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A protégé of the great Ali Farka Touré, Lobi Traoré manifests his great talent not only through his excellent guitar work, but also through the way he uses the Bambara tradition, with mournful, often monochordal melodies. While not a new disc (it's actually a compilation of tracks that appeared on four albums recorded between 1991 and 1998, along with a live version of "Ni Tougou La Mogo Miko," which also appears in a studio version), it's a good solid introduction to a very solid, imaginative figure in Malian music, and one who could take over Touré's crown as the older man shows himself less inclined to tour and record -- indeed, he produced some of the tracks here. Traditional in spirit, if not actuality, it showcases Traoré's strengths, with kora, n'goni, and percussion rounding out the ensembles. On the basis of this, Traoré is definitely ready for the world stage. Chris Nickson, All Music Guide