ROKKU MI ROKKA - YOUSSOU N’DOUR
Senegalese world music icon Youssou N’Dour follows his Grammy Award-winning album “Egypt” (2004) with “Rokku Mi Rokka,” a collection of songs every bit as compelling as its predecessor. This time out, however, N’Dour focuses on tunes from the north of Senegal, the region bordering Mali and Mauritania. N’Dour wrote all 11 songs, which is quite an accomplishment given that he’s working with several regional styles. One constant is his sense of rhythmic groove, and a good place to plug into that vibe is “Sama Gammu,” which features guest vocalist Ousmane Kangue. Another winning number, “Pullo Ardo,” is a simple song about a simple man, yet the rhythmic hook will linger most pleasantly for days.
