Wagadu Grooves Vol 2: the Hypnotic Sound of Camara 1991-2014

Gaye Mody Camara has had a remarkable career. A young Malian who moved to France in 1977, he started out selling nuts, then moved into music and ran Camara Productions, a label that had little publicity in the UK, but was responsible for massive sales – often on cassette – across West Africa. He specialised in the contemporary music of the Soninke people, many from Mali, with Afro-pop styles dominated by electric guitars, keys and even drum machines – though with traditional instruments also making an appearance. There are 12 tracks on this new Wagadu Grooves compilation (Vol 1, covering 1987-2016 was released in February last year) and it’s dominated by female singers. There’s Doussou Bagayoko, daughter of the Wassoulou singer Nahawa Doumbia who’s singing is mixed in with kamalengoni from Harouna Samaké, synths and a solid riff on the driving ‘Taman’, while ‘Dja Dja’ is a great dance song from Adja Souman, daughter of another Malian star, Fanta Damba. The male singers include Abdoulaye Brévété, from Guinea, with Cuban-influenced dance track ‘Faalé Mokoba’ featuring horns and some impressive guitar work.