Toure, Ali Farka / Red & Green
Album: Red & Green   Collection:World
Artist:Toure, Ali Farka   Added:May 2005
Label:Nonesuch/Atlantic  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2005-07-04 Pull Date: 2005-09-05 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Sep 11 Aug 28 Aug 21 Aug 14 Jul 31 Jul 24 Jul 17 Jul 10
Airplays: 1 1 2 1 1 4 3 4

Recent Airplay
1. Oct 20, 2021: Draupadi's Half-Hidden Garden
Laleiche
4. Jul 10, 2014: The Sunset Life
La Drogue
2. Jan 04, 2017: At the Cafe Bohemian
Cherie
5. May 01, 2014: The Sunset Life
Timbindy
3. Apr 02, 2015: The Sunset Life
Ketine
6. Oct 06, 2013: The Sunset Life
M'baudy

Album Review
Fo
Reviewed 2005-07-01
Ali Farka Toure – “Red & Green”
Nonesuch, 1984/1988

Reissue of two brilliant early albums by the Malian guitar master, who was already in his 40s at the time. Toure’s playing, which combines the traditional feel of West Africa with a back-porch blues sense that draws frequent comparison to John Lee Hooker, is fine throughout.

The “Red” album is all duos with Hammer Sankare on calabash & backing vox. The “Green” album features a 2nd guitar on tracks 5-8, with Sankare back for the other half. The tracks are all very similar: snakily circular rhythms, plain, slightly raw male vocals, and gorgeous guitar. Lyrical content a mix of love songs and socially conscious messages.

DISC 1 (Red)

1. 5:37 – loping midtempo, hypnotic
2. 6:33 – very bluesy, more upbeat
3. 4:39 – uptempo, train-like rhythms
4. 5:44 – lilting rhythm, nice duo vox
5. 5:32 – pure blues, African style
6. 7:13 – relaxed, tricky melody & beat
7. 4:39 – midtempo, nice percussion
8. 3:42 – strong vocal duet, steady beat

DISC 2 (Green)

1. 3:49 – swaying rhythm, rough vocal
2. 4:25 – cool vox, insistent rhythm
3. 6:02 – quick tempo, good duo vox
4. 4:01 – some very fine pickin’
5. 7:43 – light dance/work rhythm
6. 8:55 – cool vocals, pretty guitar, long!
7. 4:52 – solid rhythm, very masculine
8. 5:21 – this one has the desert touch

[Fo] - 7/1/05


Track Listing
1. La Drogue   9. Sidi Gouro
2. Ali Aoudy   10. O Kata Gouna
3. Cherie   11. Devele Wague
4. Timbindy   12. N'timbara
5. Laleiche   13. Zona
6. Ketine   14. M'baudy
7. Laisse Les Phases   15. Petenere
8. Baliky Lalo   16. L'exode