For his frst electro-acoustic album, Sidi Touré (vocals, guitar, and calabash) is joined by bassist Baba Traoré, drummer Mamadou “Mandou” Kone (who also plays with Vieux Farka Touré), electric guitarist Djadjé Traoré, N’Goni player (traditional Malian guitar) Ousmane “Papou” Dagnon, and vocalist Babou Diallo. This is a re?ection of his performance style of the last three years throughout Mali. The music is a celebration driven by the energy and groove of the rhythms. Toubalbero is exhilarating trance music over?owing with joy and carried by the beauty of Sidi’s voice.
Previous Sidi Touré albums were recorded in a modest tin-roofed studio in Bamako. The recording sessions have to be timed around Mali’s rainy season due to the noise from the rain pelting the roof. Toubalbero was recorded over the course of four days at Studio Bogolan, one of the best in Mali where artists that include Ali Farka Touré, Rokia Traoré, Toumani Diabate and Björk have recorded. The album was recorded by Yaya Cissé and produced by Nicolas “Covalesky” Richard. The songs were recorded live to tape in order to capture the energy of the performance. The album was also mixed entirely live by Jason Meagher at Black Dirt Studio (Steve Gunn, Jack Rose). The approach mirrored the live mix of a performance. Much as mixes by the great King Tubby, it retains all the joy and energy of a gig.
Sidi Touré’s Toubalbero is an exuberant and irresistible call out for unity and peace for Malians and Africans. Much like the drum that gathers folks in Goa, this album’s aim is to unite through joyous expression for the greater good of all. Unity is strength and joy is unstoppable.