Amadu Bamba - Drums Of The Firdu Fula 2004

To anyone who ever thought a drum-only CD wouldn't hold up to extended listening, this disc is the perfect rejoinder. These songs from Senegal's Firdu Fula people are so varied and intense that adding a melodic instrument would be unthinkable. Most pieces kick off with with a simple initial rhythm that quickly develops in complexity and variation. And if that weren't enough to rivet the listener, varying timbres and tones from the crosstalk among tuned drums, rattles, and other percussive instruments add to the complexity. In fact, the pieces where drum master Amadu Bamba is accompanied by vocalistJaiteh Baldeh recall drum-centered West African pop genres like Nigerian juju or fuji. A large part of the literature for the Firdu Fula's drum music is music for wrestling tournaments, and two exciting examples are featured here. Village Pulse has done it again with one of the best-sounding field recordings I've heard in a while. AMG.

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