07-06-2022, 11:25
CATRIN FINCH & SECKOU KEITA ~ Echo
![[Image: 5065002172181_16239919f25541.jpg?1651074195]](https://images.roughtrade.com/product/images/files/000/242/279/hero/5065002172181_16239919f25541.jpg?1651074195)
An unlikely alliance between a Welsh harpist and Senegalese kora player and drummer, and nothing unholy about it either - quite lovely cascades of sound these two make together. Such a history behind both instruments what with the harp being the most ancient of stringed things (unless I'm mistaken) - and the kora is a kind of harp too I suppose! Completely different origins, culture and traditions and yet a brilliant match of musical equals. It's their third album - have not heard any others yet but will go and listen to Soar now.
Mostly instrumental - harp and kora of course, but also an additional string section which gives the whole thing some serious weight, and occasional vocals by Seckou Keita. As in the case of listening to Ismaël Lô (whatever happened to him?) - it doesn't matter to me that I don't understand any of it! Real 'world' music.
The lead track ... "Gobaith" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWI8y8oM2PY
"Jeleh Calon" .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noglLjnRRVg
"Dimanche" -
![[Image: 5065002172181_16239919f25541.jpg?1651074195]](https://images.roughtrade.com/product/images/files/000/242/279/hero/5065002172181_16239919f25541.jpg?1651074195)
An unlikely alliance between a Welsh harpist and Senegalese kora player and drummer, and nothing unholy about it either - quite lovely cascades of sound these two make together. Such a history behind both instruments what with the harp being the most ancient of stringed things (unless I'm mistaken) - and the kora is a kind of harp too I suppose! Completely different origins, culture and traditions and yet a brilliant match of musical equals. It's their third album - have not heard any others yet but will go and listen to Soar now.
Mostly instrumental - harp and kora of course, but also an additional string section which gives the whole thing some serious weight, and occasional vocals by Seckou Keita. As in the case of listening to Ismaël Lô (whatever happened to him?) - it doesn't matter to me that I don't understand any of it! Real 'world' music.
The lead track ... "Gobaith" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWI8y8oM2PY
"Jeleh Calon" .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noglLjnRRVg
"Dimanche" -
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson


