On Toubalbero, the fourth album of his Thrill Jockey tenure, Malian Songhai blues artist Sidi Touré moves away from the darkly introspective tone of 2013's Alafia with a joyous and lively electric set. Although Mali's politics remain a tenuous concern, the civil war that embroiled the African nation during sessions for Touré's previous album eventually resulted in a 2015 peace agreement, and this shift can be heard in the vigor and vitality of these recordings. Named after a large traditional drum used to call people together in his native region of Gao, Toubalbero brings together a dynamic and decidedly younger group of musicians to back the veteran singer/guitarist, lending a crackle of energy and festivity to the sessions. Employing heaps of distorted electric guitar (Djadjé Traoré) and amplified ngoni (Ousmane "Papou" Dagnon) for the first time, this is Touré's first truly electric-oriented album and you can hear the band stretching out into complex, heavy grooves on tracks like the fiery "Tchirey," "Handaraïzo," and the hard-driving "Kaoula." Recorded live to tape over the course of four days at Bamako's Studio Bogolan and then mixed live at a New York studio by engineer Jason Meagher, the songs have a sprightly flow and gently overdriven texture to them with rhythm section Baba Traoré (bass), and Mamadou "Mandou" Kone (drums) propelling the sessions along with muscle and finesse. Rounding out the band is vocalist Babou Diallo, who can be heard in unison, harmony, and echoing response throughout tracks like the wily "BK" and the powerful title cut. Using this newfound volume, Touré extols themes of peace and unity through the might of rhythm and electricity on this confident LP.