Rokia Traore, OPEN // 21.05.2013
Good songs, great band, funky, groovy, rocking but didn't quite hit the spot for Pavlis.
Rokia Traore, OPEN // 21.05.2013 Rokia Traore is an award winning singer-songwriter-guitarist born in Mali. Daughter of a diplomat, she had an itinerant up-bringing in Algeria, Saudi Arabia , France and Belgium. Since 1997, she has released five albums, most recently this year’s "Beautiful Africa” , produced by PJ Harvey collaborator John Parish. Traore and her band’s sound is rooted in the griot tradition of Mali. This combines elements of funk, ska and reggae, I suspect as a result of these genres’ African roots. Unexpectedly, there is also Zep-esque heaviosity, not unlike Tinariwen or Tamikrest. Traore is a good songwriter and her band very talented but this just didn’t spark for me. I could appreciate it but not totally enjoy it. Nothing was wrong, it just didn’t hit the spot. That being said, “Tuit Tuit” was a stand out and "Beautiful Africa” rocked like a mutha. As a footnote, the evening got off to a rather unpleasant start with an incident at the bar prior to Traore’s performance. I have to say that the management of OPEN has subsequently resolved matters in a tactful, diplomatic and, dare I say, generous manner. I give full marks to Jackie and Rosalie for the way in which you dealt with this curmudgeon, thank you. No more will be said. Pavlis, 6/10
