Belle Epoque Vol. 1: Soundiata

An amazing and long overdue compilation of the work of this influential Malian Guitar Band Belle Epoque Vol 1: Soundiata is the first in a projected three volume series of releases from Britsh label Stern’s Africa documenting the early recordings of this seminal outfit. Magan Ganessy contributes sublime vocals to the majority of the tracks here, singing of Mali’s imperial past, contemporary social issues and the simple joys of everyday life. The focus here though, is indisputably on the Rail Band’s virtuosic guitar players, whose crisp yet intricate work would prove a major influence on countless Malian guitarists, including the great Baboucar Traore, who covered the Rail Band’s great “Soundiata” early in his career. Though great Malian guitarists like Traoare and Ali Farka Toure may not have learned their craft from the Rail Band’s recordings, these records mark the first emergence of that unmistakable Malian desert guitar sound in popular music and are consequently of vital interest to fans of the genre.