Amadou and Mariam
I came to the music of Amadou and Mariam late, seeing them at this summer's Latitude Festival. Since then I have played their warm and upbeat mix of African and European influences every time the weather has started to get me down (nearly every day then). Dimanche a Bamako came out a couple of years ago and in 2006 won the Radio 3 World Music Award for album of the year. There are two chances to see Amadou and Mariam live next week: in what looks like an amazing line-up for Africa Express in the Electric Proms (including Baaba Maal, Rachid Taha, Foals, Magic Numbers), followed the next night by (sadly sold out). If you can't get into either concert Amadou and Mariam will also be appearing on next week's Later with Jools.
All of this activity is ahead of the release of a new album, , in November. While Dimanche a Bamako was produced by and featured Manu Chao, the new one comes from his collaborators Marc-Antoine Moreau and Lauren Jais. The first single from the album is the one exception, produced by Damon Albarn, and which Tim Adams as "like nothing you have ever heard - ethereal Malian wonder meets savvy Britpop keyboards". I'm hoping for another delightful album that will take me though the grey days of winter to the spring.
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