Oumar Konaté

• Addoh [Clermont Music, 2014] ***
• I Love You Inna [Clermont Music, 2018] A-

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Addoh [Clermont Music, 2014]
Fine Malian singer with explosive trad drummer whose best song after "Welcome" concerns a nation ruined and whose best song after that concerns shaking that thing ("Bisimillah," "Ir Ganda Hassara," "Ayéré Yéré") ***

I Love You Inna [Clermont Music, 2018]
This singer, songwriter, and above all guitarist from northern Mali made his first album in 2007 and his mark with 2014's Addoh. Three more albums followed, one studio and two live with few titles repeated. But except for the Leila Gobi-aided "Bisimillah," which brings 2013's multi-artist, anti-jihadist Festival au Desert to a climactic pitch, nothing I've heard from him equals these 10 new songs. Tougher than jam-band and more lyrical than metal, desert guitar has long been the most engaging extension of the arena-rock idea. For two distinct variations, compare the gentle "I Love You Inna" to the skanking, mournful, interactive, slow-climaxing "Almounakaf." Inna is his wife's name. "Almounakaf"'s summary reads: "Hey you! You brought all this destruction to our country. Get out!" A-