A Quick Review Of Afrique Victime By Mdou Moctar

There is absolutely nothing else that sounds quite like this. Mdou Moctar plays guitar like no one else. Sure, the styles on the Niger-based musician's new album, Afrique Victime, out today on Matador, are rooted in African folk music, but the way the genre's been updated is astouding. This is his best record to date in that it's the one that perhaps has the most immediate power to charm.

"Chismiten" positively dances out of the speakers, guitar-lines and rhythmic hooks colliding here in a glorious clash, while "Taliat" is anchored by the playing of Moctar here. Generous, expressive, and natural, the sounds and notes are shred as he plays. There's force in this, but a lyricism that is omnipresent no matter how loud the cut. Elsewhere, "Tala Tannam" is more serene, revealing Mdou's ease at slipping into a guitar-sound that's reminiscent of that of Bert Jansch and a young Richard Thompson. The track's a real gem, as is the wildly melodic "Layla" -- no, not *THAT* one! -- another stunner on Afrique Victime. The closer, "Bismilahi Atagah" blends the various styles up on this record into one piece, a composition which veers from playful force to something that's like a ray of sunshine on the surface of a gently rolling ocean.

Afrique Victime is out today via Matador.

More details via the official website.

[Photo: Matador Records]