Vieux Farka Touré's collaboration with stylistically fluid Texan trio
Khruangbin is a set of interpretations of songs by the Malian guitarist's father, the legendary
Ali Farka Touré.
Ali's children chose the songs for the musicians to perform, and
Vieux directed the group, trusting them to go with their instincts, as they hadn't played the compositions before. The results are far from by-the-numbers readings, with the artists reshaping the material to fit their own sensibilities. Picking up on the reggae vibes of "Savanne,"
Khruangbin add a cavernous dub rhythm and glowing keyboards, letting the song glide smoothly, but not too softly. All of the elements seem to gel during "Diarabi," which has a similarly wet echo and shades of melodica, as well as entrancing backup vocals. "Tongo Barra" switches the tempo up to a funky strut, adding shuffling beats to rhythmic guitars and spirited vocal chants. "Tamalla" begins as a laid-back call-and-response, then kicks into a boisterous party rhythm later on, with hard group claps placed every two bars. "Mahine Me" is a brief but hypnotic zydeco-inspired accordion workout. The energy cools down on the shimmering crawl "Ali Hala Abada," and the mainly instrumental "Alakarra" feels like music for the closing credits of a film or series rather than a proper song. The two acts fit each other like a glove, as both of them are clearly open to incorporating a multitude of influences without sounding like they're stretching too far outside their comfort zones. The album's production is warm, spacious, and full of depth, but not in an overwhelming way.
Ali is casual-sounding yet inspired, and a tremendously inviting listen. ~ Paul Simpson