No Format US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Salif Keita is known as the "golden voice of Africa" and now returns with So Kono, an intimate acoustic album that marks a departure from his usual style. Though reporting he was initially hesitant about releasing an acoustic record, Keita who is traditionally a composer rather than a guitarist, was inspired during the 2023 Kyotophonie Festival in Japan where he was surrounded by the tranquillity of a Zen temple and supported by his musicians. He embraced vulnerability and got to work on So Kono, meaning "in the room" in Mandinka, and it was recorded in the intimacy of his hotel room. The album features a mix of new songs and reworked classics with Keita's powerful voice enriching the sounds.