Djam Leelii

I was expecting more polyrhythms, but overall it’s quite nice.

Музыкальный критик из самых лучших побуждений добавил альбом этнического музыканта в топ. Это замечательное просветительское решение не включает мое обязательное одобрение.

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.

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.

Didn't mind it but too outside my comfort zone for a high score. Would never listen again.

In this book to hit a diversity quota. Absolute drivel.

Meh

Baad

OK? it was not what i was feeling

4

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.

Not my jam

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-

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

Tuareg rock usually gets me hard, but this only gave me a semi.

Great tunes, even if I don't understand the words.

good background music, nothing exciting

Dreamy

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!

good easy listening, like Savane

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

Nicht so richtig meins.

I have a hard time appreciating music I can’t understand. Sounded interesting though.

Música africana no me llegó ninguna canción en especial

Did not listen, absolutely zero interest in this type of music.

DNF,

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.

Byłaby lepsza bez wokalu

It probably was of some cultural significance but did not enjoyed this one

not my thing...didn’t sound horrible but i didn’t like the album

Really enjoyed this. So unique. The instrumentals were a highlight throughout the album

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).

ihan ok musiikkia, mutta laulusta en tykkää. 2.5 tähteä..

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.

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.

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.

Not my fav

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.

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.

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.

This is lovely! Relaxing, hopeful, energetic, and worldly. It makes me feel far away (in a nice way).

4

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.

Ok. Not exciting

A little different, tribal sounding for the most part, that's the point of these right, to listen to a lot of different sounds!

I appreciate it, but nah.

Pretty cool, good vibe

Solid as hell. Good vibes, reminds me of that one Ethiopian song I love from Feets' Ice Caps playlist

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.

i dont feel its special nor do i like it that much but its not horrible

Very interesting, relaxing

pretty interesting

Sonically interesting, perfect blend of electronic sounds and traditional African sounds and beats.

Ret skørt, uforståeligt vestafrikansk musik, egentlig okay afslappende

I enjoyed it, especially while making breakfast, but the language barrier creates a sameness throughout

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?

Love listening to different Music from different cultures

dull...

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.

3.5/5. Nice listen, would make great background music in a hookah lounge. Standout Tracks: Maacina Tooro, Djam Leelii, Sehilam

Surprisingly refreshing and endering

Not for me.

oooh traditional, i like it

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.

Relaxing, overall enjoyable; just not necessarily my jam

I like this kinda stuff… very relaxing!