BKO

Album review

The sophomore outing from international trio Dirtmusic couldn't be more different from their debut. The huge stylistic change was sparked by an appearance at the Festival in the Desert in Mali, where they befriended the musicians from local band Tamikrest. That drew them back to Bamako -- the BKO of the title -- to collaborate and record, and the city and country have had an effect on their music. The songwriting is still fairly evenly divided between all three members, but on a cover like "All Tomorrow's Parties" they show how to make a truly original version, transforming it into something African-based around the drone, and with the ululating and singing of Tartit's Fadimata Walett Oumar, putting the Velvet Underground in another universe. "Black Gravity" is deliciously moody and classic Chris Eckman, while "Smoking Bowl" has a lovely, trippy ambience, while the instrumental "Niger Sundown" shimmers with beauty. Members of Tamikrest fill out the sound and make it more African without losing its Dirtmusic core, and there's even some guitar work from the late Lobi Traoré. The package is filled out with a short documentary of the band's Bamako trip and a couple of music videos as well as some extra tracks, including one recorded in a tent in the desert. This is more than just a journal of a trip, though. It makes a sea change in the way Dirtmusic approach their sound, and something that crosses cultures to produce a fresh sound that invigorates rock.
© Chris Nickson /TiVo