M IS FOR MALI
Songhoy Blues are a big deal. And I understand why: they make music so unapologetically awesome, it’s hard to sweep them under the umbrella of world music or ignore them due to excessive xoticism. They rock, with the raw uninhibited kind of vibes that were commonplace in Max’s Kansas City. This is why Julian Casablancas records them on his label, Damon Albarn asks them to warm for him, and Iggy Pop makes an appearance singing about the absence of pizza and KFC in the Sahara. You know how he gets when there’s a desert nearby? Ha. This album is both a unique piece, and a perfect observation on the postcolonial musical irony. Sharply smart and unforgettable. On an interesting note, BitDefender, my antivirus, tried to block me from visiting the Songhoy Blues website, claiming it was a phishing attempt. That’s racist, BitDefender.
Résistance by Songhoy Blues
Released by Universal Music in 2017
