Radio Mali
by Heather PharesAli Farka Toure's Radio Mali features Malian radio appearances from 1970 to 1978, which were among the first performances to bring the West African guitarist/singer's work to the attention of his countrymen. Though it was available for a time as an import CD, Rykodisc's release of Radio Mali marks its debut as a domestically available title. Tracks like "Njarka," "Samarya," and "Biennial" provide insight into Toure's talent from before he was discovered by the world music community at large.