The world music explosion continues to fill out the North Africa collection, in this case: Mali. Happily, this release introduces to the US audience another amazing female voice (remember the first time you heard Marta Sebestyen of Muzikas?). Sangara's vocals work over a call-and-response with a groove held down by the kamelengoni (cross between a kora and a ngoni). The remainder of the soundscape is filled out by interwoven string lines from both African and Western instruments. Percussion plays a role here, but not as the root of the rhythm. Ko Sira apparently reworks music of the Wassolou people (who live in the south-of-Niger-River area of Mali). The openness of the compositions and linear development of the grooves make me think of Fela Kuti, but the sound palate is completely different. The lyrics are really activist/feminist for Mali, which apparently makes Sangare's commercial success in West Africa surprising. Really, world music (or any music) doesn't get much better than this. (Bob Boster)