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Back to: Archive · 2002 Kora blimey! From the NME, 13 April 2002. Uncredited.  Damon Albarn and his latest Blur offshoot, the Mali Music project, made their UK debut at the Barbican in London on March 28. Bringing together the musicians that the Blur singer met on his Oxfam-organised trip to Mali in July 2000 and Albarn's established band of session players, the show marked the release of the 'Mali Music' album on Honest Jon's Records on April 15. In front of an audience that included Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, Gorillaz' Jamie Hewlett, composer Michael Nyman and a BBC Four camera crew, the 13-strong band played an hour-and-a-half set that alternated the crossover album tracks with unadorned Malian music, featuring local musical heroes Afel Bocoum, Ali Farke Toure and Ko Kan Ko Sata Doumbia. A mood of happy trepidation characterised the first part of the set, as the band had only benefitted from a short rehearsal time on Albarn's five-day trip back to Mali the week before. Musical director Mike Smith attempted to corral the diverse band - including instruments such as the kora, calabash, balafon and ex-Senseless Thing Cass Browne on drums - while Albarn, in string vest and combat trousers, exchanged smiles with his onstage companions. It did not take long, however, for tracks such as 'Le Relax' - which Albarn explained was named after a restaurant in Mali's capital city Bamako - and 'The Djembe' - the name of a club for young musicians - to come to life. However, it was 'Sunset Coming On', a Malian-tinged take on 'Tender', that proved just how successful the evening had been in avoiding the spectre of Sting and Paul Simon. |