Track Listing

1. Wamba
2. Soro (Afriki)
3. Souareba
4. Sina
5. Cono
6. Sanni Kagniba

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76584 in Music
• Released on: 1997-03-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 38 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Soro is the album that brought Salif Keita international stardom though he was already well-known in West Africa from his work with The Rail Band and Les Ambassadeurs. Keita's voice is in peak form, soaring and swooping with awe-inspiring power. For these sessions, Keita has gathered an all-star band that is innovative, solid and turn-on-a-dime tight. The production, state-of-the-art in 1987, sounds just as bright and fresh today. This CD draws its strength from the rich traditions of Malian culture, melded with cutting edge musical technology and a global outlook. All of the tracks on Soro are crucial, though the bittersweet "Cono" and the intricate and epic title track "Soro" (Afriki) are standouts. --Jeff Grubb

CD Description
Known throughout the world as the golden voice of Mali, Salif Keita was already a star in world music circles before the release of his debut solo album SORO shot him to international stardom. Keita's personal and musical history is long and fascinating. Born a visually impaired albino, he is descended from a great warrior king of the Manding Empire and risked familial disgrace by becoming a musician, a job traditionally seen as for the lower classes. After achieving some success with West African bands like Les Ambassadeurs, Keita moved toward a harder-rock sound tempered by his glorious soaring tenor voice. Produced by the legendary Ibrahima Sylla, SORO broke new ground by blending the traditional griot music of Mali with Euro-Pop sounds and top-flight Western production. The track "Wamba" burns hot with a funky big-band sound that uses a synthesizer to keep the beat and a choir of earthy back-up singers to keep it real. The title track "Soro"also gets the heavy synth treatment, but a chorus of handclaps and Keita's vocal make this track the most moving and effective. The album's explosive energy paired with Keita's vocal sound and phrasing results in a remarkable album.

Customer Reviews

Masterpiece of Malian Music
Soro turned into a great hit for Salif Keita in the late 1980s and was the album that established him on the international scene. Keita¹s music is a successful blend of the traditional griot style with influences from Latin America and other West African pop styles. The female backup singers play a prominent role in the arrangements, at least equal to Keita's own searing vocals.

The music is a happy mix of percussion, bass, guitar, congas, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and keyboards. Soro (Afriki) is a long piece in three parts with different percussive tempos and instrumental breaks. Souareba is a particularly moving song with a spiritual undertone, orchestral arrangement and soaring vocals.

Sina (Soumbouya) is a more traditional piece with a bubbling rhythm, flashes of trumpet and the intricate vocal interplay. With its slower pace and gently lilting rhythm, Cono is a soulful ballad with a lovely melody, whilst the mournful Sanni Kegniba is more traditional with intense soaring vocals.

Soro from 1987 is considered his masterpiece but I like Keita¹s albums Amen and The Mansah Of Mali even more for their greater variety. This however remains a classic of African crossover music.

Gets better every time
Salif Keita has been accused of abandoning his African style to adopt the electronic backing so prominent on this (and other albums of the same time). At first, I agreed, but after listening to this many times, and seeing Salif perform these tracks live, I have to say the reason this works so well is that, unlike many other world music offerings, this backing is all African. You will not find programmed accompaniement like this anywhere else I know of. In addition, there is a real horn section, fantastic guitars, Salif's amazing voice, and the best female backing group since Bob Marley's Wailers. You might not 'get it' the first time, but keep coming back, it's great stuff. It will have you dancing, dreaming and realising (when you read the words) that Salif is 100% African genius.

If you buy only one Afican album...
Well, that is not entirely true - there is lots of excellent African music. But this record is a real standout: at 37 minutes it might seem a little short but every minute counts. Soro (Afriki) is one of the most magnificent pieces of music you are ever likely to hear: a three-part wonder construction that virtually creates a style to itself with its perceptive use of modern instruments and driving horns. Cono is sublime and Sina grabs you right from the outset. Keita's voice is true heaven, going from intense shout to Islamic wailing; and always tastefully. For heaven's sake, buy this album: it is worth every scant little penny, he has never matched it since.