Mammane Sanni Abdoulaye - Taaritt (2014)

Cosmic synth. Polyphonic analog synthesizers and drum machines interpret ancient Saharan folk ballads in an imagined science fiction future. A proposed relaxation guide, sonically lying somewhere between ambient library music and minimal wave. Recorded in Niger and France in the late 1980s and never before released.

Sweet electric keyboards from Mamman Sani Abdoulaye – recorded in both Niger and Paris, on a host of cool keys with a very spacey vibe! The music here is neither the Afro Funk you'd expect, nor the electro sounds of New York or Europe – but an unusual fusion that's very individual, and which almost places Abdoulaye in the cerebral territory of an artist like Laraaji, but with a bit more force! The tunes are definitely melodic, and have a nice sense of rhythm – even though most numbers are relatively mellow – and although Mamman can spin out an introspective passage when he wants, he keeps things from ever getting too meditative in the end. All tunes are instrumental – recorded on Roland, Yamaha, and other keyboards – on titles that include "Alfarey", "Ci Da Dy", "Ya Bismillah", "Dangay Kotyo", and "Taaritt".

Tracklist:

1. Ya Bismillah (04:21)
2. Ci Da Dy (05:53)
3. Alfarey (05:37)
4. Gosi (05:34)
5. Dangay Kotyo (04:16)
6. Amiram (05:45)
7. Zara Zarakoy (04:50)
8. Taaritt (07:11)