What people search:
 | Title : Black Ivory Soul
Author : Kidjo, Angelique
Release Date : 20020319
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $12.99
Amazon.com Price : $9.99
(23
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Editorial Reviews :
Angélique Kidjo's previous albums have been decidedly patchy affairs, with tracks ranging from the sublime to the abysmal. With Black Ivory Soul, however, Kidjo strikes a lovely and generally consistent note. Exploring the connections between her native Benin and Brazil's Bahia region, she makes beautiful music flavored by two continents on songs such as 'Tumba,' with its crisp but subtle percussion driving a lilting melody, or 'Afrika,' where the cascading notes of the kora help bridge the Atlantic. Co-writing with talents like Carlinhos Brown and Vinícius Cantuária has helped; they've toned down the R&B influence than ran through Oremi and replaced it with something more individual. Kidjo sounds strongest when she's very rootsy, as on her cover of Gilberto Gil's 'Refavela,' which stands in stark contrast to the bland 'Iwoya,' a duet with Dave Matthews that sounds like nothing more than a calculated shot at radio airplay. Even the odd track out, a version of 'Ces Petits Riens' by Serge Gainsbourg, works because of its spare delight. In following her muse and her history, Kidjo has produced her best work to date.
Buyer Reviews :
Angelique presents her new offering with smooth, sensual style. Absolute treasures on the album include a jazzy choral 'Bahia,' Samba-slick 'Tumba' (you'll be singing that chorus for days), the understated and powerful 'Iemanja' (another spelling for the name of the goddess Yemaya), the sweet ballad about family 'Okan Bale,' and a sparse but compelling 'Mondjuba.' There are a few tracks toward the middle which mix and meld to make a bit of background noise, and the background vocals are at times uninspiring, but Kidjo's soaring voice helps to lift it out of any major trouble. The only grief I have with the album is the sappy, boring, catering duet with Dave Matthews. Dave Matthews?? His voice clashes with all of the background vocals, and the lyrics are syrupy and predictable. Skip that one at all costs! Seems that the producers are ready to introduce Angelique to the American mainstream (about time!) but they think that she cannot carry a #1 single herself. Shame on them for getting air-time candy. Otherwise, I strongly urge you to pick this up for a listen, it'll only take a hint of 'Bahia' or 'Black Ivory Soul' to get you running to the store.
(by sarra)
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