Léman / Leman

Cameroonian Blick Bassy lets loose on a very gentle solo debut that offers a mix of Central African, West African, and Brazilian styles. The three fit together surprisingly well (there's plenty of kora and ngoni to keep a West African grounding), and he has the kind of light voice that suits his material well. There's certainly no problem in the performances, recorded in Bamako, Mali, and his adopted hometown of Paris. The material, though, is relatively lightweight, which can be both good and bad. There are some nice touches, with "Sebenikoro" a big standout, but for the most part it becomes wallpaper, just slipping in one ear and out the other — not exactly what you want in a CD. As a singer, Bassy has the quality (he sings in Bassa, a relatively obscure Cameroonian language), but he would benefit from better songs on his next outing to stand out from the African crowds.