Toumani Diabaté "The Mande Variations" (2008)

The Mande Variations
release date: Feb. 25, 2008
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Nick Gold
label: World Circuit - nationality: Mali

Track highlights: 1. "Si Naani" (4 / 5) - 2. "Elyne Road" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Ali Farka Toure" - 4. "Kaouding Cissoko" (4 / 5) - 5. "Ismael Drame" (4 / 5) - 6. "Djourou Kara Nany" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "Cantelowes" (4 / 5)

Studio album by Toumani Diabaté released on World Circuit is a mighty fine solo album featuring Diabaté's wonderful kora play. The style is close to the collaboration works with Ali Farka Touré, which may also be seen in the reference in the homage track #3.

Marie Key "Lys finale" (2022)

Lys finale

release date: Feb. 11, 2022

format: digital (10 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]

producer: Bremer / McCoy

label: Sony Music - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Vinter" - 2. "Tænk" - 5. "Lys finale" (4 / 5) - 6. "Stille måne" - 7. "Verden" - 10. "Festen"

6th studio album by Marie Key following the album Marie Key (2020) saw Key in an attempt to take up the success from her first three solo albums with producer Andreas 'Maskinen' Sommer, and although the album produced a small single hit with "True Love", the album wasn't part of top-40.

Lys finale is easily her most quiet album to date. It's produced by contemporary Danish jazz-duo Bremer / McCoy (bassist Jonathan Bremer and pianist Morten McCoy), and all tracks are co-composed and arranged by the duo, and the end-result is far from the art pop and synthpop-fused predecessors. Stylewise, this might go as indie pop with a strong touch of jazz pop, and most tracks have near minimalist arrangements where bass and a delicate keyboard often are only instruments backing Key's vocal, which is accentuated strongly.

A first listen had me think it was daring and far from expected but I quickly found it a quite strong release. It's not filled with hit material or sing-a-long choruses, and it's primarily the most stripped down songs that work the best - and it's Key's delicate narration that really lifts the album, which then also calls for a native audience, as all songs are in Danish.

This is imho, Key's second best album to date and thus highly recommended.

[ Berlingske 5 / 6, Politiken 3 / 6 stars ]

Blanck Mass "Ted K (Original Score)" (OST) (2022)

Ted K (Original Score) (soundtrack)

release date: Mar. 18, 2022

format: digital (19 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]

producer: Blanck Mass

label: Sacred Bones Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Montana (Main Theme)" - 5. "Revenge" - 7. "Greyhound"

Soundtrack album by Blanck Mass following the release of the live album Mind Killer (May 2021, transmissioned Apr. 2020 during the COVID19-lockdown) and the studio album In Ferneaux (Feb. 2021). The album (issued via the label's bandcamp profile) shares title with the Tony Scott film about the actual Unabomber (sic) Ted Kaczynski, and it's the second full-length soundtrack album credited Blanck Mass, who first scored Nick Rowland’s acclaimed Calm With Horses (OST) from 2020.

The soundtrack here is yet another fascinating work by Benjamin John Power, who simply seems to continously expand musical barriers whenever he produces a new album - be it as solo artist, as new central member of alt. rock act Editors, or when setting the tone for a full-length feature film. The album doesn't provide us with a long list of single hits, but works as a whole. Blanck Mass displays a nice balance of various intense sensations between good and evil - there's always an underlying current of something intruiging, something luring, and various amounts of... desperation.

Ted K (Original Score) works nicely on its own terms and only makes you interested in seing Tony Scott's film.

Recommended.

Ella Fitzgerald "Sings the Essential Cole Porter Song Book" (1956)

Sings the Essential Cole Porter Song Book

release date: May 1956

format: vinyl (2022 reissue - Colored Series - yellow)

[album rate: 4 / 5]

producer: Norman Granz

label: 20th Century Masterworks - nationality: USA

Album by Ella Fitzgerald, which happens to be a shortened version of the double album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (May 1956) released on Verve Records containing 32 tracks. This 'truncated' version contains 14 tracks, and despite all fourteen songs truly are essential, I see no good reason to leave out the remaining tracks. The album has been reissued in various formats, including longer editions with alternate recordings. Good news is, Verve Records have reissued the 2 lp vinyl album in its original form, which of course is the right one to get.

1956 double album