... Aye by Angelique Kidjo is supposedly said to be her best album and it was released in 1994 on the Fontana Island label. I was pretty disappointed, it wasn't what I expected at all.
I expected a modernised version of West African roots music but found that this artist from Benin had more ... Read review
Advantages: Still rather unique Disadvantages: Sounds quite similar to modern pop
...I had bought for resale. Aye by Angelique Kidjo is supposedly said to be her best album and it was released in 1994 on the Fontana Island label. I was pretty disappointed, it wasn't what I expected at all.
I expected a modernised version of West African roots music but found that this artist from Benin had more in common to today's crap pop than pop at its best and there was not enough of the African sound for my liking. This I blame ... ...sound more poppy, although it was a bit ahead of its time as it has a lot in common with current pop.
Her voice for whatever reason just didn't have the smooth sound that I had expected, this may have something to do with me not being a great fan of soprano voices.
A while back Angelique Kidjo played a concert in Warsaw and one of my students was raving about her as she said she met and spoke to her fans individually after the concert for a considerable time and makes beautiful music.
I'd actually never heard of her but realised that I actually had one of her cd's as part of a larger package I had bought for resale. Aye by Angelique Kidjo is supposedly said to be her best album and it was released in 1994 on the Fontana Island label. I was pretty disappointed, it wasn't what I expected at all.
I expected a modernised version of West African roots music but found that this artist from Benin had more in common to today's crap pop than pop at its best and there was not enough of the African sound for my liking. This I blame on the US and UK producers who clearly made it sound more poppy, although it was a bit ahead of its time as it has a lot in common with current pop.
Her voice for whatever reason just didn't have the smooth sound that I had expected, this may have something to do with me not being a great fan of soprano voices.
Personnel: Angelique Kidjo (vocals); David Z (guitar, programming); Paul Peterson, Glenn Nightingale, Joao Mota (guitar); Chris Davi (saxophone); John Thirkell (trumpet); Neil Sidwell (trombone); Lester Mendez (piano, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, synthesizer, programming); Jean Hebrail (keyboards, bass, programming); Will Mowat (keyboards, programming); Julian Crampton (acoustic bass); Andy Gangadeen, David Fall (drums); Carol Steele, Luis Jardim, Jacques Largent (percussion); Ingrid Matsidisi Webster, Damel Carayol, Julie Imani Payne, Enyonam Gibesemete, Lamya Al-Mugheiry, Claudia Fontaine (background vocals). Engineers: David Z, Brian Poer, Arabella Rodriguez, Eugenius Ellis. Recorded at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota; Harry Son Studio, Paris, France; Britannia Row and Soul II Soul Studios, London, England.
Album Reviews
Vibe (3/94, p.107) - "...a spellbinding one-world statement, a collection of songs that arrive from various intercontinental points of origin but share her singular perspective....if this music starts from a place familiar to techno-rave enthusiasts, it soon becomes a vehicle for Kidjo's virtuosic feats....Kidjo treats her voice like it's a percussion instrument...." Musician (3/94, p.88) - "...when she slows down or stretches out, Kidjo makes her strongest emotional connections...." Q (2/94, p.93) - 3 Stars - Good - "...a new slant on global dance that embraces kicking rhythms and bubbling vocals, raucous bass lines and some western hooks and choruses....A polished attack on the mainstream...."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Agolo
2.
Adouma
3.
Azan Nan Kpe
4.
Tatchedogbe
5.
Djan Djan
6.
Lon Lon Vadjro
7.
Houngbati
8.
Idje Idje
9.
Yemandja
10.
Tombo
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
13/11/2002
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