2008, Nov 17

Welcome To Mali

Highly Rated Nonesuch Pitchfork 8.4/10 A.V. Club A- Evening Standard 4/5 Paste 5.5/10 All Music 4/5 Under The Radar 9.0/10 Mojo 4/5 The Observer 5/5 Pop Matters 7/10 The Guardian 4/5 Spectrum Culture 80% music OMH 4/5 Sputnikmusic 4.0/5 Uncut 10/10

Pitchfork 8.4/10 Amadou & Mariam reached international acclaim after 2005's Dimanche à Bamako; they follow that with a more global record featuring guests from France, the Ivory Coast, and Canada, as well as Englishman Damon Albarn.

A.V. Club A- Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia, a married couple from Mali who first met at an institute for the blind, have been making music together in one form or another since 1976. Through recordings and joyously energetic live shows, the pair attracted a following that grew exponentially with the release of Dimanche À…

The Observer 5/5 Yes, the pair's backstory is engaging, says Ben Thompson, but their music is more alluring still

The Guardian 4/5 Another infectiously rousing set, even if it doesn't have quite as many memorable songs as Dimanche