Vieux Farka Touré: Mon Pays

Famous fathers can sometimes cast a long shadow over their sons' careers. but for Vieux Farka Touré, within the deep hereditary context of Malian music, there is no such issue. His father, Ali, was one of the greats, and his duets with renowned kora player, Toumani Diabate, are classics beyond genre, but this in no way inhibits Vieux, who here performs comparable instrumental pieces with Toumani's son, Sidiki Diabate, and with pianist Idan Raichel. Combine these with muscular call-and-response songs such as Yer Gando – an appeal for the protection of Mali's threatened cultural heritage – and the lyrical calabash-driven traditional piece Diack So, and this is a considerable contribution to and celebration of that heritage. Two further titles sum up the poignant feel of much of the album: Future and Peace. Let's hope so. vieuxfarkatoure.com

Download: Doni Doni, Yer Gando, Ay Bakoy