New Music From Ismael Lo on Calabash Music

Diawar

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:40:12 -0500

From the great Senegalese vocalist Ismael Lo comes this album, his fourth solo effort (though it also includes a number of tracks from his sophomore release, Xiff). The horn arrangements are tight, and the combination of horns and guitar lines makes for a nice, danceable groove throughout the album. Aside from the superb instrumental work, however, Lo's voice is really the star of the album. At times able to command the full capacity of many of his African vocalist predecessors (Salif Keita, Youssou N'Dour, etc.), he is also capable of providing a nice, soft vocal texture to lay over the top of the instrumental end if necessary. The voice (and the mastering) has a slight echoing quality to it throughout the duration of the album, which can at times add to the feel of a ballad and at times perhaps get in the way of a quicker funk riff on the guitars. Still, it is a minor flaw in an otherwise stunning album.

Dabah

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:40:12 -0500

"Dabah" has been eagerly anticipated for seven years. Ismael wrote the songs at home, laid down the rhythms in 'Studio 2000' in Dakar and finished the mixing in Paris. Here stands an album of rare quality.

Natt

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:40:12 -0500

Senegalese bands as a whole are consistently into electronics and crossover, in a way that constitutes a new national sound rather than a hit-hunting aberration. Ismael Lo is typical, in that you may find almost anything going on under his mellow Sahelian vocals -- but all of it with the conviction that comes from doing what you like rather than what you think will sell. Released in 1987