Ibert: Angélique

Advantages: Still rather unique
Disadvantages: Sounds quite similar to modern pop

...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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Inspiring and fresh
Disadvantages: Inconsistant

...the listener, anbd increase the power of his rhymes. **Five Stars** 13. Part Time Mutha (feat. Angelique and Poppi) To end us of, the mood is dragged down by the deep bassline and a sombre tone which has strong similarities to "Brenda's Got a Baby" as we are taken into more serious issues as we are forced to face shocking matter which only people who can say that they have experince of, will be able to tell you about in so much detail. here he tlaks on how mothers in the ghettoes are often 'part-time', because when they aren't they are just crack heads, therefore unfit in the presence of children. 'Pac really drills the message into you as he seems desperate to put it across to the listener, but it wasn't as shocking as "Brenda's Got A Baby", so it didn't have as big an impact, but regardless of this, the issue is clearly presented... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: You'll Hear Musicians You Might Not Have Otherwise Listened To, You Might Dance Or Sing.
Disadvantages: None, Unless You Hear Me Sing Or See Me Dance.

...a guitar maestro, giving them the utmost respect for each of their individual performances here. §~§~§~§~§~§~§~§ Track By Track. ~~~~~~~~~~~ 01) Adouma- [04:15] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is mostly an instrumental by the Santana Band. The essence of which is based mainly within the roots of Santana's originality. Although being a cover version of a song by West African - Angelique Kidjo. I admit to never having heard of the song or it's singer before I read a little about both, after my first listen here. I could hear the congas bringing the African influence through the Latin American beat. The few vocals which are chanted energetically, I now know are African, as is the title of this track. The first few notes might suggest the song is a little jazzy, which it mildly is. The song soon bursts into a much heavier African / Latin American... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful