With so many discs by female singers from Senegal and Mali out there, the temptation is to slot Yandé Coudou Sène's debut in with all the rest mixing traditional and contemporary sounds to varying degrees. Wrong call -- Sène is a legendary diva in Senegal, 65 years old when Night Sky in Sine Saloum was released, so she's coming from a pre-Youssou N'Dour/Orchestre Baobab generation tradition. The songs are all traditional (arranged by Sène), but the music taps into a sound built on drums and vocal interplay that makes for a unique and very intriguing listen. What makes it so unique is that it doesn't just reference African music. The interplay between the backing singers and Sène on "Salmon Faye" and "Gainde" strongly recalls Colombia's Totó La Momposina -- so do "Natangue" and "Gnaikha Gniore Ndianesse" with its serious drumming. Even more eye-opening are "Bofia Tigue Waguene" and "Salmon Faye (Reprise)" -- the arresting harmony blend is really reminiscent of another vocal tradition and damned if it doesn't seem to be the polyphony of the Bulgarian voices. Sène is more declamatory than pin-your-ears back spectacular, but she is an absolutely commanding and authoritative singer. Listen to the way she masterfully locks her vocal line into the drum rhythms near the end of "Keur Man Codou," and the virtuoso turn of her impressive, throaty vibrato on the a cappella "Keur Man Codou (Reprise)." The music revolves around the drums, with traditional violin added on "Gainde" and "Natangue," while "The Dream" could be an Afro-chillout instrumental with spare balafon (?) over the drum bed. Night Sky in Sine Saloum is a very refreshing, excellent disc that breezes by (that's a compliment). The only complaint is that it's just 40 minutes long with two songs reprised and one instrumental. The most impressive thing is that it's not limited to just the Senegalese or African music sphere -- this music can connect with female voice and percussion traditions anywhere in the world. ~ Don Snowden, All Music Guide
Aziz Dieng (Engineer), Aziz Dieng (Mixing), MBaye N'Diaye (?), Paul Wickliffe (Mixing), Paul Wickliffe (Remastering), Camara (Kora), Abou Guisse (?), Abou Guisse (Salam), Joan Pelosi (Design), Musa Dieng Kala (Producer), Musa Dieng Kala (Mixing), Thomas Rome (Liner Notes), Yandé Coudou Sène (Arranger), Yandé Coudou Sène (Vocals), Yandé Coudou Sène (Main Performer), Yandé Coudou Sène (Performer), Abdou Less (Percussion), Aida Mbaye (Vocals (Background)), Amy Sene (Vocals (Background)), Pape Fall (Percussion)
