will I listen to again: 0%

Fascinating look at Malian music - released posthumously, this album does not succumb to the introspection of many artists recording while terminally ill. What it is is lovely listening, great as a backing to something, with bits interesting enough to stop what you're doing and make you focus in on the music. Exquisitely played.

This was a fascinating album. Really fun listen, though not really something I’ll return to.

I really enjoyed this one, kind of a folk/blues feel. Obviously I have no idea what the lyrics are, but it’s interesting sonically and I enjoy finding sounds that I would not otherwise have heard.

Good album probably not one I’d return to often but good overall

Pretty decent all the way around but nothing stood out as a great song!

3 out of 5. As important as blues is and how cool it was to hear it sung with a different language and with African influence it's not a genre for me but it'd be one I still recommend to others.

I did not use a private session for Spotify. Had no idea of what I was getting into, though it did seem possible to judge a album by it's cover. Jazzy and acoustic, had no idea what he was singing about. I don't know why I would ever put this on, nothing against it, though.

I almost like Beto, Savane, Soya, Penda Yoro, Gambari Didi

African music started off sounding OK, but got really repetitive and wore out its welcome. It could have used some percussion to keep me interested.

Boring. If it was on in the background I wouldn't mind, but wouldn't seek it out

Enjoyed it.

A bit too much world music for me.

This feels like something I’m supposed to like, but I don’t. Definitely something I’m glad I’ve listened to, but it’s not for me. Savane

what a refreshing listen! I hope this list will have more global music like this, it really opens the mind. A very pleasant listen. At the start I was a bit unsure of what I thought of it, but it built very well as the album progressed. Have never heard music from Mali before, but will definitely go on the search for more West African music now! A solid 4 stars from me. Will return. Favourite songs: Savane Soya Machengoidi Soko Yhinka Banga

I can see quite a lot of potential in Savane, unfortunately it is bogged down by quite a few issues. First, the good, Ali's voice actually fit very well with the songs and i can see quite a few cool music ideas in place which could have been good if the album didn't suffer from these three issues. One, The album's composition is very messy and feels more like random sounds at random times rather than proper, coherent music. Two, The album is a fairly long one at 58 minutes which would be okay if it weren't for this last issue. Three, The songs sound too similar to each other, I had this problem with quite a few albums on this project but with messy composition and a long length, this issue is really brought out in the open. There is a good album hiding inside this one, its just too bad that these issues prevent it from coming out. Best Song: Beto Worst Song: Savane

133/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑

This is all foreign to me, but I enjoyed it so much. The music is beautiful to listen to, and the guitar player is very skilled.

Love it. Solid blues. Very easy to listen to.

I really love Mande and Songhai music, or desert blues. And while Touré was an innovator and played a big part in bringing that style to an international audience, he just isn’t my favorite performer in the genre. This album was the first of many Touré albums I listened to, and it’s definitely grown on me since then. It’s not my favorite of his (that probably goes to his 1990 album The River), but Savane presents some of the final songs he worked on before dying of bone cancer at 62. These songs have a sadness to them but also an acceptance of death to come, akin to David Bowie’s Blackstar. Savane does also have some great talent on it other than Touré himself, like Bassekou Kouyate on ngoni (a string instrument).

Didn't hate it. Didn't love it.

Spellbinding album. The fusion of genres mixes very well to me. I can't really pick out specific songs well and it blends together a bit for me though. Nonetheless I did not get tired of listening to the album. I'd happily put this on in the background sometime while doing some other things.

Couldn’t understand a word of it, but loved every minute of it

Savane by Ali Farka Touré is a captivating journey into the heart of traditional Malian music, beautifully merging ancient sounds with subtle modern touches. Touré's guitar work stands out, offering intricate and expressive melodies that showcase his exceptional talent. The album's production is impeccable, highlighting the natural beauty of each instrument. Vocals are delivered with heartfelt sincerity, adding an emotional depth to the piece. Savane manages to be both profound and accessible, a testament to Touré's skill and creativity. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 2 STAND OUT TRACK - Penda Yoro

Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: 😎 Mix: 😎 Musik: 😎 Wertung: 🏜️🏜️🏜️/5

Cool Blues album though nothing hugely grabbed. Good background music

Guitar play and production is excellent, but the songs doesnt do anything for me

I had one of Ali's albums he did with Ry Cooder before. He is called the pioneer of "desert blues", which is African blues. Dude is from Mali. This album is great! Ali's guitar work on this album is insane! Favourite songs: Soya, N'Jarou, Soko Yhinka, Penda Yoro, Yer Bounda Fara, Machengoidi Least favourite songs: Erdi 4/5

Was a very interesting sound considering I don’t think I’ve heard African Blues before. That said. Except for a few tracks, I couldn’t get into it that much. 2.4

Nope

Background music only

Not my thing

I gave it a chance but overall I wasn't sitting back and nodding my head, it was more tilting my head and attempting to wrap it around the meandering tinny sounding guitar. There are definitely some enjoyable moments which is why I didn't give it a 1, but overall it isn't my favorite.

I enjoyed this. Very meditative and rhythmic.

I found this more interesting than good. Ultimately it’s just not my thing. I’ll never return to this. But I did like parts of it even when things got far too repetitious. 2.5/5

unfortunately this ones not it kinda rate it at times 2.4/5

Seriously ...

Definitely makes for an interesting listen, and the additional context from Wikipedia (the artists final album, the final mix approved a few months before his death), is helpful to understand the importance of being included on this list. As with most foreign language albums, I struggle to connect with this beyond the overall vibe and feeling. But regardless, it was a good listen.

Too bad, I thought I would hear new blues for myself. There were also a few good approaches. Nevertheless, it did not meet my taste at any point. More and more the music got on my nerves. When I jumped for minutes in individual pieces and didn't notice any change, I stopped the album. 1/5

Good in the background but I wasn't as a gripped by it as I was hoping. Enjoyed the listen, but something was lacking for me for it to really catch my attention.

not bad tbh good tunes, prob a 3

Good

"Savane" is the final solo album by Malian musician Ali Farka Touré. The album was recorded as Touré was dealing with terminal bone cancer and was released posthumously, four months after his death. African blues is the genre category. Touré played guitar and percussion and was on vocals. The album also features a large number of African blues which included instruments such as the bamboo flute, ngoni (lute), traditional percussion, one-string violin (njarka), sax and harmonica. The album was certified gold in Europe selling at least 100,000 copies. The album opens with "Erdi." A large number of instruments are playing including the guitar, harmonica and ngoni (I think). The pace of the song is slow and defintely in a bluesy fashion. " Savane" has a melodic guitar which is very Spanish sounding. A stark guitar solo. The song builds throughout. Some songs have more vocals than others and one that has a large group singing in the chorus is "Soko Yhinka." Guitar and percussion are featured. The album closer "N'Jarou" gets a groove going with the acoustic guitar, ngoni and consistent percussion. There's humming and multiple backing vocals. Touré sounds happy. It seems like I've liked most of the albums that I've come across in this challenge where I have little to to no experience; this album is no exception. It has a bluesy feel and pace, almost stark at times. I was doing something very repetitive while I was listening to this and the pounding percussion and multiple stringed instruments made it very hypnotic. It's mostly a pleasure hearing new instruments and this album provides the ngoni and njarka. This is an album worth checking out and, for me, I'll seek more of the African blues.

Enjoyed the instrumentals on this. Soulful feeling lyrics and vocals.

A little bit slow and drawn out, but some of the guitar parts were really cool and it had a nice desert-level feel to it

Wonderful, relaxing music. Intricate and interesting but not demanding. Would be best enjoyed on a warm summer night with sounds of nature buzzing around you and a cold adult beverage close at hand; ideally shared with a group of old friends with no place else they need to be.

first listen a whole vibe

Nice studying music but not sure I would listen to this for fun

Why this? It is soooo boring

I didn't hate this, I didn't like this and I didn't really understand this. My knowledge of west African blues was zero before and I found this floated by reasonably but it's not going to get any regular rotation

Extremely cool.

I loved reading about him, Touré seemed like a really good human. Reading about how music in Mali has since been outlawed was also sad to hear, but I'm glad I know about it now. Great guitar playing, really high musicianship. I respect this a lot. The 3 is because I read l rate based on whether I'd listen again.

Not my thing, but pretty neat!

I can certainly respect it but not my thing. Very bluesy/West African. 6/10.

He's always interesting but not quite enough to make it into my rotation.

Nothing bad here. Just hard for me to get to not it due to the language barrier.

ganz ok.

Interesting rhythms, love the guitar.

Nice summer music. Would be great to have on in the background and just relax. Wouldn’t be on my constant rotation.

Going in, I already know that blues is something I do not vibe with at all, so just going with the flow of the music is hardly an option for me. Flow, to me, feels like something to groove to, perhaps even dance a little, but this album suffers heavily from seemingly having nothing going on. Perhaps lyrically it is more investible, or maybe I should be blown away by the guitar picking, which I can admit is technically quality, but is incredibly dull, and the appearance of minimal percussion as well as rarely a brass or woodwind instrument, just leaves the album feeling barren. Not in a personal nor gripping way, but rather something to understand as its bare minimum the moment you hear it. Once you hear the first track, that't it, you are not getting something deeper here. It won't have a shocking twist track, it won't courtesy you and change to something more interesting, and even if you are a person only here for the "vibe," its hour long runtime only aims to make every track even more repetitive. I was sick of the songs here, ten minutes in, so another forty-five only lead to pure annoyance. It never dives into something offensive, and maybe you'll find yourself getting it more than me and be pleased by the overloaded tracks, but I find this to be a pretty obvious case of an album receiving more praise due to its creator sadly passing away before it release, and while that is a shame, and I mean that, I do not see anything truly remarkable about the music. Add in the fact that this from 2006, and I fail to see why this would be any more essential than any other blues record, and the genre crossover of Songhai music does nothing to the blues presented other than making something more dry a little more humid, and that isn't really a good thing, I feel. Tedious, and due to its length, annoying.

I very much enjoy the guitar work. Don't really understand the lyrics, but it sounds mournful, soulful.

Really damn surprising and cool. Certainly the title track seems to be the highlight, though the whole album has a cool african blues vibe that seems to require the least out of the lyrics to still enjoy it. I had a wonderful evening/sunset beach walk with this being the soundtrack. It was great!

That's not my taste in musik.

Utterly hypnotic. So smooth and soulful. Let the desert blues just wash over you…

Worthy. Dull. (It’s me, not you.)

Lovely to hear significant music that never made the pop charts. The first time I heard Ali Farka Toure was in the late 1980s and his music so securely cemented the thread of the blues as a West African music that my first listen of him continues to resonate. The moment I saw this album come up, I knew it was a five. But why? There is nothing performative about this music. Toure at this point in his career knows what he has and knows what he is doing and his commitment to the fidelity of traditional forms is deep and authentic. He is a brilliant guitar player and singer, and his music is soaked in feeling and reaches into history to source what is to come. Always a spiritual experience listening to him.

An amazing record by an amazing musician. It's like the earth is talking. It's like the wind sings to us. It's like water filling cracks I did not know I had. I do not know what he is saying but this makes me feel more. Good art does that. It meanders, explores corners of the soul like a good story can. And gathers the embers of a life aiming towards its end, surrounded by friends and grounded in the place where the story began and unfolded. And though he was dying at the time and knew it, there is so much life that is flowing through these songs. What a beautiful gift to leave behind.

There were some cool sounds from a large variety of instruments, I wouldn't say it was bad but I did not really enjoy it. Music didn't really go anywhere

I really enjoyed the mash up of world music and the blues! I had never heard of Ali Farka Toure so this is another reason I love this challenge (on most days!)

I enjoyed this - not something I’d put on regular rotation but nice background music

Can see it having its fans but just not for me 2.5*

3/5 perchè non credo che tornerei mai ad ascoltarlo, ma lui ha una voce spaziale e non avrei mai ascoltato african blues senza questo sito, ma sono contenta di averlo fatto.

Senz’altro particolare, una ventata di originalità in questo oceano di album rock. È un suono che si sente poco, almeno per me, ma le vibe sono molto belle, un perfetto album da sottofondo. Forse un po’ lungo?

This is a genuinely interesting, unique sounding album which I'm glad to have heard. However, I think this is best suited to listening while travelling across a scorching hot desert as opposed to rainy London.

Some interesting sounds. But don’t understand the language. Limited snap.

I am very glad that this extremely talented artist has an album on the list. However, it does not thrill me that he has at least two and probably three albums on this list. I first heard Ali Farka Toure on his collaboration album with Ry Cooder. That was a revelation and an opportunity for deeper exploration of west African music. But even in my appreciation, there’s not that much variety to significantly differentiate Savane from his debut or Talking Timbuktu. One is plenty - it opens the door. Two is just pushing someone else off the list.

This album is awesome in a Twilight Zone way. So much BLUES- but different. Reminds of when Tower Records had headphones and you could listen to music from around the world. I would have listened and liked it

Not well versed in world music, but I liked it.

Sounds Cajun

Too much happening musically

Yeah, not really my kind of music. Not bad I guess but nothing jumped out at me, nothing I'd listen to twice

1.5/5

This was surprised me with the guitar work. Made for good background and foreground music

I liked it mostly as background music but it was nice.

That's some finger lickin' guitar pickin', I tell you hwat.

It's not bad, it's just not my thing; with a lot of repetition in the music/sound.

This was okay. It had elements of what sounded like delta blues, which was very cool, but overall it didn't keep my attention.

Really Enjoyed! Love this African schlaze music, also had a healthy dose of blues riffs in here too! loved it.

Not one that really resonated with me

Very relaxing blues, but not good enough for me to look past the fact that I have no clue what he's singing about.

Serviceable blues. Wish I spoke the language to know what he is singing about.

First listen Saved 3/13 Top track: Savane

Blues with an African flavor is certainly interesting, I just don't care for the blues.

New album for me, would not be my first choice for an AFT album.

Very nice repetitive compositions.

de unaa. 6/10

I didn’t have much to say other than the percussion was nice and it all blended together. So much so that the album restarted and it took me a couple songs to realize (2.5/5)

Pretty decent.

Nice enough. not mind blowing.

Very interesting. 3 stars

This sounds like American blues & African creole mixed together, which definitely perked my ears. I don't know exactly what he's singing about, but I could somehow relate. I'd bet if you played this album on a hot summer night while drinking hooch with your friends, it would be a certain kinda vibe. This album deserves to be in this challenge. 3.5 stars.

Survivor music.

i like the style and instruments but not the singing 3.5

Idc

Kovin on monipuolinen, niin soittimiltaan kuin tunnelmaltaan ja ääniltään ja kieliltäänkin. Hyvin mukavaa kävelymusiikkia.

Miellyttäviä variaatioita hyvästä riffistä.

This is pretty good

African blues? It certainly feels real, and I enjoyed this for a background listen.

Excellent voice excellent guitar

If the blues we know in the western world is an adaptation of and growth from traditional African blues, then this, at times, is influenced by the western blues. It’s like if you translate a phrase from English to a foreign phrase with Google translate, then take that translated phrase and run it back through into English. It might have some of the same words, but the meaning could be totally changed. So that said, it’s tough to review this when much of the cultural context is lost. It was really pleasant to listen to. The melodies, both instrumental and vocal, were lovely. The guitar playing is repetitive to the point of being comforting and hypnotic at times. The rhythms were almost always complex without being overwhelming. I enjoyed this but I don’t know what else to say. Three stars. Standout tracks: Erdi, Beto, Savane, Hanana, Gambari Didi, Banga, N’jarou

Did not listen

A great combination of Subsaharan, Blues and Folk. Something unique and some songs have a hypnotising beauty.

Hated this. I literally had a splitting headache after the first track.

This was a nice discovery for me. I had read about him before. But, had never listened to his music.

While this was my first experience with Ali Farka Touré, I've had some exposure to his music, through a cover album called "Ali", by his son Vieux Farka Touré. I've quite enjoyed that collection, and am happy for the chance to hear the man himself. This was a lovely record. Although I don't speak the language, the music here is universal, and it sounds great. A true vibe. I have minimal experience with African music, but I saw the artist Bombino a few years back, and this recalls that concert. The guitar playing, though foreign, is smooth, intricate and intriguing, and I can't help but tap my foot to it. A chill delight, that I hope to revisit soon.

Every now and then, this list completely redeems itself and produces an excellent album by an artist that I had never heard before. This is one of those times. 5/5

Interesting.

Enjoyed it! Very cool take on the blues and interesting guitar work. It isn’t something I’ll come back to often but I’m glad I’ve heard it.