Album Review: Un Autre Blanc by Salif Keita

If Un Autre Blanc does, in fact, represent legendary Malian singer-songwriter Salif Keita's final record, he will be going out on the proverbial high note. At almost 70 years of age, the Afro-pop singer-songwriter — known as the "Golden Voice of Africa" — has stated that this 14th studio album, will indeed be his last.   The album title — "Another White" in English — refers to his industry struggles at the beginning of his long career due to his albinism. It's a stigma that he has both embraced, challenged and overcome, and his ….

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S alif Keita, the most adventurous, gloriously soulful male singer-songwriter in Africa, has decided to retire at 69 - at least from recording. This is his 14th studio album, and, he says, his last, after an extraordinary career in which he has transformed the music of the continent. Since his days with Mali's legendary Rail Band, his solo work has included everything from the electronica and keyboard-backed breakthrough solo set Soro in 1987, to less happy jazz funk albums, exquisite semi-acoustic sets Moffou and M'Bemba, and a collaboration with Gotan Project's Philippe Cohen Solal, who produced his last offering, Talé, six years ago.

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