Kanou

From Burkina Faso, Farafina has become something of a West African institution after 20 years together. And on the basis of this, the group's fourth album, it's easy to understand why. They remain firmly rooted in the griot tradition, with the melodic balafon as the prime instrument, but they also build on that for an unmistakably individual sound, fronted here by the glorious vocals of Fatoumata Dembele. For the most part this was recorded live, outdoors in the band's native country, and the spontaneous atmosphere spurs the music along; there's a tangible sense of joy about it. The percussive quality of the music is evident throughout, topped by a lightness from the flute, electric guitar, keyboards, and the distinctive sound of the kora. Think of this as the modern griot sound, preserving tradition while renewing it, and you have a strong sense of what Farafina is about — superb musicians making music they love.