''The Rough Guide to the Music of Senegal'' is a world music

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

originally released in

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...

. Part of the

World Music Network World Music Network is a UK-based record label specializing in world music. The World Music Network website features news, reviews, live music listings, and guide sections on world music. It also features an online "Battle of the Bands" compet ...

Rough Guides Rough Guides Ltd is a British travel guide book and reference publisher, which has been owned by APA Publications since November 2017. In addition to publishing guidebooks, the company also provides a tailor-made trips service based on customer ...

series, the release presents an overview of the

music of Senegal Senegal's music is best known abroad due to the popularity of mbalax, a development of conservative music from different ethnic groups and '' sabar'' drumming popularized internationally by Youssou N'Dour. Senegalese Musical Instruments List * ...

on Disc One, and contains a "bonus" Disc Two highlighting Daby Balde. The album was compiled by Daniel Rosenberg and was produced by Phil Stanton, co-founder of the World Music Network. Daniel Rosenberg and Rachel Jackson wrote the sleeve notes, and Brad Haynes was coordinator and designer.

Critical reception

The album received generally positive reviews. In his review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, Chris Nickson wrote that while the compilation "touches on all the major points", it would have benefited from the inclusion of more emerging artists. This was contradicted by

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

, who described a "strategy of showcasing winners by (...) longtime crossover hopefuls". Steve Horowitz of

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

especially praised the second disc, stating that Balde performs with a "tranquil urgency, a seemingly oxymoronic way of simultaneously compelling one to relax and pay attention."

Track listing

Disc One

Disc Two

All tracks on Disc Two are performed by Daby Balde. Balde is a member of the

Kolda Kolda ( ar, كولدا; Wolof: Koldaa) is a city located in southern Senegal. It is the capital city of Kolda Region and Kolda Department, a region known historically and popularly as Haute Casamance. History The name Kolda derives from the na ...

nobility class who established himself in

The Gambia The Gambia,, ff, Gammbi, ar, غامبيا officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland AfricaHoare, Ben. (2002) ''The Kingfisher A-Z Encyclopedia'', Kingfisher Publicatio ...

. His music has been described as more "folk-like" than the West African dance music better known to Western ears.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rough Guide to the Music of Senegal 2013 compilation albums

Music of Senegal Senegal's music is best known abroad due to the popularity of mbalax, a development of conservative music from different ethnic groups and '' sabar'' drumming popularized internationally by Youssou N'Dour. Senegalese Musical Instruments List * ...

World music albums by Senegalese artists