I've never really understood the "World Music" section in the record store. What the fuck does that mean? Generally in my experience it means they put the music that's not in English in this section. Basically the redneck manager has the zit faced, high school employees shove the shit he can't understand into the section behind the XXXL Doors and Beatles shirts. So unless you're a big-boned Jim Morrison junky, you'd never stumble upon the Amadou and Mariam gems sitting in the back. I'm not kidding when I say everything this blind, french-speaking duo from Mali touches turns to gold. Their last album, 'Dimanche a Bamako' didn't leave my stereo for at least 5 months. I'm a HUGE fan of these guys and was stunned when I realized they had released a new album and I hadn't heard about it...ahhh, the beauty of categorizing music. Anyways, their latest album, 'Welcome to Mali' picks up where 'Dimanche a Bamako' left off, and even threw in a little electronica feel. Not too much of course, just the perfect amount for this perfect duo's third pefect album. Next time you find yourself aimlessly wandering around the record store, make your way to the back to buy a shirt for your overweight, hippi cousin...then sift through the world music until you find an Amadou & Mariam disc. Just get the first one you see, you'll be making your way back to the World Music section in no time.
http://www.amadou-mariam.com/
J.B.
