Vintage organ, horns, and
funk
backbeats give this Malian husband and wife's second U.S. release a different feel than their stateside debut. Still, it's
Amadou
's slithering guitar leads and
Mariam
's soaring voice that all but steal the show from the couple's wildly talented band. This is a
world music
album in the most expansive of senses, proving just how easily a soulful combination of rhythm and notes can communicate across such meager divides as culture, politics, blindness, and language. Highly recommended. ~ Brian Beatty