Born in 1961, Issa Bagayogo was destined to lead a farming life in Mali. But music exerted an irresistible force on the boy. It started with the ringing of a cow bell, then Bagayogo learned to play the chamele n'goni (a 6-string harp) and started to sing. A few trips to the capital Bamako yielded him two recorded cassettes of music, but no success. Eventually, Bagayogo moved to Bamako, only became
… an apprentice bus driver there, and suppressed his disappointment and depression with alcohol and drugs. Suddenly he decided to improve his life. He started to sing and play again. He met French producer and sound engineer Yves Wernert and Foamed Koné, ex-guitarist in Ali Farka Toure's band. After some hesitation, Bagayogo agreed to their desire to mix traditional music with beats and samples. Record sales of the debut album Sya (1999) marked the breakthrough for 'Techno Issa'. The Bagayogo-Wernert-Koné trio further developed its Afro-electric style with the albums Timbuktu (2002) and Tassoumakan (2004). The latter album strikes the perfect balance: a convincing synthesis of modern technology and deeply rooted traditional music. The addition of ambient electronics is done in a particularly refined and modest way, so that Bagayogo's tender and elegant singing voice and virtuoso chamele n'goni playing come into their own. Beautiful are the hypnotic funky rhythms and the call-and-response vocals between soloist Bagayogo and the female backing chorus. Not just in music, also in terms of subjects Bagayogo appears to be a bridge builder: in addition to subjects such as ethnic and cultural pride, he sings about AIDS and drug use. A very special album. (SvdP)more
