Résistance

Résistance was recorded in the autumn of 2016 at The Pool studio in London with producer Neil Comber (MIA, Django Django, Crystal Fighters, Declan McKenna) and, in keeping with their spirit of collaboration which saw them previously work with Nick Zinner, Julian Casablancas and Damon Albarn, features additional synths by Lxury and vocal contributions from the likes of Iggy Pop, Elf Kid and Stealing Sheep. Beyond this, the album features beautiful string parts (“Babou”) and in one particularly surprising, moving instance (“One Colour”), a children’s choir. Lyrically and sonically, Resistance is a huge leap forward for Songhoy Blues, a musical snapshot of a band at the top of their game. Richer, more eclectic and musically adventurous, it captures a band who, for the last three years, have toured the world and soaked up music far beyond the borders of their native Mali. With more time and a wider armoury of equipment at their disposal, the album is the sound of Songhoy Blues stretching themselves, with hints of R&B, soul and hip-hop all fusing seamlessly with the band’s trademark exuberant sound, with themes for our time. Whereas their debut was lyrically rather parochial, dealing with the problems faced by the people of Mali, the new album is more universal in tone and speaks positively about their homeland, lovingly talking about the beauty of the Sahara and night-life in Bamako.   Tracklisting: 1.  Voter 2. Bamako 3. Sahara (featuring Iggy Pop) 4. Yersi Yadda 5. Hometown 6. Badji 7. Dabari 8. Ici Bas 9. Ir Ma Sobay 10. Mali Nord (featuring Elf Kid) 11. Alhakou 12. One Colour