Festival in the Desert [Live]

Amazon.com
Throwing an enormous Woodstock-style music festival in the middle of the Sahara desert--the gorgeous photos included in the booklet to Festival in the Desert make clear--isn't exactly easy. Held during the last three years in the shifting sands of northern Mali, the Festival in the Desert has brought together a mix of desert nomads and pop stars to play sublimely enchanting music in some of the harshest but most starkly beautiful conditions imaginable. Luckily for us, the 2003 Festival produced this impressive and varied CD, mixing together tracks from Malian superstars like Oumou Sangare and Ali Farka Toure with lesser knowns like the Mauritanian singer Aicha Bint Chinghaly and the desert nomads Tinariwen, who a few years ago traded their rifles in for electric guitars when the civil war in northern Mali abated. The biggest name here, of course, is Robert Plant, who turns in a wailing medley of old blues tunes. But Led Zeppelin-heads who buy the CD just for him--particularly those drawn to the Middle-Eastern strains of Plant's music from "Kashmir" through his recent collaborations with Jimmy Page--are in for quite a pleasant surprise when they hear the rest of the disc. What comes across the most, despite the star power present, is the energy of the live performances in such an extraordinary setting, making the Navajo rock band Blackfire, the gorgeous duet between Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi and the Malian kora player Ballake Sissoko, the otherworldly collaboration between French rappers Kwal and the Touareg (desert nomad) guitarist and singer Foy-Foy, and the French sisters Lo'Jo's duet with Malian guitarist Django all sound like natural pairings, unfolding together under the Saharan sky. --Ezra Gale

Festival in the Desert,Various Artists,World Village,Afro-Beat,Afro-Pop,Int'l & World Music,Pop,V/A Compilations,World Beat Collections,World Fusion,World Music,Worldbeat

Average customer rating:

A Fountain of Music from the Desert

Festival of the Desert 2006

Sounds and styles are all over the board!

World Fusion at it's Best!

Cool Musical Spirit Arises from the Hot Sahara Desert

Festival in the Desert
Various Artists
Manufacturer: World Village
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
General | Compilations | International | Styles | Music
International | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Amassakoul

Radio Tisdas Sessions

Ichichila

Aman Iman: Water is Life

Festival in the Desert

ASIN: B0000CBLAM
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Super 11 - Takamba Super Onze
Buri Baalal - Afel Bocoum
Tihar Bayatin - Tartit
Win My Train Fare Home - Robert Plant
Ya Moulana - Sedoum Ehl Aida
Jah Kas Cool Boy - Lo' Jo
Wayena - Oumou Sangare
Karaw - Ali Farka Toure
Aldachan Manin - Tinariwen
Politique - Adama Yalomba
Ariyalan - Tidawt
Chameaux - Ludovico, Einaudi & Ballake Sissoko
Ihama - Kel Tin Lokiene
Le Juge Ment - Kwal
Wana - Tinde
Koultouleili-Khalett La - Aicha Bint Chighaly
Oubilalian - Igbayen
Fady Yeina - Baba Salah
What Do You See - Blackfire
Laisse-Moi Dire - Django

Amazon.com

Throwing an enormous Woodstock-style music festival in the middle of the Sahara desert--the gorgeous photos included in the booklet to Festival in the Desert make clear--isn't exactly easy. Held during the last three years in the shifting sands of northern Mali, the Festival in the Desert has brought together a mix of desert nomads and pop stars to play sublimely enchanting music in some of the harshest but most starkly beautiful conditions imaginable. Luckily for us, the 2003 Festival produced this impressive and varied CD, mixing together tracks from Malian superstars like Oumou Sangare and Ali Farka Toure with lesser knowns like the Mauritanian singer Aicha Bint Chinghaly and the desert nomads Tinariwen, who a few years ago traded their rifles in for electric guitars when the civil war in northern Mali abated. The biggest name here, of course, is Robert Plant, who turns in a wailing medley of old blues tunes. But Led Zeppelin-heads who buy the CD just for him--particularly those drawn to the Middle-Eastern strains of Plant's music from "Kashmir" through his recent collaborations with Jimmy Page--are in for quite a pleasant surprise when they hear the rest of the disc. What comes across the most, despite the star power present, is the energy of the live performances in such an extraordinary setting, making the Navajo rock band Blackfire, the gorgeous duet between Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi and the Malian kora player Ballake Sissoko, the otherworldly collaboration between French rappers Kwal and the Touareg (desert nomad) guitarist and singer Foy-Foy, and the French sisters Lo'Jo's duet with Malian guitarist Django all sound like natural pairings, unfolding together under the Saharan sky. --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews:

A Fountain of Music from the Desert.......2007-06-03

Free yourself from the prison of top ten chart poppers. Enlightenment of the soul is to be found when you journey far from the path. Music is an ancient art infused with the timeless cultures of the world. Have a taste of this mysteriously spicy dish and your palette will never be the same.

Festival of the Desert 2006.......2006-04-21

Just returned, in January, from the latest edition of the Festival au Desert. The music was not as good as this album, but the experience of being at the most exotic music festival in the world certainly made up for it. The highlights, this year, were Habib Koite, an Irish traditonal band and the many lesser known Taureg bands that played throughout the three days. But I was introduced, via tape, to Tinariwen and I had gone hoping to catch Ali Farka Toure at the festival. Listening to this album has really taken me back to Essakane and the Sahara. It is truely a jewel of a cd, capturing some great perfomances by Lo Jo, Robert Plant, Tinariwen, Ali Farka Toure, and a Native American band called Blackfire. Great recording made out in the desert and a true treasure of Malian, Saharan, and other world music. I count it as a top five pick of recent African music.

Andy Hanson

Sounds and styles are all over the board!.......2004-08-30

Billed as the 'Woodstock of the Sahara' and other names, FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT's various artists are unified by one thing: participation in a 2003 desert ethnic music fest sixty kilometers northwest of Timbuktu in Mali.
Its organization - a non-government association of international world councils and unions - includes such diverse groups as Tinariwen, Robert Plant, Ali Farka Toure, Omou Sangare, and more: so don't expect a uniformity of sound or theme in FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT 2003's production: sounds and styles are all over the board.
This is the place to hear new groups; from the renowned band LoJo to the UK answer to Ry Cooder in Justin Adams.
The live recording is clean and clear enough that little is lost in fidelity due to audience participation: so if it's twenty diverse cuts of African music from across the continent that's needed as an introduction to some of the best artists of modern times, don't miss FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT 2003 - or future yearly productions to come.

World Fusion at it's Best!.......2004-03-19

I am sure this "Festival in the Desert CD" is destined to become one of those undiscovered pieces of work that will emerge in it's own time. Drawing together artist in this remote local for a fusion of World Music.
Much like Ry Cooder's "Talking Timbuktu" with the Ali Farka Toure, this World Fusion of music resonates with the modern and tribal.
Try the songs "Karaw" or "Aldachan".
On the Talking Timbuktu CD, try "Diaraby", "Ai Du" or "Amandrai."

Cool Musical Spirit Arises from the Hot Sahara Desert.......2004-03-14

They arrived on camel's backs ... they arrived in SUVS ... they came by airplane ... from the USA and Europe -- to Essakane, Mali, to the Sahara Desert for a concert to end all concerts. Setting up a stage and sound equipment alone must have been a challenge, but the results on this CD -- prove it was a hugely successful effort. Amazing! This is the *third* such event!

Indeed, as the liner notes state, "Magic comes from humans and nature." While the listener can only imagine the magic of the desert ... the magic of the humans can *definitely* be heard on this CD. Track #1 begins with the sounds of the kora (21 stringed Manding harp), accompanied shortly by chanting, and then strong masculine guitar playing ... This music is infectious!!! I am frequently on my feet, unconcsiously improvising indigenous dances to the unbelievable djembe (drum) rhythms on track #1. The liner notes tell us, it is the Tamashek rhythm based on the gait of the camel. The unusual vocalizations of the women's group, "Tartit" awaken the listener to a new realization of melody and synchrony ... Robert Plant and Justin Adams play "blues in the desert" on track #4 and yes (!) Robert Plant can come "crawlin' to me on the floor" any time he wants ... talk about heart-pounding music. Another fusion sound that works wonders is track #6 on which the French group Lo'Jo combine their vocals with the W. Mali composer, Django. The style is soft and fluid. It is accompanied by a dynamic electric violin. This CD includes the chanting, vocals and rock music of the American desert as well, "Blackfire" who hale from Arizona add another dimension to round out the music on this CD. The music is original. The music is contagious. The music is contemporary. This CD weaves musical energy meridians around the planet --- connecting two worlds that are not so far apart.
Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Festival in the Desert
Average customer rating:
Festival in the Desert
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Irl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
International | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Festival in the Desert

ASIN: B0000AZKFU