Miro gets a 4* review in Songlines
Songlines Jan Issue 2012
Seckou Keita Miro Astar (48 mins)
Well-travelled griot keeps the home fires burning
Seckou Keita is representative of a new breed of African musician for whom the world really has become a global village. Born into a griot family in the Casamance region of Senegal, he now lives in Nottingham, and recorded this album in six countries across three continents, from Dakar to Havana and from Seville to Bogota. The opening track ‘Rewmi’ (Country) was a popular anthem calling for unity during the Senegalese elections earlier this year, with Keita’s rippling kora work and sturdy voice underpinned by female backing vocals, calabash and the throbbing pulse of Cuban bass player Michel ‘Pata’ Salazar. ‘Hino’ finds the Spanish singer Inma ‘La Carbonera’ delivering a characteristically passionate flamenco vocal in duet with the soulful, Arabic-tinged voice of Mohamed Diaby over Keita’s lovely solo kora. Salazar returns again on ‘Kouma’, a tour de force on which he’s joined by Colombian percussion, flute and balafon. Yet the album is far from being a global mishmash of styles. Rather it beats strongly with a sense of unity of purpose, rooted in both Mandinka and Wolof traditions, so that however far Keita’s musical travels take him, his proud griot heritage journeys with him.
TRACK TO TRY: Kouma
Nigel Williamson
This article caught my attention because the information is explained in such a clear manner. I liked how the writer avoided unnecessary technical language and focused on useful details. It made the topic easier to understand and kept me interested throughout.
Couponpitara
This review beautifully captures how Miro brings together different musical traditions without losing its strong connection to Seckou Keita’s Mandinka and Wolof heritage. The collaborations across countries and styles sound particularly intriguing. I recently came across a similar discussion on a review blog Go Collectiv, and it offered an interesting perspective as well. The description of “Kouma” definitely makes me curious to hear the album.
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Really enjoyed reading this review—it does a great job explaining how Seckou Keita blends different musical influences while staying true to his roots. After listening to music like this, I like to unwind with something fun like Rocket Goal , which is a simple game that's easy to pick up and really relaxing for a quick break.