Rating: NNNN
Bono: love him or hate him, the guy inspires things. This time it’s 12 songs dedicated to U2 by a variety of African musicians. Galloping djembe beats carry Angelique Kidjo’s Benin-verse, English-hook version of Mysterious Ways, a memorable melody that translates well into other tongues.
Bullet The Blue Sky gets electrified by the frisky guitar of Ali Farka Touré’s second son, Vieux Farka Touré, layering the enchanting number in acoustic cobwebs. The commendable liner notes detail the artists’ countries of origin, success stories, major issues and more, making the CD a genuine collectible.
You probably won’t hear a more intriguing remake of Sunday Bloody Sunday this year than the polyrhythmic-pulsing Guinean version produced by Ba Cissoko. But the sultry digi-boogie of Les Nubians’ With Or Without You kinda misses the mark. Heart’s in the right place, though.
