Formerly with Orchestra Baobab, Cheikh Ibra Fam now carries a rapidly expanding solo career since 2022. One quickly understands why what he does is so well-liked wherever he goes. Here is high-quality Afropop, deeply rooted in the traditional musical ecumenism of West Africa and the strength of studio production worthy of the best Western pop achievements.
Cheikh Ibra Fam unveils eleven inspired tracks, with highly attractive melodic craftsmanship and contagious grooviness. In this soundscape perfect for any summer festival, topics that speak to the heart and mind: family, success, love, the importance of mothers, self-confidence, etc.
Cheikh Ibra Fam advantageously fits into a rich lineage of Afro-pop artists from West Africa, from Touré Kunda to Ismael Lo to Angélique Kidjo, who have spread in the West over the past decades. This cultural reservoir has clearly not finished delighting us.
Take the first track of the album, Gnou Mbollo. There is something of Tiken Jah (Fakoly) in the voice and the harmonic lines (minus the reggae). The title track, Adouna, certainly wouldn’t be out of place on a Youssou (N’Dour) album. Of course, Cheikh Ibra Fam infuses it with his own personality. You come away with a sense of familiarity, but it serves as a springboard to a unique voice.
The success of the Senegalese artist is ultimately simple: melodically appealing songs, adorned with beautiful and sunny brass touches (trumpets, trombones), occasionally complemented by positive notes of flute or kora. He keeps everything rhythmically alive with guitars and percussion always prominently featured. Very little downtime, therefore, in a program that we follow with continuous pleasure through the eleven tracks offered.
In a modern world-beat production framework, one can also discern the more traditional sources of the rhythms heard: zouk, kizomba, mbalax, maloya. All the particularities blend positively into a groovy and unifying framework that is quite irresistible.
It’s hot, it’s good, it’s catchy, it’s everything we want right now.
I discover while reading the list of musicians that the “boss” himself, Jacob Edgar (the musical mastermind behind Cumbancha and Putumayo) is a trumpeter! He appears in the line-up of several songs. Sneaky, huh? He has no reason to hide this talent because he is quite good. Since he now lives in Montreal, we might see him get on stage with friends? At Balattou? Come on, Jacob… 🙂
