Customer reviews of Explorer: Burkina Faso - Rhythms Grasslands
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Customer Rating:  
Summary: Good but not Amazing
Comment: Originally released in 1983 as "Rhythms of the Grasslands: Music of Upper Volta, Volume 2" (H-72090), this is a collection of field-recordings made from 1973-1975.
I have most, but not all, of the Explorer Series discs from Africa. I've given this one 3 stars because while it is solidly "good", it doesn't really have anything of the truly spectacular nature, as do so many of the other discs in the series. Plus, it's only 32 minutes long. I have to think that there were more than just 32 minutes worth of recordings made. It would have been nice had more material been added to this reissue.
We get quite a sampling of cultures here... Fulani, Samo, Mossi, Bwaba, Gourmantche, Tumi, Hausa, and Bwa... and the instruments (at various times, not all at once) are lutes, harp-lutes, 1-string fiddle, pressure and cylindrical drums, thumb-piano, etc...
There is certainly stuff here that I really enjoy... track #2, the young Samo girls singing together is lovely! As is the big Mossi funeral celebration (track 3). I really like how that one was recorded. It's a bit distant but it really gives the effect of being there.
To sum it up... if you're looking to complete your collection of Explorer: Africa discs this is a nice addition. If you're really only moderately interested in various African musics and you're just wanting to pick up a handful of amazing discs, this isn't the one for you.
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