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Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
1989
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!This is why I love this project. I never would have found this. And I may never listen to again. But dang did I like it on this car trip.
Ok so random thoughts on this: 1. Finally something I'd never have heard of otherwise, and not just the Beatles or Bowie for the umpteenth time. 2. Cool guitars and tribal drums. I dunno if traditional music, but something close to it? 3. Singing is alright but wears out its welcome. Gets too Arabic-sounding after a while, like those annoying prayer calls that just blast at 100 decibels in the streets in MENA countries. 4. This album shouldn't go for over an hour. A bit too repetitive. But it would've been fine at 30min for sure. 3/5.
Great listen, atmospheric achostic vibes with african influence, no lyrics some chanting. good to listen and loose yourself in
This is lovely! Relaxing, hopeful, energetic, and worldly. It makes me feel far away (in a nice way).
Gorgeous instrumentation and vocals. I have heard Baaba Maal mentioned by other musicians so it was great to actually be able to listen to him.
A little different, tribal sounding for the most part, that's the point of these right, to listen to a lot of different sounds!
Looks like something I might be interested in... Baaba Maal seems to be a big figure in the music of Senegal, and this is his debut with friend Mansour Seck. It has great vocals from both, in traditional African stylings. On the best tracks (like Muudo Hormo) we also get cool, traditional, organic percussion that fits perfectly. Personally, I'm not a huge guitar fan, so the turn-off for me is the predominance of acoustic (and one time electric) guitar across this album. Having said that, these guys tend towards beautiful, simple melodies that repeat and gradually develop. The best tracks are hypnotically repetitious, which is just the shit I love in any genre of music. It seems like this has just been chosen for the list as "world music for guitar fans" - but I can put up with that, because it's a mesmerising album. 4/5.
Really loved the ethereal feel of this. I didn't pay as much attention to each track as I'd have liked, but having it on in the background is wonderful.
I never would have given this a chance if it weren't for this project, so score a point for the list. Some really nice guitar work that really grew on me as I listened. Best track: Kettodee
Kind of cool. Never would have found this on my own. Songs are all a bit long and of course I have no idea what the lyrics are, but the instrumentals are interesting and it really handles the role of background music very well.
Imaginez un album d'environ une heure constitué de pistes elles-mêmes constituées d'interminables boucles mélodiques. Imaginez maintenant qu'un homme y superpose des sénégalaiseries chantées pour nous faire oublier la redondance de l'instrumental. Vous obtiendrez alors l'album Djam Leelii de Baaba Maal et lui accorderez une note de trois sur cinq.
Not sure, at track one, if this is a me album. Intensely folky and repetitive, but I'm keeping an open mind. It's nice in places, but I'm just not deeply into Senegalese folk jams. Clearly it has value, but it sounds a lot like any other culture jamming - pleasurable for the musician more than the listener. Then it might just be me not understanding the culture well enough. Don't mind some Tinariwen or Manu Chao, but this just isn't grabbing me.
I did not need to listen to this. The music itself is unremarkable. I didn't skip any songs, but I tolerated it.
Not for me. Very long. I can appreciate the fact that it's a completely different style than I've really heard before, but I just couldn't get into it.
I've never heard something like that before, it was a cool experience. Nevertheless felt kinda boring, songs were too long and repeatable, both singing and melodies. And still not my type of music.
I can't for the life of me understand why this album is on 1001. For lack of a better explanation, I'll once again blame the British for this album appearing on 1001 as some attempt to appease their colonial guilt. I'm guessing Baaba is from a West African country. I'm from a North American country. I respect whatever musical traditions they're bringing to the table, and I have a personal responsibility to bring an open mind and hear this music with as few hangups and expectations built up from 36 years of "western" pop traditions, but I sure as hell don't have to like this. Songs are repetitious, droning, no change in dynamics, no development arc. I found small pockets of beauty, but I can find small pockets of beauty in a sewage processing plant. What is the point of this album? Is it just to feel one thing (detached mild ennui) and feel that same thing over and over again until the album ends? Did Baaba Maal want their listeners to accidentally fall asleep at the wheel and plow into a dairy farm? Perhaps perhaps perhaps if I understood the language there could be a deeper emotional impact, but that would have to be some exquisite poetry to overcome the doldrums of the music. D-
This album was a VIBE it felt ALIVE Ko Wone Mayo was especially memorable. Fuck it, five stars, this was unlike anything else, a really nice album.
Musik um ihretwillen; sie erzählt und wird getragen von der Erzählung der Instrumente im Reich des Halls. Der Gesang überkommt die call response Struktur der weithin so gebauten Stammesgesänge. Erinnert eher an Blues und ist in seiner analog trancigen Art einer der Ursprünge für Schaffens des Animal Collective. Mesmerized 4.5
Sonically interesting, perfect blend of electronic sounds and traditional African sounds and beats.
Solid as hell. Good vibes, reminds me of that one Ethiopian song I love from Feets' Ice Caps playlist
Really enjoyed this. So unique. The instrumentals were a highlight throughout the album
Una nova descoberta de la llista. Evidentment, el que més destaca és l'increïble treball de guitarres, que juntament amb una percusió minimalista i unes veus encisadores creen un disc hipnòtic, magnètic. Una mena de 'Marquee Moon' meets 'Graceland' filtrat per l'herència senegalesa. Molt bó, realment
A very interesting sound. I wish I understood the lyrics. I liked most of what I heard as far as instrumentation.
Jeden z tych pickow ktorych sie czlowiek nie spodziewa, bo jest to folkowy album prosto z senegalu, Baaba Maal, to glowa tego projektu, ale wspierany jest przez Mansoura Secka, zarowno na wokalu jak i gitarce, wiec jest to praktycznie plyta duetu Maal-Seck, dodatkowymi instrumentami ktore mozna uslyszec podczas odsluchu to tradycyjne afrykanskie sprzety, tym razem z afryki zachodniej, bo pojawia sie balafon, ktory jest afrykanskim odpowiednikiem ksylofonu, kora ktora mozna okresic jako 21 strunowa harfe, do tego perkusyjne bebnienia i elemety elektrycznych rifow, spotifajowa wersja tej plyty to 12 kawalkow i godzina 12 minut czasu grania, bo jest to wydanie z 98, natomiast orginalne wydanie pochodzi z 89, choc material nagrywany na nia pochodzi juz nawet z 84, nawet pomimo tego, ze kontentu lirycznego nie rozumiem ani troche, to jednak slucha sie tego przyjemnie, bo jest to cos nowego, takiego polaczenia dzwiekow nie slyszalem wczesniej, bo jednak afryka jest dluga i szeroka, a wiekszosc afrykanskich materialow jakie osluchalem, to poludnie i ewentualna polnoc, a zachod ma swoj orginalny urok, ciezko tu wrzucic cos na plejke, bo jednak brzmi to tak odmiennie ze ciezko zgrupowac to na dana plejke, wiec cala plyta leci na poleczke orginalnych pickow plejkowych, nieposzerzajacych horyzonty muzyczne
Good world music album. I like the instrumentals, it's a bit slower than I prefer with some of that type of music I listen to. Still good!
Nije nešto šta inače slušam (shocker) ni šta ću vjerojatno opet ić slušat ali prezanimljiv zvuk, jako muzikalno i smirujuće (možda bi i trebala ponovit s vremena na vrijeme?)
Senegalese tunes and familiar western rhythms are combined beautifully. The album starts with high-energy tracks, and the melodies become more thoughtful later.
Is this what used to be in the reductive "world music" sections in gift shops and book stores? A really enjoyable listen. Baaba has an enchanting voice.
Very lovely. Glad to be introduced to a genre and musical style that I would have been unlikely to find otherwise. Album felt a little long at times and I probably need to be in the right mood for it.
A Travel to Senegal sounds.I’ve really liked these album. Sometimes we have to experience knew cultures.
I didn't understand it at all, but it's very nice to receive this kind of album here on this list. Just listen to it and it's absolutely impossible does not to note the importance and influence of these songs in almost everything I listen to every day. The language, the drums, and everything else is recognizable in some way Unexpected surprise, not understandable, but very cool!
There's some really beautiful music on this album. The guitar playing is absolutely amazing and the percussion compelling and infectious. The vocals took some getting used to but never intruded on my enjoyment of the music. A really beautiful listening experience. 4 🌟
Really hard to describe this album. It is beautiful stuff. It is easy to call it World Music but that does it a disservice as that can just be used for anything not euro/American. I really enjoyed it and want to hear more
3.5/5. Nice listen, would make great background music in a hookah lounge. Standout Tracks: Maacina Tooro, Djam Leelii, Sehilam
Good range of tunes here. Very reminiscent of the Sahel stuff I've been listening to over the past months, but on acoustic instruments and (obviously) recorded cleaner. The last three tracks were unnecessary for me. The title track was the standout.
I enjoyed it, especially while making breakfast, but the language barrier creates a sameness throughout
Yo ya conocía a Baaba Maal, gracias a Mumford & Sons. Me da gusto que aparezca en la lista cosas no angloparlantes y este ejemplo es muy bueno, porque aunque conserva todo sus raíces tradicionales, tiene sus momentos modernos que lo hacen un poco digerible para nosotros. No es lo que escucharía de diario, pero si un día quiero un mood exótico, es algo que pondría con gusto. Lam Tooro se parece a Nothing Else Matters.
Pleasant enough. Not something I'd go back to but it had enough variety to stay interesting.
Track one - did not enjoy. Few tracks after that quite enjoyed, but not my usual music.
Drums are cool, but this is an album that I don't super know how to break down. So, I'm not upset that I listened to it. It's just weird and out there. Found it weirdly relaxing and added it to my relaxing playlist with vocals.
J’aime le genre mais l’album est 1h15. J’aurais prefere pkus court etantndonne la repition du son. Quand me un bel album 3.25
Have to say I found this a bit of a slog. I started listening this to this like 3-4 times, and didn't find it particularly good music to just listen to. I've had it on in the background to work to and it was fine and quite pleasant! Certain bits I appreciated and enjoyed, but some of them the repetition did just get to me. Glad I've heard it but wouldn't seek it out again
Started great, pleased I got something I would never have come across. However, the album did get very repetitive as it went on. If it was around 40 minutes and had the best half of the songs or even more with some edits, it would be a strong 4, maybe a 5. The guitar playing was probably the best thing on here, shows a hint of the music of Senegal and surrounding reigons. I also like the vocals and percussion in this too, gives it a unique feel compared to Anglo-American music which dominates my Spotify.
Neodlučna sam oko ovog. Prije godinu dana bi sigurno imala ne tako dobar dojam o ovom albumu, ali u međuvremenu san gledala neki film di je ovakva glazba savršeno zaokružila cilu scenu pa san tu pismu slušala neko vrime i valjda mi se sad zbog tih pozitivnih sjećanja svidio i ovaj album. Do neke mjere. Malo predug album pa nakon nekog vrimena postane repetitivno. Čak bi mi se više svidilo da je sami instrumental ili možda malo manje pivanja. 2.5/5
This is what this book is made for. I've never heard of this and would have never sought it out. I have absolutely no idea what any of the songs are about, but the vocals sound great. I really dig it, although it is a little long and feels repetitive which lowers the rating for me. 3.5/5
Not overly adventurous but engaging if maybe a tad too long. It is easy to get hooked on the rhythms.
I have heard Baaba Maal sing with Peter Gabriel, Afro Celt Sound System and on the 1 Giant Leap album. In general I like what Maal does, but listening to a whole album is just okay. "Loodo" was my favorite track, and a track that I could come back to an enjoy. "Lam Tooro" was my second most favorite. Some of the longer tracks towards the end of the album felt like more of a distraction than music that I would listen to.
21st April 2022 Listened mainly on the drive out of LA to the desert which was a good setting for this. I appreciate it’s something I wouldn’t normally listen to and does have a great vibe to it but it’s a bit samey for me.
A very relaxing listen, however nothing really stood out to me in particular. I did like the warm vocals and the guitar work was great. It also felt a little long, probably because I listened to the version available on Apple Music which is an hour and 13 minutes with four extra songs.
Some really beautiful songs here. The album was a bit too long, but a really enjoyable listen. Fave Songs: Loodo, Ko Wone Mayo, Salminanam, Muudo Hormo, Lam Tooro, Kettodee
Difícil, igual luego termino de escucharlo por que parece que solo es una canción. Estamos muy acostumbrados a lenguas romance y géneros menos tradicionales y por algo debe de estar en la lista aunque a veces no la entiendo.
Me costó un chingo de trabajo escuchar este disco. Supongo que se debe a que no estoy iniciado en el género del hindi, pero la voz del vocalista es muy difícil de tolerar. Lo único que rescató a este disco de una estrella fue la música, que me parece muy interesante y compleja, y además la canción “Salminanam” que es creo la única donde la voz realmente acompaña la música. Además, esta canción tiene un beat como de Semba, o sea, se puede bailar. A este disco le habría ido mucho mejor si hubiera sido instrumental.
Nunca había escuchado realmente música africana, mucho menos un disco. La experiencia fue buena los primeros 15 minutos. Después de eso no recuerdo nada nuevo, fresco o diferente que me hiciera querer seguir escuchando. Supongo que la barrera del idioma juega mucho en este caso, pero en general suena como una gran canción de 60 minutos con algunas secciones de cuerdas agradables y no más.
Man it was long. And the last 3 songs became irritating. At first it was colorful though the vocalizations are definitely not my thing... a little friendly sound at times. But it was pretty boring and a chore to get through.
Dos guitarras y una voz tocando... ¿"blues" africano? Música agradable, relajante, con un tono alegre. La manera y entonación al cantar me recordó mucho a los cantos de qawwali; a mucha gente le puede desesperar esa manera de cantar pero es algo que a mí siempre me ha gustado. Lástima que siento que el disco ahí se queda... muy agradable... pero no pasa a más. Se siente un poco plano para durar tanto y todas las canciones se pierden y terminan sonando similar, ninguna podría mencionar como mi "favorita" y en ninguna hay ningún elemento que cambie, que sorprenda o que evolucione. Ritmos africanos, instrumentación mínima pero efectiva, cantos buenos. Como mencioné, un disco muy agradable pero tampoco entiendo su inclusión en la lista, creo hay cosas similares igual de bien hechas y algunas que si sobresalen más musicalmente (por más que busqué tampoco encontré nada relevante como para entender alguna importancia en su lanzamiento por la época o el artista).
Beautiful music but boring. I yawned my way through this one. I am not a fan of the electric acoustic and this album is composed solely of that. The album is a bit one note and faded to the background. I generally enjoy Touareg Rock, but this was a little too low octane. Prefer Ali Farqa Toure or Bombino, though those can be boring. This has 90s Starbucks white person written all over it. It is soothing abd nice to listen to, would be good over a cup of Java and talking about your world travels. I respect it. But don’t like it. 2
Why is it that compilers of lists like this, when it comes time to pick an obligatory African album or two, always go for the ones that sound the most like Western music? Wait, I answered my own question. On Djam Leelii, there is little of the rhythmic complexity that characterizes African music or the typical interweaving of instruments. If it weren't for Baaba Maal's vocals, with its tell-tale scales typical of Senegalese music, you'd barely know this was African. Mansour Seck, the traditional griot who was Maal's teacher, accompanies him on guitar. Sadly, Seck isn't an especially inventive or skillful guitarist. You could throw a rock in Senegal and hit 3 or four guitarists better than Seck. There just isn't a lot to this music. Without even trying, I could find 10 or 15 albums of traditional Senegalese music better than this. It's not horrible or anything, just bland and uninspiring.
As far as world music goes, this is a solid entry. Very easy to find the groove, but there isn't any major stand out single, rather a solid listening experience.
Музыкальный критик из самых лучших побуждений добавил альбом этнического музыканта в топ. Это замечательное просветительское решение не включает мое обязательное одобрение.
Gillar. Några bra låtar, men mest ganska förglömliga ändå. Bästa låt: Djam Leelii, för fet basslinga och elgitarr
Proper escapism music, feels like you’re in a different world listening to it. Would I put it on at a party though, unlikely. I can appreciate the instruments, sounds and vocals but it’s probably a 1 listen album.
If you take any couple of seconds from the album it will sound pretty good and the musicians seem skilled. The problem is the hugely repetitive tracks which sound absolutely the same from beginning to end for 6 minutes a piece. Exactly the same couple of chords going on and on... It's not like the individual songs are very different from each other either.
Robert prouve une fois de plus son racisme debordant, et je vais en quelques mots vous expliquer pourquoi: Robert prend un malin plaisir à selectionner des albums de musique africaine de piètre qualité, et de les ranger immediatement dans la catégorie "world", sous pretexte que ces artistes ne viennent pas de son monde à lui. On se retrouve donc avec une multitude de style différents, tous regroupés sous l'égide "world", qui dans le vocabulaire de Robert, pourrait s'apparenter à "les autres", voir de bien pires appelations que je ne me permettrais pas de rédiger ici. Robert, l'Afrique est grande, et les sénégalaiseries des deux comparses Baaba Maal et Mansour Seck méritent certes un 2, mais certainement pas sous le label world.
interesting and unusual experience, that's sure, I like some melodies and vocals, but I don't think that I liked it enough to listen to it again in the short term, something between 2 and 2,5
Interesting stripped back bluesy afro rootsy style. Not unpleasant, but not strong enough to want to listen to again.
Intéressant. Je n'aurais probablement jamais écouté cet album sans cet exercice. Pas mon genre habituel, un peu long, mais intéressant d'entendre des nouvelles sonorités.
Muzikaal zit het nog wel aardig in elkaar, al mag het van mij wel iets energieker. Ik vind de zang echter niet aantrekkelijk. Het geluid niet en ook de taal niet. **
Best Song: Salminanam. I liked the vocal hook, whatever it was. Worst Song: Bibbe Leyde. Felt a little too much like religious prayer for my taste. Overall: A difficult album for me to rate. On the one hand, it is far more sparse and folksy than the music I typically like, and I find the lead singer's nasally delivery grating at times. On the other hand, some of the instrumentation is quite nice, and the fact that it is not in English means that it is something I can listen to in the background without getting distracted. Overall, happy to have heard it, not sure how often I'll come back to it.
2min riitti. Yli ihmisen käsityskyvyn menevää, että tää löytyy listalta. Vai onks tää se levy mikä kuunnellaan vikana ku tappaa ärsyttävyydellään ja surkeudellaan ja sen takia listalla?
Vittu mitä paskaa! Soitanta kuulosti ihan hyvälle, mutta aina kun "laulu" alkoi niin teki mieli viiltää ranteita auki lusikalla. Ei todellakaan jatkoon ja ei enää tällaista paskaa, kiitos.
There's probably a lot of meaning behind this, but I don't understand the lyrics. Comparing this to mariachi, even though I don't understand that, enjoy it more. Either way, I will not likely listen to this again.
Well... I'm sure this is great if you're into it but really not for me. The repetition in the songs made me feel ill!
DNF, it starts off alright with the instrumentals, then the vocal come in and they're grating and repetitive, then you notice the music won't change for the entirety of the song and you wonder what's the point
Musically melodic and interesting, however the droning, nasal, whiney, indiscernible lyrics made this nearly unlistenable.
AGAIN! I DONT DO JAZZ Its fucking musical masterbation, no one wants to watch someone else doing it.
Honestly at first this album seemed fine but it slowly got more and more annoying. Obviously I can't understand any of it, but it just seemed like the same guitar combo thing + nasally singing for well over an hour. It literally was annoying to listen to eventually. It felt like I was in a loop listening to the same not very interesting song
Not for me.