Beautiful Africa

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Produced by John Parish (PJ Harvey, Eels, Sparklehorse), Rokia Traoré’s Beautiful Africa earns five stars from the Observer, Guardian, and Songlines, which raves: "It really doesn’t get better than this in today’s African music ... Rokia’s work is exciting, surprising, and always perfectly executed." The New York Times says: "Traoré has a gentle voice with a steely core, one that’s revealed more clearly than ever on Beautiful Africa." NPR says the album "is just as smart and lovely as its creator."

Description

Nonesuch Records releases singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Rokia Traoré’s Beautiful Africa in the US on September 24, 2013. The record, which was released internationally earlier in the year to critical acclaim, was produced by English musician John Parish (PJ Harvey, Eels, Sparklehorse). Uncut said, “Traoré’s sinuous voice sits at the centre of a hybrid maelstrom that combines the raw, earthy source of Malian rhythms with snarling rock guitars and pneumatic garage energy,” and called it “the record fans of her explosive live shows always hoped she would make and a career highpoint.” Beautiful Africa’s lyrics are sung in Traoré’s native languages of French and Bambara, as well as some English.

Pitchfork described Traoré’s previous record, 2009’s Tchamantché, as “a guitar album of a particularly understated bent ... hauntingly spare yet ridiculously well-defined, the timbre and tone of every string presented in perfect resolution.” Tchamantché won a Victoires de la Musique (the equivalent of a Grammy Award in France) and a Songlines Artist of the Year Award for Traoré.

The daughter of a Malian diplomat who was posted to the US, Europe, and the Middle East, Traoré studied sociology in Brussels before embarking on her musical career. Although based in Bamako, Traoré has, for her son’s safety, temporarily relocated to Paris due to the current conflict in Mali. Her music draws upon her homeland’s traditions as well as the European and American rock and pop she has listened to throughout her life.

Traoré has explored a breadth of directions in her career. She recently collaborated with Nobel Prize–winning novelist Toni Morrison and MacArthur “Genius” Grant winning director Peter Sellars on the theater piece Desdemona. The piece premiered in Vienna in the summer of 2011 and received its New York premiere at Lincoln Center that fall; its UK premiere was at the Barbican in London in the summer of 2012. The Guardian called it “a remarkable, challenging and bravely original new work.”

The Barbican also produced a three-night series of shows by Traoré last summer, entitled Donguili – Donke – Damou (Sing – Dance – Dream). For the Sing evening, held at the Barbican, Traoré and mandolinist/former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones joined young musicians from Traoré’s training program in Mali, Foundation Passerelle. Dance, at the Village Underground rock club, featured Traoré and her band playing the high-energy, danceable shows she is well known for—joined by Parish on guitar. And for Dream, which took place in an East End theater, Traoré narrated an ancient Malian tale, with occasional musical interludes. Australia’s Sydney Festival also presented Donguili – Donke – Damou. Traoré was awarded the inaugural Roskilde Festival World Music Award in 2009 for her work with Foundation Passerelle.

Last fall, Traoré joined Damon Albarn’s UK train tour Africa Express, performing scheduled concerts in Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol, and London as well as pop-up performances at railway stations, schools, factories, offices, shopping centers, and private homes. Other musicians on the tour included John Paul Jones, Amadou Bagayoko, Baaba Maal, and Paul McCartney.

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
All songs written and composed by Rokia Traoré
Produced by John Parish
Mixed by John Parish & Ali Chant
Recorded by Ali Chant at Toybox Studio, Bristol, UK
Mastered by John Dent at LOUD
Executive Producer: Thomas Weill

Design by Evan Gaffney
Cover photo by Franck Socha

Nonesuch Selection Number

534863 | Cover photo by Franck Socha

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
FormatRestrictions

 This album is available from Nonesuch Records for the world outside of Austria, Italy, and Germany.

Album Status
Artist Name
Rokia Traore
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Rokia Traoré, vocals, guitars

Mamah Diabaté, n'goni
Fatim Kouyaté, back vocals
Nicolaï Munch-Hansen, bass, doublebass
John Parish, additional guitars
Stefano Pilia, guitars
Sebastian Rochford, drums
Jason Singh, human beatbox
Bintou Soumbounou, backing vocals

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597959185BUN
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
075597959178
Label
FLAC
Price
10.00
UPC
075597951189
  • 534863 | Cover photo by Franck Socha

Track Listing

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  • About This Album

    Nonesuch Records releases singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Rokia Traoré’s Beautiful Africa in the US on September 24, 2013. The record, which was released internationally earlier in the year to critical acclaim, was produced by English musician John Parish (PJ Harvey, Eels, Sparklehorse). Uncut said, “Traoré’s sinuous voice sits at the centre of a hybrid maelstrom that combines the raw, earthy source of Malian rhythms with snarling rock guitars and pneumatic garage energy,” and called it “the record fans of her explosive live shows always hoped she would make and a career highpoint.” Beautiful Africa’s lyrics are sung in Traoré’s native languages of French and Bambara, as well as some English.

    Pitchfork described Traoré’s previous record, 2009’s Tchamantché, as “a guitar album of a particularly understated bent ... hauntingly spare yet ridiculously well-defined, the timbre and tone of every string presented in perfect resolution.” Tchamantché won a Victoires de la Musique (the equivalent of a Grammy Award in France) and a Songlines Artist of the Year Award for Traoré.

    The daughter of a Malian diplomat who was posted to the US, Europe, and the Middle East, Traoré studied sociology in Brussels before embarking on her musical career. Although based in Bamako, Traoré has, for her son’s safety, temporarily relocated to Paris due to the current conflict in Mali. Her music draws upon her homeland’s traditions as well as the European and American rock and pop she has listened to throughout her life.

    Traoré has explored a breadth of directions in her career. She recently collaborated with Nobel Prize–winning novelist Toni Morrison and MacArthur “Genius” Grant winning director Peter Sellars on the theater piece Desdemona. The piece premiered in Vienna in the summer of 2011 and received its New York premiere at Lincoln Center that fall; its UK premiere was at the Barbican in London in the summer of 2012. The Guardian called it “a remarkable, challenging and bravely original new work.”

    The Barbican also produced a three-night series of shows by Traoré last summer, entitled Donguili – Donke – Damou (Sing – Dance – Dream). For the Sing evening, held at the Barbican, Traoré and mandolinist/former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones joined young musicians from Traoré’s training program in Mali, Foundation Passerelle. Dance, at the Village Underground rock club, featured Traoré and her band playing the high-energy, danceable shows she is well known for—joined by Parish on guitar. And for Dream, which took place in an East End theater, Traoré narrated an ancient Malian tale, with occasional musical interludes. Australia’s Sydney Festival also presented Donguili – Donke – Damou. Traoré was awarded the inaugural Roskilde Festival World Music Award in 2009 for her work with Foundation Passerelle.

    Last fall, Traoré joined Damon Albarn’s UK train tour Africa Express, performing scheduled concerts in Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol, and London as well as pop-up performances at railway stations, schools, factories, offices, shopping centers, and private homes. Other musicians on the tour included John Paul Jones, Amadou Bagayoko, Baaba Maal, and Paul McCartney.

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Rokia Traoré, vocals, guitars

    Mamah Diabaté, n'goni
    Fatim Kouyaté, back vocals
    Nicolaï Munch-Hansen, bass, doublebass
    John Parish, additional guitars
    Stefano Pilia, guitars
    Sebastian Rochford, drums
    Jason Singh, human beatbox
    Bintou Soumbounou, backing vocals

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    All songs written and composed by Rokia Traoré
    Produced by John Parish
    Mixed by John Parish & Ali Chant
    Recorded by Ali Chant at Toybox Studio, Bristol, UK
    Mastered by John Dent at LOUD
    Executive Producer: Thomas Weill

    Design by Evan Gaffney
    Cover photo by Franck Socha

  • Format Availability

     This album is available from Nonesuch Records for the world outside of Austria, Italy, and Germany.