With 'Debademba' we might already be looking at one of the best African releases for 2011. Burkinabe guitarist Abdoulayé Traoré, in 2009 joined forces with emerging Ivorian talent Mohamed Diaby who got some notoriety when in 2007 thanks to Cana Sanga (a television program for new musical talent sponsored by none other than Oumou Sangare) he scored a modest hit with the song 'Zouloukalanani'. For 'Debademba' ("large family" in Bambara) the duo worked together with a whole host of musicians including Malian Fatoumata Diawara, another great promise for 2011. Together they created a sound that is reminiscent of classic West-African desert blues ('Sidebemonebo'), but also flirts with Arabo-Andalusian influences ('Ma Chérie', 'Ma'), Amadou & Mariam-like afro-funk ('Agnankamina') and salsa ('Thomas Sankara', on which the voice of the murdered ex-president of Burkina Faso can be heard). Top Album!