The Next Case of the Desert Passage (Big Sound)

I suppose it's some sort of collector's hubris... but I get particular pleasure from bringing you listeners sounds that are obscure to American circles and cherished by collectors. For various reasons, cultural and geopolitical, the psychedelic sounds of some West African countries have not been sufficiently reissued over the years... Mali in particular. So today I again have the pleasure of sharing some mind-blowing music from Mali's golden era (with contributions from Guinea, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Ivory Coast).

Everything in today's show was recorded between 1970 and the early 1980's. We will hear several incarnations of show favorites "Rail Band." Also several tracks from "Les Ambassadeurs," the Ivory Coast outfit created when original singer Salif Kieta and other members of original Rail Band moved their operation to Abidjan. 

Many of my "Desert Passage" theme shows begin with folk music from the Sahel, and the focus is often on softer, more trance-like sounds. This is not that kind of show. There is no particular progression in today's show... no 60's to 70's arc, no acoustic to electric storyline... just mind-blowing psychedelic folk-rock-disco from top to bottom. Big sounds today. You'll see what I mean.