From the Diabate lineage of jalis,
Kasse Mady here presents an album of semi-contemporary music. There are tracks of more traditional work, with the nkoni replacing the more usual guitar, but even then synthesizers tend to creep into the picture when no one is looking. More often, there is a deliberate mix of the old style of vocals with the new style of instrumentation. The songs are sometimes loping and sometimes somewhat too lengthy for their own good. Aside from this, the music is performed well. The arrangements are always tight and the vocals are always perfectly timed, even if the voice is perhaps a slight bit weaker than some of the artist's contemporaries. One would do well to pick up albums from other Malian artists prior to
Kasse Mady, as well as a number of Senegalese artists. Fode is certainly a worthwhile listen, but not at the top of any given best-of list. ~ Adam Greenberg